Crockpot Cashew Chicken: An Easy Takeout-Inspired Dinner
Craving your favorite Chinese takeout but want something easy, homemade, and budget-friendly? This Crockpot Cashew Chicken is the perfect solution!
Tender pieces of chicken are slow cooked in a flavorful sauce made with soy sauce, garlic, ginger, honey, and a few simple pantry ingredients. The chicken becomes incredibly juicy and flavorful, and when topped with crunchy cashews and fresh green onions, it creates a delicious takeout-inspired meal the whole family will love.
This slow cooker cashew chicken recipe is an easy weeknight dinner that requires minimal prep and delivers big flavor. Serve it over fluffy rice with vegetables for a complete meal that’s better than takeout!
Why You’ll Love This Crockpot Cashew Chicken Recipe
We love take out fake out recipes over here like this Slow Cooker Beef and Broccoli or this Beef Lo Mein, but this cashew chicken is our new go to and here is why:
- Easy dinner recipe: Let your slow cooker do the work.
- Better than takeout: Sweet, savory, and packed with flavor.
- Family-friendly: A meal everyone at the table will enjoy.
- Simple ingredients: Uses pantry staples you likely already have.
- Great for meal prep: Leftovers reheat beautifully.
What Is Cashew Chicken?
Cashew chicken is a popular Asian-inspired dish featuring tender chicken pieces tossed in a savory sauce with crunchy cashews. While restaurant versions are often stir-fried, this crockpot version uses the convenience of a slow cooker to create tender, flavorful chicken with very little effort.
The slow cooker allows the chicken to soak up the garlic ginger sauce while you go about your day, making it an ideal recipe for busy families.
Ingredients for Crockpot Cashew Chicken
For the Chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger, minced (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sriracha or red pepper flakes (optional)
For Serving:
- 1 cup roasted or unsalted cashews
- 4 green onions, sliced
- Sesame seeds, optional
- Cooked white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice
- Steamed broccoli or vegetables
How to Make Crockpot Cashew Chicken
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
Place the chicken pieces in a bowl and toss with cornstarch, salt, and pepper until lightly coated.
Optional: For a more authentic takeout-style texture, quickly brown the chicken in a skillet with olive oil before adding it to the crockpot. This step adds extra flavor but is not required.
Step 2: Make the Sauce
In a small bowl, whisk together soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and sriracha.
Pour the sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker.
Step 3: Slow Cook
Cover and cook until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
Cook:
- LOW: 4–5 hours
- HIGH: 2–3 hours
Avoid overcooking, especially if using chicken breast, as it can become dry.
Step 4: Add Cashews
Stir in cashews just before serving so they stay crunchy.
Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
Serve warm over rice.
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
Use Chicken Thighs for Extra Juiciness: Chicken thighs stay tender during slow cooking and add extra flavor, but chicken breasts work well too.
Add Cashews at the End: For the best texture, wait until serving time to add cashews. Adding them too early can make them soft.
Don’t Skip the Cornstarch: The cornstarch helps create a thicker sauce and gives the chicken a texture similar to restaurant-style dishes.
Customize the Heat: Keep it mild for kids or add extra chili flakes, sriracha, or chili garlic sauce for a spicy version.
Crockpot Cashew Chicken Variations
Vegetable Cashew Chicken: Add vegetables during the final hour of cooking:
- Bell peppers
- Broccoli
- Carrots
- Snow peas
- Mushrooms
Spicy Cashew Chicken: Add extra sriracha, crushed red pepper, or chili paste.
Pineapple Cashew Chicken: Add pineapple chunks for a sweet and tropical twist.
Healthier Cashew Chicken: Use low-sodium soy sauce or Braggs liquid aminos, extra vegetables, and serve over cauliflower rice.
Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken with Frozen Chicken: Use pre-cooked frozen chicken pieces for a shortcut version. Add them later in the cooking process to prevent overcooking.
What to Serve with Crockpot Cashew Chicken: Turn this easy slow cooker meal into a complete dinner with:
- Steamed jasmine rice
- Brown rice
- Fried rice
- Cauliflower rice
- Egg rolls
- Spring rolls
- Steamed broccoli
- Asian cucumber salad
How to Store Leftover Cashew Chicken
Refrigerator:
Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days.
Freezer:
Freeze chicken and sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months. For the best texture, add fresh cashews after reheating.
Reheating:
Warm gently in the microwave or on the stovetop. Add a splash of chicken broth if the sauce becomes too thick.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put raw chicken in the crockpot for cashew chicken? Yes. Raw chicken can safely cook in the slow cooker as long as it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F.
Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breasts? Absolutely! Chicken thighs are a great choice because they stay tender and juicy during slow cooking.
Can I make cashew chicken without hoisin sauce? Yes. You can substitute additional soy sauce, a little extra honey, and a splash of sesame oil, although hoisin sauce adds a classic flavor.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free? Yes. Use gluten-free soy sauce or tamari and verify that all sauces are gluten-free.
Other Slow Cooker Recipes
- Slow Cooker Italian Pot Roast
- Slow Cooker Cheesy Ham and Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Blueberry Cobbler
- Slow Cooker Marry Me Chicken Pasta
- Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Mac and Cheese
This Crockpot Cashew Chicken brings all the flavors of your favorite takeout meal right to your kitchen with almost no effort. Tender chicken, a sweet and savory garlic ginger sauce, and crunchy cashews come together for an easy dinner that’s perfect for busy weeknights.
Skip the takeout menu and grab your slow cooker instead. This simple slow cooker cashew chicken recipe is a delicious way to enjoy a restaurant-inspired meal the whole family will love!
Equipment
- 1 slow cooker
Ingredients
For the Chicken:
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts or thighs cut into bite-sized pieces
- ½ cup cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the Sauce:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ¾ cup low-sodium soy sauce
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ⅓ cup honey
- 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
- 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh ginger minced (or 1 teaspoon ground ginger)
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon sriracha or red pepper flakes optional
For Serving:
- 1 cup roasted or unsalted cashews
- 4 green onions sliced
- Sesame seeds optional
- Cooked white rice brown rice, or cauliflower rice
- Steamed broccoli or vegetables
Instructions
Step 1: Prepare the Chicken
- Place the chicken pieces in a bowl and toss with cornstarch, salt, and pepper until lightly coated.
- Optional: For a more authentic takeout-style texture, quickly brown the chicken in a skillet with olive oil before adding it to the crockpot. This step adds extra flavor but is not required.
Step 2: Make the Sauce
- In a small bowl, or the crock of the slow cooker, whisk together olive oil, soy sauce, chicken broth, honey, rice vinegar, hoisin sauce, garlic, ginger, sesame oil, and sriracha.
- Pour the sauce over the chicken in the slow cooker. Or add the chicken into the sauce.
Step 3: Slow Cook
- Cover and cook until the chicken is tender and cooked through.
- Cook: LOW: 4–5 hours or HIGH: 2–3 hours
- Avoid overcooking, especially if using chicken breast, as it can become dry.
Step 4: Add Cashews
- Stir in cashews just before serving so they stay crunchy.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and sesame seeds.
- Serve warm over rice.
Nutrition
Our recipe card software calculates these nutrition facts based on averages for the above ingredients, different brands, and quality of produce/meats may have different nutritional information, always calculate your own based on the specific products you use in order to achieve accurate macros for this recipe.
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