EASY Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps – This delicious recipe tastes better than take out and is done in 20 minutes. A flavorful one pot dish that the whole family will love!
I love to make these cashew chicken lettuce wraps when I’m craving Chinese food. They are a healthier alternative to takeout and have such amazing flavor. Some of my other favorite takeout recreations are General Tso’s chicken, sweet and sour chicken, chicken and vegetable stir fry and veggie beef ramen.
Cashew chicken
This cashew chicken recipe is perfect for summer and one you need to put on your “must try” list. It’s a meal that my whole family loves and my husband and I always end up going back for seconds. The chicken is so tender and the sweet and tangy sauce on top is truly divine. We love to serve the cashew chicken in lettuce wraps, but you could also serve over a bed of rice.
The cashews hidden throughout this dish are definitely what take the chicken over the top! Cashews are one my favorite snacks, so any chance I can sneak them into dinner, it’s a win. They have so much flavor and are always satisfying. I love to use the salted roasted cashews for this cashew chicken recipe… it always adds the perfect flavor. I may have snuck a few cashews while making it too. ;)
How to make cashew chicken
The best thing about this cashew chicken recipe is that it’s made in one pan and done in 20 minutes. So quick and easy! Scroll down for the printable cashew chicken recipe and video tutorial.
- In large skillet, heat butter and oil over medium-heat. Once butter melts, add single layer of chicken. Season with salt and pepper, then cook for 3 minutes. Once brown, flip and cook other side for additional 3 minutes. Turn heat to low and stir in garlic and cook.
- While chicken cooks, whisk together chicken stock, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar and corn starch in a small bowl. Stir into skillet and cook over low heat with chicken until it thickens. Then stir in cashews.
- Serve cashew chicken in lettuce cups or rice. Top with green onions if desired.
Ways to serve cashew chicken
Lettuce wraps: This is my favorite way to serve cashew chicken! It tastes light, fresh and is great for when you’re looking for a lower carb option.
Over rice: This cashew chicken tastes great served over white or brown rice. You could even use cauliflower rice or quinoa too. All taste amazing!
With noodles: You could easily mix this cashew chicken together with noodles. Rice noodles or spaghetti noodles would taste great.
Vegetable stir fry: If you want to make this dish into a cashew chicken stir fry, you could add all types of fresh veggies like broccoli, mushrooms, peppers, peas, zucchini, etc. Yum!
Quick tips about cashew chicken recipe
- I love to use salted roasted cashews, however you could use unsalted or raw cashews if you prefer.
- You can even use other types of nuts if desired, like slivered almonds.
- For a little heat, add a few dashes of sriracha or hot sauce to the cashew chicken sauce.
- Feel free to add in a few extra veggies, like mushrooms, peppers or broccoli.
Cashew Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 pounds chicken breast , cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 3/4 cup chicken stock
- 1/4 cup low sodium soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 1/2 Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons corn starch
- 3/4 cup unsalted cashews
- Lettuce cups or butter lettuce
- Green onions for serving, optional
- Salt and pepper , to taste
Instructions
- Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add in a single layer of chicken. Add a salt and pepper to chicken. Allow to cook for 3 minutes, or until brown and then flip onto the other side. Let cook an additional 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn the the heat to low and then stir in the garlic and cook.
- While the chicken is cooking, whisk together the chicken stock, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar, and corn starch in a small bowl. Stir into the skillet and cook with chicken over low heat, until the sauce has thickened. Stir in cashews.
- Serve in lettuce cups or over rice if preferred. Top with chopped green onions if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Seriously, get in my belly! I can’t wait to make this chicken with cashew nuts again. I think it needs to happen this week.
Hope you enjoy this cashew chicken recipe! It’s one of our favorites :)
Just like my favorite takeout cashew chicken but SO much more flavor! Cant wait to make again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
This came together a little quicker than other versions I’ve tried, but they are still tasty! Can’t wait to make them again.
I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
Taste great and easy to make!!
This was super easy to make!! It tasted absolutely so good
we love hoisin sauce and cashews, will give this recipe a try but will put over rice to fill up my husband. For those saying to salty you could use unsalted cashews, that is always what I buy for snacking.
Hope you enjoy! Great tip!
Can you serve these cold?
You could! I prefer the filling warm though. :)
Just made these tonight for my housewarming party. It was really great being able to let it simmer for most of the cooking time and stay with my guests instead of slaving away alone in the kitchen all night!
Super simple to make and super tasty, my guests loved them! Will definitely be adding this to my regular recipes rotation, thanks so much for sharing! C:
I’m so glad you enjoyed these wraps! :)
Why is it posted on Facebook as being low carb? 13 carbs per serving is not low carb to anyone on a low carb diet. Why isn’t it posted here as being low carb? I don’t understand how you could post low carb on Facebook. I really hope you respond to this question. I love the recipe but not that you use salted cashews. I would use unsalted and smash them up a bit too. There are a few ways to make this lower in carbs and you should share the low carb recipe if your Facebook post advertisement is low carb.
I’m sorry this was misleading for you, we will take out the low carb wording in future postings. Putting these in lettuce wraps helps decrease the amount of carbs in the recipe. You can also substitute a different nut or decrease the amount of cashews to lower the carbs.
I actually do consider these low carb, especially compared to most Asian dishes that are served over rice or have sugar in the sace. I don’t feel that calling them low carb is misleading. Everyone’s diet is different, but these work for me!
Your food looks delicious. To bad all these pop up ads are in the way .
My husband LOVED this so much we had no leftovers and I was asked to make it again asap!!!!
I’m so glad it was a hit! Thanks for your comment and review Andrea!