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Home Meal Prep Chicken Meal Prep Recipes
5
/5
47 minutes

Cashew Chicken Stir Fry

Meal Prep Meal Prep
Jump to Recipe
By: Denise Bustard6 Comments
Posted: 3/21/22 Updated: 3/21/22

This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.

Cashew chicken stir fry is a simple yet flavorful weeknight meal that works great for reheat meal prep lunches! Made with a hoisin sesame sauce and served with broccoli and rice.

Stir fries are a great way to mix up your weekly meal prep, and offer a lot of flavor variations and options - from maple ginger cashew chicken to honey sriracha chicken stir fry, and this cashew chicken stir fry!

cashew chicken portioned out with rice and broccoli in meal prep containers
Jump to... show
1 reasons you'll love this recipe
2 recipe video
3 Ingredient notes
4 step by step directions
5 Combine Sauce
6 Cook Broccoli
7 Cook Chicken
8 Add Sauce
9 portion out
10 Meal Prep
11 FAQ
12 Substitutions
13 Storage
14 More Stir Fry Recipes
15 Cashew Chicken Stir Fry

Cashew chicken stir fry is so simple to throw together, but delivers big on flavor! If you're looking for a classic meal that the whole family will enjoy, packed with healthy veggies, protein, crunchy cashews and fluffy rice - you're in the right place!

Best of all, you can meal prep it in two different ways: cook ahead and reheat, or prep the ingredients ahead and cook when you're ready to enjoy.

reasons you'll love this recipe

  • the chicken cooks up to be so tender and delicious in the hoisin sesame sauce - even tastier than takeout!
  • it works well for meal prep as reheat lunches, or you can prep the ingredients ahead and cook later
  • it's a healthy, balanced meal that the whole family will enjoy

recipe video

Watch the video below to see how to cook this recipe! You can find more of my recipe videos on my YouTube channel.

Ingredient notes

ingredients required to make cashew chicken
  • Chicken - we used boneless skinless chicken breasts for this recipe, but boneless skinless chicken thighs work interchangeably
  • Broccoli - sauté or steam your broccoli! See how to prep and steam broccoli here!
  • Rice - cook up a batch of Instant Pot jasmine rice, basmati rice, or even brown rice
  • Cashews - for that signature flavor. You can omit, or swap for another nut such as slivered almonds.
  • Soy sauce - can be swapped for soy tamari or coconut aminos. We prefer using low sodium soy sauce!
  • Hoisin sauce - thick, savory and a bit sweet, hoisin sauce can be found in the international section of your grocery store. 
  • Cornstarch - can be swapped with equal volume arrowroot starch

step by step directions

cashew chicken sauce

Combine Sauce

In a ½ pint mason jar or salad dressing shaker, combine the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, water, sesame oil, cornstarch and garlic. Shake until combined.

Cook Broccoli

Add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a pan and heat over medium heat. Add the broccoli and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until cooked to your liking. Transfer to a clean plate.

cooking chicken breast in skillet

Cook Chicken

Add another 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan and add chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until cooked through and no longer pink.

cashew chicken tossed in sauce in skillet

Add Sauce

Shake up sauce, then pour over the chicken. Stir for 1-2 minutes, until sauce is thickened.

cashew chicken portioned out with rice and broccoli in meal prep containers

portion out

Remove from heat, sprinkle with green onions and cashews, and serve with the broccoli over rice.


Meal Prep

This stir fry works for meal prep in two different ways:

  1. prep ahead but don't cook - (3-4 days ahead; depends on the dates on your chicken) chop your veggies and chicken, shake up your sauce. This will save valuable time when you go to cook up your dinner.
  2. cook ahead - cook your stir fry, portion out with broccli and rice, and store in the fridge (up to 4 days) or the freezer (up to 3 months). Note that the cashews will soften if stored with the stir firy - store them seperately and add fresh if you want the crunch

Favorite Meal Prep Containers

Our tried and true favorite meal prep containers and jars that will keep your food fresh, help you reheat it evenly, and withstand the test of time. No more wasting your money, these are the absolute best containers out there!

Keep reading

FAQ

Can I make this meal prep low carb?

Absolutely! You could swap the rice for cauliflower rice, or zucchini noodles!

Can this cashew chicken stir fry be made gluten-free?

Sure! Just ensure that your hoisin sauce and soy sauce are gluten-free. Coconut aminos is a great gluten-free swap for soy sauce.

Can I use this stir fry sauce as a freezer chicken marinade?

That would be delicious! See 7 chicken marinade recipes you can freeze here - and tips for freezing your chicken in a marinade.

Substitutions

This cashew chicken stir fry is a very flexible recipe, and can be easily customized to your liking! Here are a few variations you could try:

  • swap the sauce for one of these 7 stir fry sauces
  • swap protein for boneless skinless chicken thighs, tofu, or pork!
  • swap rice for cauliflower rice, quinoa, or zucchini noodles
  • broccoli can be swapped for cauliflower, a stir fry veggie blend, or pretty much any vegetable such as bell peppers, spinach, broccolini, or bok choy!

Storage

  • Fridge - portion out with rice and broccoli, and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat - heat in the microwave until steaming hot.
  • Freezer - freeze for up to 3 months.
  • Thaw - in the fridge overnight before reheating in the microwave!

More Stir Fry Recipes

  • Lemon sesame chicken stir fry
  • Easy sweet chili shrimp stir fry
  • Peanut ginger tofu stir fry
  • Instant Pot coconut sweet chili stir fry
  • Lemongrass Thai ground pork stir fry

Did you make this? Tag me on social @sweetpeasandsaffron and be sure to leave a comment and rate the recipe!

cashew chicken portioned out with rice and broccoli in meal prep containers

Cashew Chicken Stir Fry

5 from 3 votes
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 37 mins
Total Time: 47 mins
Print Rate
Cashew chicken stir fry is a simple yet flavorful weeknight meal that works great for reheat meal prep lunches! Made with a hoisin sesame sauce and served with broccoli and rice.
4 servings

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 lb boneless skinless chicken breasts cut into 1 inch cubes; see note 1
  • Salt + pepper
  • 4-6 cups broccoli florets see note 2

Cashew sauce

  • 2 tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 2 tablespoons soy sauce I recommend reduced sodium; see note 3
  • 2 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 2 tablespoons water
  • 1 teaspoon sesame oil see note 4
  • 1 tablespoon cornstarch see note 5
  • 2 cloves garlic

To serve

  • ½ cup cashews
  • green onions ¼ cup or to your preference

Instructions 

  • Combine- in a ½ pint mason jar or salad dressing shaker, combine the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, water, sesame oil, cornstarch and garlic. Shake until combined.
    cashew chicken sauce
  • Cook broccoli- add 1 tablespoon olive oil to a pan and heat over medium heat. Add the broccoli and cook for 5-7 minutes, or until cooked to your liking. Transfer to a clean plate.
  • Cook chicken- add another 1 tablespoon olive oil to the pan and add chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5-7 minutes, until cooked through and no longer pink.
    cooking chicken breast in skillet
  • Add sauce- shake up sauce, then pour over the chicken. Stir for 1-2 minutes, until sauce is thickened.
    cashew chicken tossed in sauce in skillet
  • Garnish- remove from heat, sprinkle with green onions and cashews, and serve with the broccoli over rice.
    cashew chicken portioned out with rice and broccoli in meal prep containers

Tips:

  1. Swap protein for boneless skinless chicken thighs, tofu, or pork
  2. Broccoli can be swapped for cauliflower, a stir fry veggie blend, or pretty much any vegetable such as bell peppers, spinach, broccolini, or bok choy
  3. for gluten-free, swap for tamari, coconut aminos or liquid soy seasoning
  4. toasted or un-toasted sesame oil both work fine 
  5. cornstarch may be substituted with an equal volume of arrowroot starch
Storage
  • Fridge - portion out with rice and broccoli, and store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days.
  • Reheat - heat in the microwave until steaming hot.
  • Freezer - based on our experience, this recipe should freeze well, however, we have not tested this. You could try freezing with rice for up to 3 months.
  • Thaw - in the fridge overnight before reheating in the microwave.

Nutrition Information

Calories: 269kcal, Carbohydrates: 12g, Protein: 25g, Fat: 13g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g, Monounsaturated Fat: 7g, Trans Fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 108mg, Sodium: 265mg, Potassium: 592mg, Fiber: 3g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 624IU, Vitamin C: 82mg, Calcium: 70mg, Iron: 2mg
Author: Denise Bustard
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

© Sweet Peas & Saffron - Content and photographs are copyright protected. Sharing of this recipe is both encouraged and appreciated. Copying and/or pasting full recipes to any social media is strictly prohibited.

Did You Make This?Don't forget to leave a review below, and tag us on Instagram using @SweetPeasAndSaffron or #sweetpeasandsaffron
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Meet Denise Bustard

Denise Bustard is the creator of Sweet Peas and Saffron, a meal prep-focussed food blog. With a PhD in biochemistry, Denise takes a scientific approach to perfecting her recipes. You can find Denise's work featured on Huffington Post, MSN, Self and more.

Read more...

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Recipe Rating




  1. Jennifer says

    Posted on 4/21/22 at Posted on 4/21/22

    5 stars
    So good! Made and froze this in portions this weekend and just had the first one for lunch.

    Reply
    • Ben | Sweet Peas & Saffron says

      Posted on 5/3/22 at Posted on 5/3/22

      Hi Jennifer, so happy to hear this.😉
      Thanks for sharing

      Reply
  2. Jennifer says

    Posted on 4/15/22 at Posted on 4/15/22

    Have some chicken thighs right now that I need to use for some lunch prep and saw this. However, green onions and cashews appear in the directions, but not in the ingredients.

    What are the quantities and any other details about these two ingredients?

    Reply
    • Ben says

      Posted on 4/20/22 at Posted on 4/20/22

      Hi Jennifer,
      The green onions and cashews are garnishing to be added at the end. More information is listed on the recipe card.

      Reply
      • Jennifer says

        Posted on 4/21/22 at Posted on 4/21/22

        Ben, I see no information on the quantities for either garnish anywhere on the page -- not on the recipe "card" not in the step-by-step pictures, nowhere.

        Reply
        • Denise Bustard says

          Posted on 5/9/22 at Posted on 5/9/22

          Hi Jennifer, thank you for pointing that out! I've updated the recipe card with quantities.

          Reply

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Hi, I'm Denise

Meal prep took me from feeling constantly stressed out about meals to cool, collected and in control. I want to share this amazing and transformational habit with you, so you can feel in control, too! Read more ...

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