Crock Pot Cashew Chicken

This Crock Pot Cashew Chicken is loaded with incredibly tender chicken, wonderfully flavorful sauce and buttery, creamy cashews and SO easy made in the crockpot!  

This Chinese Cashew Chicken is destined to become a new family favorite!  It’s better than your favorite takeout and heather too! This Cashew Chicken recipe utilizes the easy restaurant velveting technique to produce smooth, tender, melt-in-your-mouth chicken.  To finish the recipe, simply whisk and dump the sauce ingredients into your crockpot and sit back and await  away dynamic takeout fakeout Cashew Chicken!

easy Cashew Chicken recipe made in the crockpot


 

Cashew Chicken

You know how I love a good slow cooker recipe.  In fact, most of my most popular recipes are made in the slow cooker from Mexican Chicken to French Dips to Asian Sweet Chili Sesame Chicken to BBQ Ribs.  I looooove the slow cooker method so much because it tenderizes and infuses your chicken or meat with tons of flavor with hardly any effort AKA the ideal recipe – just like this is the ideal Cashew Chicken.

This Crock Pot Cashew Chicken recipe comes from the mind blowing, taste bud thrilling Asian Slow Cooker Cookbook by Kelly Kwok.  I was eager to get my hands on Kelly’s book as I’m a big fan of her blog, Life Made Sweeter where she shares classic Asian recipes with a modern spin.  Kelly’s book focuses on eliminating the last minute dinner scramble with over 80 gorgeous full color photographed recipes that can be made either in the Slow Cooker or just in One Pot.

I am confident you will love the Asian Slow Cooker Cookbook just as much as you love this Cashew Chicken!  The cookbook makes a wonderful birthday gift, bridal gift, graduation gift or gift to YOU just because!  It can be ordered on Amazon HERE or Barnes & Noble HERE.

To give you a taste of the deliciousness that is The Slow Cooker Asian Cookbook, I am excited to share Kelly’s Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken with you all.  The multidimensional sauce with the buttery rich punch of cashews is perfection and the chicken is oh so tender due to the process of velveting.   With one taste, you will never want to order Cashew Chicken again!

Who Invented Cashew Chicken?

The invention of Cashew Chicken can be traced back to Chinese immigrant and chef, David Leong.  Leong moved to Springfield, Missouri from China in 1940 where his food struggled to gain popularity. Noting the city’s love of fried chicken, he decided to deep fry this chicken and it became a huge hit! This fried version is now known as “Springfield-style cashew chicken.”

Leong’s famous Cashew Chicken recipe was so popular, he soon opened Leong’s Tea House in Springfield. The dish became exceedingly popular in the Springfield area and is often cited as the unofficial “dish of the city”. Springfield even hosts an annual festival that is centered on this chicken dish: Springfield Sertoma’s Cashew Craze.

So thanks to Chef Leong, we all get to enjoy Cashew Chicken – even without an annual festival!

Top view of Crockpot Cashew Chicken garnished with sesame seeds in a white bowl

Ingredients for Cashew Chicken

The ingredient list for Cashew Chicken might seem somewhat lengthy, but most of it is just a quick shaking in a freezer bag or whisking in a bowl.

  • cashews: use roasted, UNSALTED cashews.  If you can only find unsalted, and not roasted, then simply toast them in your skillet for a few minutes until golden.
  • chicken:  you can use chicken thighs or breasts.  Try and chop them into uniform size cubes so they cook evenly.
  • cornstarch:  used in both the velveting process to tenderize the chicken and to thicken the sauce.
  • baking soda:  used in the velveting process to tenderize the chicken – I promise you won’t taste it!
  • soy sauce:  use low sodium soy sauce or your cashew chicken will be too salty.
  • chicken broth:  use low sodium chicken broth so you can control the salt level.  You can also use vegetable broth but chicken broth is more flavorful.
  • honey:  adds sweetness to balance the soy and vinegar.  You may need more or less depending on personal preferences.  You can substitute honey for brown sugar if you’re in a pinch.
  • Rice Wine:  Rice wine should become a pantry staple if you do much Asian cooking.  Rice wine is NOT rice vinegar- DO NOT switch them out.  Rice wine adds a sweetness and depth of flavor whereas rice vinegar adds an acidic flavor.  I use “Kikkoman Aji-Mirin: Sweet Cooking Rice Seasoning” which is commonly found in the Asian section of most grocery stores or you can Amazon it.  I highly suggest you google image before you head off to the grocery store so you know exactly what you are looking for.  The best substitute for rice wine is pale dry sherry.
  • Oyster sauce:  Oyster sauce is a staple in Asian cooking.  It is a thick, brown sauce with a balance between sweet and salty with an earthy undertone, due to the oyster extracts.  You can find oyster sauce in the Asian aisle of any supermarket for only a few dollars.
  • Asian sweet chili sauce:  It is sweet and spicy and packed with flavor from a combination of red chilies, onion, garlic, brown sugar and fish sauce.  It can be found in the Asian section of your grocery store.
  • ginger:  adds a warm spicy, almost pepper taste.  You only need 1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger so feel free to use ¼ teaspoon powdered ginger instead.
  • garlic:  garlic makes everything better!  You can use more or less garlic depending on your garlic love.  You can substitute the fresh garlic with 1 teaspoon garlic powder.
  • green bell pepper:  you can substitute with any of your favorite vegetables with similar cooking times.

Is Cashew Chicken Gluten Free?

As written, this Cashew Chicken recipe is not gluten free –  but almost!  To make gluten free Cashew Chicken, simply use gluten free soy sauce or tamari.  You will also want to double check that your oyster sauce is gluten free.  The rest of the Crockpot Cashew Chicken ingredients are gluten free.

showing how to make Crock Pot Cashew Chicken by pouring the sauce in to the crockpot

How Do I make Cashew Chicken Tender?

If you have wondered how Chinese restaurants attain such smooth, tender chicken, it is through this simple velveting process.  Velvetitng is essentially coating chicken or meat in baking soda.  The baking soda tenderizes the chicken by breaking down the chicken fibers.

Velveting takes just a couple extra minutes in this Crock Pot Cashew Chicken recipe but is SO worth it! You truly can taste the textural difference (but not the baking soda)!

In many stir fry recipes, you would wash off the baking soda after 30 minutes or so, but in this Cashew Chicken, you also combine the baking soda with cornstarch, salt and pepper which not only adds flavor to the chicken but protects it from the heat of the slow cooker and allows it to cook evenly.

up close of a wooden spoon serving Slow Cooker Chinese Cashew Chicken recipe with vegetables

How to Make Cashew Chicken

STEP 1 – Velveting  

Combine some cornstarch, baking soda, salt and pepper and chicken in a plastic bag and shake  until well coated.  I love this bag technique because it keeps your hands clean!

STEP 2 – Stir Fry

Cook the chicken until golden in a skillet, about 2-3 minutes per side then transfer it to the slow cooker.  This quick stir fry ensures the chicken doesn’t get soggy and locks in all the flavor.  

STEP 3 – STIR FRY SAUCE

The Slow Cooker Chinese Cashew Chicken Sauce is a quick whisking of all your favorite Asian sauce components in perfect proportion: soy sauce, chicken broth, oyster sauce, Chinese rice wine, honey, sesame oil, garlic, ginger and red pepper flakes.  I also added 1 tablespoon Asian Sweet Chili Sauce to the recipe that was not in Kelly’s original that you can feel free to leave out but I think almost everything is better with Asian Sweet Chili Sauce and its subtle sweet heat.

STEP 4 – COOK

Cook on low for about 3 hours then stir in your cornstarch slurry, bell peppers and UNSALTED cashews and cook for an additional 30 minutes to thicken the sauce.

STEP 5 – Eat!

Can I make this Cashew Chicken on the Stove?

Yes, you sure can!  Many times I have looked at my menu for dinner at 4 pm and realized I am having a slow cooker recipe.  There is no time now for a slow cooker, oops!  But never fear, this Cashew Chicken is here!

  1. Bread and stir fry chicken per recipe (do not cook through).
  2. Mix together sauce including the 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch and 2 tablespoons water listed under “add later.”
  3. Add sauce and to the chicken and simmer gently until sauce is thickened and chicken is cooked through.
  4. Stir in cashews.

Now look, dinner was saved!  Cashew Chicken is easy in a slow cooker or stove top!

top view of easy Crock Pot Cashew Chicken in the slow cooker with a wooden spoon

Tips for the Best Cashew Chicken

Can I add Other Vegetables?

Yes!  You can definitely add more vegetables at the same time you add your bell peppers or swap the bell peppers for your favorite veggies.  Broccoli, zucchini, bok choy, snap peas, celery, mushrooms, edamame, water chestnuts etc. would all be great vegetable options that only take about 30 minutes in the slow cooker on high.

What Cashews Should I use?

Don’t be tempted to use salted cashews or your dish will be disastrously salty! In a pinch, you can rinse the salt off and sauté cashews to dry them out.  Add last to keep their crunch!

Should I use Chicken Breasts or Chicken Thighs?

You can use either chicken breast or chicken thighs for this Cashew Chicken recipe.  Both will emerge tender due to the velveting and slow cooking method of the crockpot.  For the juiciest chicken, however, opt for chicken thighs as the dark meat is inherently juicer and hard to overcook or dry out.

Can I use different Protein?

Looking beyond poultry, try out cubed tofu, pork or shrimp.  If using shrimp add at the end as shrimp gets rubbery if overcooked.

How Do I thicken the Sauce?

As I’ve noted in the actual Crock Pot Cashew Chicken recipe, if you like a thicker sauce, then I recommend removing the liquid from the slow cooker at the end of cooking and simmering it for just a couple minutes on the stove until thickened then adding it back to the slow cooker.

I don’t know if it’s because I have an extra-large slow cooker, but this seems to be my preferred method for extra thick sauce in most crockpot recipes.  It only takes minutes and works like a charm.

healthy Cashew Chicken in a white bowl with bell peppers, cashews and sesame seeds

How to make Healthy Cashew Chicken?

This Crock pot Cashew Chicken is already healthier than most because it is not deep fried.  If you are looking to make it even heather:

  • Add more veggies or substitute some chicken for vegetables.  The more vegetables, the better!
  • Use chicken breasts instead of chicken thighs.
  • Reduce the amount of cashews.
  • Serve Cashew Chicken with with zucchini noodles, cauliflower rice or quinoa instead of rice.

CAN I PREPARE SLOW COOKER CASHEW CHICKEN AHEAD OF TIME?

Yes!  You can prep all of the ingredients ahead of time so this Cashew  Chicken  literally comes together in minutes:

  • whisk the sauce ingredients together and store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
  • add the breading/velveting ingredients to a large ziploc bag.
  • chop the bell pepper, garlic and ginger and store in separate baggies/containers in the refrigerator.
  • cut chicken and store in a separate container in the refrigerator.
  • in the next 48 hours, take all the prepared ingredients out and proceed with the recipe without any of the prep!

CAN I FREEZE CASHEW CHICKEN?

Yes!  To freeze Cashew Chicken, simply make the recipe as instructed then:

  1. Allow the chicken and sauce to cool completely.
  2. Portion Cashew Chicken into either several 1 quart freezer bags (individual servings) or 1 gallon freezer bag (family serving) or a freezer-safe container.
  3. Label and freeze for up to 3 months.
  4. When ready to use, thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
  5. Reheat in the crockpot for 1-2 hours or stovetop until warmed thru and bubbly.
Slow Cooker Chinese Cashew Chicken- this is the best cashew chicken I have ever tried! the chicken is incredibly tender, the sauce is wonderfully flavorful and the punch of buttery, creamy cashews is out of this world! Definitely a family favorite and so much heather than takeout!

If you love Chinese fakeout takeout, be sure to check out my Sesame Noodles, Beef and Broccoli, Mongolian Chicken, Mongolian Beef, Sesame Chicken, General Tso’s Chicken,  Sweet and Sour Chicken, Kung Pao Shrimp, Honey Lemon ChickenPineapple Ginger Chicken, Coconut Cashew Chicken, just to name a few!

Want to try this Cashew Chicken Recipe?

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©Carlsbad Cravings by CarlsbadCravings.com

Slow Cooker Chinese Cashew Chicken- this is the best cashew chicken I have ever tried! the chicken is incredibly tender, the sauce is wonderfully flavorful and the punch of buttery, creamy cashews is out of this world! Definitely a family favorite and so much heather than takeout!

Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

This Slow Cooker Chinese Cashew Chicken is loaded with incredibly tender chicken, wonderfully flavorful sauce and buttery, creamy cashews.  It is destined to become a better than AND much healthier than takeout family favorite! 
Servings: 4 -6 servings
Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 3 hours

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Ingredients

CHICKEN

  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon pepper
  • 1 1/2 lbs boneless skinless chicken thighs or breasts, cut into bite-sized cubes
  • 2 teaspoons cooking oil

SAUCE

ADD LATER:

  • 1 1/2 tablespoons cornstarch
  • 2 tablespoons cool water
  • 1 green bell pepper cut into 1” cubes
  • 2/3 cups UNSALTED cashews, roasted

GARNISH (optional)

  • sesame seeds
  • 1 green onion, thinly sliced
  • Sriracha/ Asian chili sauce to taste

Instructions

  • In a large Ziploc bag, toss together 1 tablespoon cornstarch, baking soda, and pepper. Add chicken, seal and shake until well coated.
  • In a large skillet, heat 2 teaspoons oil over medium-high heat. Cook the chicken, about 2-3 minutes per side until browned but not cooked throuth; transfer to the slow cooker.
  • In a medium bowl, whisk together all of the Sauce ingredients then pour over chicken. Cover and cook on LOW for 2-3 hours.
  • About 30 minutes prior to serving, whisk together 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch with 2 tablespoons cool water in a small bowl and stir into the slow cooker. Toss in the bell pepper and cashews and stir to combine. Turn the heat to high and allow the sauce to cook and thicken up for 20-30 minutes. ***If you would like thicker sauce after 20 minutes, then remove sauce from slow cooker to a small saucepan and boil until thickened (2-3 minutes) then stir back into slow cooker (this is what I do).
  • Taste and season with salt, pepper, sriracha to taste. Serve hot over rice. Garnish with sesame seeds and green onions, if desired.

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Source:  Slow Cooker Asian Cookbook by Kelly Kwok, very slightly adapted

Reader Interactions

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36 Comments

  1. Ami@NaiveCookCooks says

    I love love cashew chicken but never made it at home!! I am loving this slow cooker version, can’t wait to try!! 🙂

    • Jen says

      I am excited for you to try it! After I made it I was craving it for days! Hope you love it just as much!

  2. Kristen Chidsey says

    You + Kelly equals a delicious combo!! I love her recipes and can’t wait to give this a try!

    • Jen says

      Thanks so much Kristen! Her book is packed with delicious recipes – I had a difficult time deciding what to share!

    • Jen says

      I am glad you are going to try this, the flavor is wonderful! For the perfect sauce consistency, I would recommend adding the liquid to a saucepan to boil as I suggest in the directions. Enjoy!

  3. Kelly says

    Oh Jen, this cashew chicken and these photos are just perfection! Thank you SO much for your incredibly thoughtful and kind words. I am always blown away by everything that you make 🙂 And of course, thank you so much for sharing the recipe and my book. I love that you added sweet chili sauce! Looks beyond gorgeous!

    • Jen says

      Hi Kelly, it was an honor to showcase one of your amazing recipes! Patrick and I both absolutely loved it and I can’t wait to make many more recipes from your book – truly a work of art and an incredible accomplishment!

  4. Kathy says

    Just tried this tonight and it was fabulous. Followed the recipe exactly except added broccoli with the peppers to add some veggies. Served over quinoa. Such a hit! Is now a go to recipe

    • Jen says

      Yay! I am so happy this was a winner Kathy! Love the addition of broccoli and it sounds fabulous over quinoa! Thanks for taking the time to comment!

  5. Becky Asher says

    Hi Jen,

    I found you by following Pinch of Yum. Your recipes ROCK!!! (so do Lindsay’s)
    Now I’ve found Kelly Kwok through you. I purchased her book with your recommendation.
    I just happen to work for a Chinese couple. Have used many recipes from everyone’s sites.
    I’m always thrilled when I deliver a top notch meal to them.
    Thank you for your dedication and and talent.
    Continued blessings.

    Becky Asher

    • Jen says

      Hi Becky, so nice to “meet” you! I am so glad you found my site and are enjoying my recipes and I am excited for you to try out Kelly’s book, so many winners! Thanks for taking the time to comment. I look forward to hearing what recipes you try!

  6. Marjorie Mullen says

    Made the cashew chicken tonight and we loved it! Amazing. The chicken was most tender and the flavors were great. Thank you for a new fav dish!!

    • Jen says

      Awesome Majorie, I’m so happy you enjoyed it, thank you!

  7. Rebecca says

    Hi, I’m excited to make this! Quick question: do you think I could sub in fish sauce for the oyster sauce, and mirin for the Chinese rice wine? I’d like to use what I already have on hand…. Thanks!

    • Jen says

      Hi Rebecca, unfortunately, I would not substitute fish sauce for oyster sauce. Oyster sauce has a much lighter flavor – its more sweet, with a salty undertone while fish sauce is prominently salty BUT you can use mirin 🙂 Hope that helps!

  8. Dave Tucker says

    Hi Jen,

    This recipe was the third one of yours that I tried and just like the other two it came out fabulous and was actually fun to make. My wife usually does all the cooking so for me to be able to cook something that requires following a plan is a rare thing. However, I literally had to double the sauce recipe. After following your directions there was barely enough to cover the chicken. Other than that, it turned out great!!! Keep the recipes coming.

    • Jen says

      Thank you for such a nice comment Dave! I am thrilled you are enjoying my recipes and are able to show off your skills to your 🙂 I hope you have fun exploring more of my site!

  9. Cherie says

    Can this recipe be frozen and reheated? We’ve made it before and LOVE it, and I’m looking to make a few frozen dinners before our baby arrives. Thanks!

    • Jen says

      Congrats on the baby! Yes this cashew chicken should freeze great!

  10. Erik says

    Made this recipe, and loved it! It has a real taste of Asia. Many thanks for this (and other!!) wonderful recipe.

    • Jen says

      Thank you for making my recipes and for taking the time to comment! I’m so pleased you enjoyed this cashew chicken!

  11. Lindsey says

    This was so yummy! (Even when I accidentally used rice vinegar instead of rice wine) lol Can you tell me the nutrition facts?

  12. Genie says

    Thsi was so easy to make and it was Incredible! My friend asked for the recipe which was quite an honor because she has cooked so many fabulous meals before. I will be making this one of my go to favorites!

    • Jen says

      Thank you so much Genie, I’m so pleased the cashew chicken was such a hit!

  13. Tania says

    Delicious and easy, and my 13 year old lover it. I found it a tad salty, even with the low sodium broth and soy sauce. I did forget rice wine. Would that have countered some of the saltiness?I

    This was my first time on your blog. Carlsbad is awesome (loved the Farmers Market). I can’t wait to make the pear pie for Thanksgiving!

    • Jen says

      Welcome to my site Tania! The rice wine would have diluted the salt somewhat but probably not make a huge difference. Did you use reduced sodium soy, reduced sodium chicken broth and raw, unsalted cashews? If the answer is yes to the above, then next time replace half of the chicken broth with water. Hope that helps!

  14. Liz says

    Are you supposed to cook the chicken all the way through before putting it in the crock pot? I just made this and am wondering if I overlooked because the chicken chunks are pulling a part when I stir at the end. Any ideas? Thanks.

    • Jen says

      Hi Liz, I’m sorry for the confusion. The chicken is supposed to be browned but not cooked through, I’ll clarify in the recipe. If the chicken is falling apart, hopefully it means it’s extra tender! Less time you can just cook it less time in the crockpot. Hope it’s still tasty!

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  16. lisa says

    Just made the Cashew Chicken Slow cooker tonight. This is the best slow cooker receipe I have ever had. My husband is a picky eater and even he asked for seconds and has been raving about it.

    • Jen says

      That is so kind! I’m thrilled that you and your husband loved it!

  17. Bethany says

    So good! I thought it was better than our Chinese restaurant we go to. This is going on a rotation in my house.

    • Jen says

      So happy to hear that it did not disappoint!