Easy spicy cashew chicken stir fry is a delicious healthy 30-minute family dinner. Perfect for those busy weeknights!
Recipes like this easy spicy cashew chicken stir fry are a regular feature in my kitchen.
Not only is it simple to make and packed with healthy goodness but just like my quick salmon stir fry it's on the table in just 30-minutes!
This easy cashew chicken stir fry recipe is probably even quicker than ordering take out!
Not only that it's made with simple ingredients and mostly store cupboard ingredients.
When I'm tired at the end of the day and really don't want to spend too much time in the kitchen, stir fry recipes are usually my first thought of how to get food on the table fast!
This spicy cashew chicken is low in calories at just 400 calories per serving (excluding rice).
It's packed with tons of flavour from a delicious tangy marinade and lots of healthy broccoli helps to bulk it up.
The chicken marinates in the marinade whilst you cook the rice, chop the broccoli and dry roast the nuts.
The roasted cashew nuts give this chicken stir fry a lovely crunchy texture too.
This easy dinner is definitely a recipe that you'll want to add to your list of handy easy weeknight meals!
Jump to:
Ingredients
- Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts
- Chinese Five Spice Powder
- Soy Sauce
- Garlic Cloves
- Lemon Juice
- White Wine Vinegar
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Red Chilli Flakes
- Unsalted Cashew Nuts
- Vegetable Oil
- Broccoli
- Coriander, Freshly Chopped (optional garnish)
See recipe card for quantities.
Step By Step Instructions
Detailed instructions are in the recipe card below. But here is a quick step by step guide of how to make this easy spicy cashew chicken recipe:
Step 1
- Place cubed chicken in a bowl with the marinade. Leave for at least 20 minutes in the fridge.
Step 2
- Dry fry the cashew nuts in a wok or large skillet.
Step 3
- Heat oil. Remove chicken from marinade and stir fry until no longer pink inside.
Steps 4 & 5
- Add remaining marinade and broccoli and cook.
- Stir in roasted cashew nuts. Mix well together.
Step 6
- Serve on basmati rice garnished with the freshly chopped coriander.
Substitutions
- Skinless Boneless Chicken Breasts - you could use boneless chicken thighs or chicken tenders instead.
- Chinese Five Spice Powder
- Soy Sauce - I use low sodium soy sauce.
- Garlic Cloves - use only fresh garlic, I don't recommend garlic powder.
- Lemon Juice - you can also use lime juice.
- White Wine Vinegar - you can also use red wine vinegar.
- Freshly Ground Black Pepper
- Red Chilli Flakes - to make less spicy reduce the amount of red pepper flakes.
- Unsalted Cashew Nuts - use only unsalted cashews or unsalted peanuts if you can't get cashews.
- Vegetable Oil - you could use olive oil instead.
- Broccoli - see FAQ's for suggested variations.
- Coriander, Freshly Chopped (optional garnish)
Why Should You Make This Spicy Cashew Chicken Recipe?
- Tender chicken cooked in a delicious homemade flavorful sauce make this a great recipe.
- A versatile recipe. See subsitutions and FAQ's for other suggested variations.
- Perfect as a healthier alternative to Chinese take out.
- Low in salt compared to traditional Chinese restaurant takeaways.
- Packed with protein and vitamin C.
Equipment
For This Easy Spicy Cashew Chicken Stir Fry You May Need….
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product, I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through, then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
It's suitable for all hobs including gas, ceramic, induction, electric, solid plate and hot plate.
Featuring a solid wooden handle for an authentic finishing touch it's made of 1.2mm Carbon Steel with a Non Stick Coating.
Suitable for all family cooking the size is 27cm (10.5") dia x 46cm (18") with handle x 11cm (4.25") high.
Subscribe to Neil's Healthy Meals
Don't miss future updates and new recipes. Make sure you’re subscribed to Neil’s Healthy Meals.
Subscribe here to add your email to the subscription list.
And you can follow me too via your favourite social channels :-
Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, Bloglovin & YouTube.
*I do not use your email for anything else other than adding you to my blog subscription list which you can opt out of at any time.
FAQ's
What Can I Use Instead Of Chicken?
Prawns / Shrimps are a great substitute for chicken too.
What Can I Use Instead Of Broccoli?
You can bulk this up further with more vegetables or substitute the broccoli with green onions, snow peas, red bell peppers, green bell peppers instead.
What Kind Of Rice Should I Serve This Chicken Cashew Recipe With?
For quickness use a white rice like Basmati rice or Jasmine rice. For a healthier option and if you have time serve on brown rice instead.
More Stir Fry Recipes For You To Try
📋 Easy Spicy Cashew Chicken Stir Fry Recipe
The following links and any links in the recipe card below are affiliate links.
This means that if you click on it and then buy that product I’ll get a small commission (at no extra cost to you of course).
If you do click through then thanks for being a part of Neil’s Healthy Meals!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 700 g boneless skinless chicken breasts, cubed
- 2 teaspoon Chinese five spice powder
- 2 tablespoon soy sauce
- 4 garlic cloves crushed
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- 2 tablespoon white wine vinegar
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 teaspoon red chilli flakes
- 120 g unsalted cashew nuts
- 1 tablespoon vegetable oil
- 200 g broccoli cut up into small florets
- 1 tablespoon freshly chopped coriander
Instructions
- Place the cubed chicken breasts into a bowl with the Chinese five spice power, soy sauce, crushed garlic, lemon juice, white wine vinegar, black pepper, and chilli flakes. Mix everything together well and place the bowl, covered into the fridge for at least 20 minutes.
- Heat a wok or frying pan over a low heat and dry stir fry the cashew nuts for about 3 minutes, being sure not to burn them. Once golden brown remove them from the wok and place them aside.
- Heat vegetable oil in wok / pan. Remove the chicken from the marinade with a slotted spoon and stir fry for about 8 minutes until no longer pink inside.
- Add all the marinade from the bowl into the wok add the broccoli florets and stir fry for a further 4 – 5 minutes.
- Once everything is cooked, remove from heat, and add the cashew nuts. Mix well together.
- Serve on basmati rice garnished with the freshly chopped coriander.
Nutrition
Nutrition Label
Nutritional information provided below is calculated using paid for online tools and the exact ingredients and quantities used above.
Rate The Recipe
If you’ve made this easy spicy cashew chicken stir fry, or any other recipes on Neil's Healthy Meals, then please let me know.
I’d love to hear what you think of my recipe in the comments below and please do rate my recipe 5* if you like it! 🙂
angiesrecipes
One of my favourites! Sometimes I used peanuts or a mixture of two. Yours looks authentic and very tasty, Neil.
angiesrecipes
Neil
Glad you like it Angie! It's a favourite here too. I often use unsalted peanuts if I don't have or can't get cashew nuts as well. It's completely versatile. I might swap out the broccoli for green beans from time to time too. Thanks for your comment. Hope you are well! 🙂
Ron
Howdy Neil, we love a good stirfry but have to omit the nuts, but often substitute roasted pumpkin seed instead. Thanks for a new recipe to try...
Neil
Hi Ron, nice to hear from you again! Glad you like the recipe! I often substitute the nuts for other ingredients too if I don't have them. Roasted pumpkin seed sounds delicious instead of cashew nuts. 🙂
David @ Spiced
This sounds fantastic, Neil! We love a good stir fry around here as they're forgiving in terms of ingredients you use and they're delicious. I might even have some leftover cashews hanging out around here. I definitely need to try this one soon!
Neil
You'll love this David. It's just cheap, quick and simple. And tastes AMAZING! Thanks for your comment and I hope you are well! 🙂
Carlo DeSando, III
one of my favorites!
Neil
Thanks Charlie. A lot of people seem to really like this recipe as much as we all do! 🙂
2pots2cook
Hello Neil! What kept me so long to see your beauties!?! Great stir fry indeed!
Neil
Thank you! 🙂
Sherry
these sorts of recipes are ripe for adaptation aren't they? And so tasty.
Neil
Agreed Sherry. It's easy to use all sorts of other veggie's in this recipe. 🙂
Raymund | angsarap.net
This is my kind of meal! rice and meaty topping. Nice one.
Neil
Quick and easy to prepare. And cheap too! Thanks Raymund!