• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
freebie! download my top 8 dessert recipe ebook

Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

Erin Lives Whole

Healthy Eats + Delicious Treats

  • Recipe Index
    • Course
      • Appetizers
      • Breakfast
      • Lunch & Dinner
      • Dessert
      • Soup
      • Sides
      • Drinks
      • Snacks
      • Sauces & Dips
    • Dessert Type
      • Bars & Balls
      • Breads & Muffins
      • Brownies
      • Cakes
      • Candy
      • Cookies
      • Frozen
      • Pie & Cobbler
      • Other
    • Diet
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Nut-Free
      • Paleo Friendly
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Method
      • 30 Minute or Less
      • Air Fryer
      • Grill
      • Instant Pot
      • Meal Prep
      • No Bake
      • One Pot/Pan
      • Oven
      • Stove Top
    • Season
      • Fall
      • Holiday
      • Winter
      • Spring
      • Summer
    • All Recipes
  • Ebooks
  • Shop
  • Lifestyle
  • About
    • Work With Me
    • Contact
  • Subscribe to receive latest recipes

    Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

  • Browse by Diet
    • Gluten-Free
    • Dairy-Free
    • Nut-Free
    • Paleo Friendly
    • Vegan
    • Vegetarian
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch & Dinner
  • Drinks
  • Snacks
  • Dessert
  • Appetizers
Home By Meal Lunch and Dinner

Healthy Cashew Chicken

★★★★★ 18 Reviews Recipe Print
gf df
By: ErinPosted: 12/18/19Updated: 9/22/20

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

healthy cashew chicken

Healthy cashew chicken stir fry is the best clean eating Chinese food takeout recipe that you’ll ever have! It’s easy to make and is packed with healthy ingredients like peppers, cashews, and served over cauliflower rice!

plate of cashew chicken

If you are looking for the perfect meal to serve during the week, this is the meal for you. Did we mention your family and friends will also think you ordered this from Chinese takeout? It’s that good.

Growing up, it was such a special occasion for us to get Chinese food. I used to beg my mom and dad to order it for us because it was always one of my favorites, and every once in a while they would order us the salty, deep fried goodness that was cashew chicken, lemon chicken, General Tsos, and so on.

Those memories will forever live in me! Just like my longing for that delicious Chinese food…

So we created a healthy cashew chicken recipe without all the added ingredients like traditional Chinese takeout. This healthier takeout meal is so delicious because you can really make it to your liking. Want more sauce or more spice? Add in more flavor! Want to cut back on sodium? Use a reduced sodium soy sauce.

There are only a handful of ingredients in this recipe and it tastes just like your traditional Chinese takeout except this is healthy take out. Trust me on this one! Everyone is going to love it.

healthy chinese takeout

Healthy Chinese Takeout

Need to throw dinner together in twenty minutes but don’t want to just order take out? I’ve got the perfect solution with this healthy Chinese takeout: healthy cashew chicken.

One bite into this saucy Chinese takeout and you’re going to be impressing guests for the rest of your life!

Ingredients in cashew chicken

The ingredients in this healthy cashew chicken are simple, can all be found in the grocery store, and are easy to throw together.

cashew chicken in sauce pan

Cashew chicken ingredients

  • chicken breasts
  • red bell pepper
  • broccoli
  • garlic
  • ginger
  • water chestnuts
  • cashews

Chinese sauce ingredients

  • soy sauce (tamari if gluten free)
  • sesame oil
  • vinegar
  • honey
  • cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
  • water
chicken, broccoli, peppers in pan

Make healthy cashew chicken

Healthy cashew chicken is actually so easy to make. Don’t let the ingredient list fool you – it’s actually just a bunch of ingredients mixed together for the sauce.

First up, dice your chicken breasts into bite size pieces. You’ll do the same for the broccoli and the peppers and then set them aside.

Prepare the sauce next by whisking together all of the ingredients. You’ll then set them aside until you’re ready to add into your chicken mixture.

In a hot pan heat 1 tbsp oil, cook your chicken breasts until almost all the way cooked. Take them out and then add 1 tbsp oil to the pan and throw the bell pepper and broccoli in.

When it’s almost all the way cooked, add in the garlic and ginger. Then stir in the sauce and let it thicken. Once it starts to thicken, stir in the chicken and cashews. Cook for a few more minutes until thickened.

Serve over rice or cauliflower rice!

cashew chicken on a plate

How to store leftovers

While we don’t think there will be many healthy cashew chicken leftovers, we’re providing a bunch of ideas for how to properly store leftovers just in case.

To store leftovers in a safe manner, make sure all food comes to room temperature or luke warm before packaging up.

Once its at the appropriate temperature, use glass storage containers or plastic tupperware to put the rest of the food in. Seal them properly with a tight lid and place in the refrigerator.

Leftovers will be good for up to three days. Discard after three days.

In order to reheat, take out of refrigerator and place into microwave-safe container or heat on stove.

Enjoy!

If you make this recipe, be sure to comment below and let me know how it was! Also tag @erinliveswhole on Instagram and use the hashtag #erinliveswhole so I can see it and feature you!

If you liked this recipe, you’ll want to try these!

  • Paleo Chicken Tenders
  • Honey Mustard Chicken
  • Healthier Buffalo Chicken Dip
healthy cashew chicken
★★★★★ 5 from 18 reviews

Healthy Cashew Chicken

Healthy cashew chicken stir fry is the best clean eating Chinese food takeout recipe that you’ll ever have! It’s easy to make and is packed with healthy ingredients like peppers, cashews, and served over cauliflower rice!

Prep: 20Cook: 10Total: 30 minutes
Yield 6 servings 1x
Print Pin it Rate

Ingredients

  • 1.5 lbs chicken breasts, diced into 1 inch cubes
  • 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
  • 1 large red bell pepper, diced into 1 inch cubes
  • 2 cups roughly chopped broccoli
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tsp fresh ginger
  • 1/2 cup water chestnuts
  • 3/4 cup cashews

Sauce

  • 1/3 cup soy sauce (tamari if gluten free)
  • 1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
  • 1.5 tsp sesame oil
  • 3 tbsp honey
  • 3 tbsp cornstarch (or arrowroot powder)
  • 3/4 cup water

Instructions

  1. Make sure your chicken and veggies are chopped and ready to be cooked. Set aside.
  2. Prepare the sauce by whisking together all of the ‘sauce’ ingredients in a small bowl. Set it aside.
  3. In a large pan, heat 1 tbsp oil.
  4. Cook your chicken breasts until almost all the way cooked, about 5 minutes, turning a few times.
  5. Once mostly cooked, take the chicken out of the pan and set aside.
  6. Add 1 more tbsp oil to the pan and throw the bell pepper and broccoli in.
  7. After sauteing for 3-4 minutes, add in the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 more minute.
  8. Stir in the sauce and let it thicken.
  9. Once it starts to thicken, stir back in the chicken, and add the cashews and water chestnuts.
  10. Cook for a few more minutes until thickened.
  11. Serve over rice or cauliflower rice! Sprinkle with more cashews and sesame seeds.
Author: ErinCategory: dinner, gluten-free

Did you make this?

Leave a comment below and tag @erinliveswhole on social media!

erinliveswhole

There may be affiliate links in this post! By purchasing a product I recommend, I may receive a small compensation. However, I only recommend products I absolutely love and use myself. Thank you for supporting Erin Lives Whole, it helps keep this blog afloat 🙂

You May Also Like...

  • Healthy Apple Chicken Sausage Stuffing
  • chicken parmesan on plate
    Healthy Baked Chicken Parmesan
  • slice of healthy yellow cake
    Healthy Yellow Cake (Paleo, Gluten Free)
  • healthy chicken pot pie soup
    Healthy Chicken Pot Pie Soup (Dairy-Free)
free ebook

get my free top 8 desserts ebook!

A dessert lover’s heaven – six healthier sweet treats all made with six ingredients or less!

download now

Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

Previous Post
Next Post

Primary Sidebar

Hey there!

I’m Erin. Creator of Erin Lives Whole, a food blog with delicious and easy healthy recipes that will leave you feeling good. We’ve got everything from wholesome baked goods to comforting savory dishes. I can’t wait to see what you whip up! Read More...

Shop My Grocery Downloads

Do you head to the grocery store and feel overwhelmed with all of the options? Well, I've created FIVE downloadable and printable grocery lists from five different and popular grocery stores. All of my absolute must haves from Whole Foods, Target, a regular grocer, Trader Joe's, and Costco!

Shop Now

Popular Posts

chickpea brownie on a tray

Chickpea Brownies

bite out of healthy cookie dough ball

Healthy Cookie Dough Balls

cauliflower wings on plate

Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

pouring syrup on stack of oatmeal blender pancakes

Oatmeal Blender Pancakes

get my free top 8 desserts ebook!

A dessert lover’s heaven – six healthier sweet treats all made with six ingredients or less!

Download Now

Join my newsletter for latest recipes!

Trending Recipes

banana bread muffin on a rack

Paleo Banana Bread Muffins

cinnamon roll on plate

Best Ever Cinnamon Rolls

stack of baked blueberry oatmeal cups

Baked Blueberry Oatmeal Cups

cauliflower wings on plate

Buffalo Cauliflower Wings

Featured On

Get latest updates To your inbox!

Back to Top
© 2021 Erin Lives Whole
  • Privacy Policy
Site Credits Designed by Melissa Rose Design Developed by Once Coupled