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+ servings

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! 
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 3 hours
Total Time 3 hours 10 minutes
Servings 4 -6 servings

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.