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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!
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
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 ingredients
- chicken breasts
- red bell pepper
- broccoli
- garlic
- ginger
- water chestnuts
- cashews
Chinese sauce ingredients
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!
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!
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!
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
Instructions
- Make sure your chicken and veggies are chopped and ready to be cooked. Set aside.
- Prepare the sauce by whisking together all of the ‘sauce’ ingredients in a small bowl. Set it aside.
- In a large pan, heat 1 tbsp oil.
- Cook your chicken breasts until almost all the way cooked, about 5 minutes, turning a few times.
- Once mostly cooked, take the chicken out of the pan and set aside.
- Add 1 more tbsp oil to the pan and throw the bell pepper and broccoli in.
- After sauteing for 3-4 minutes, add in the garlic and ginger and cook for 1 more minute.
- Stir in the sauce and let it thicken.
- Once it starts to thicken, stir back in the chicken, and add the cashews and water chestnuts.
- Cook for a few more minutes until thickened.
- Serve over rice or cauliflower rice! Sprinkle with more cashews and sesame seeds.
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Paige says
Sooooo yummy! Made it using mushrooms instead of peppers. Need to triple this next time for leftovers 🙂
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Erin says
Hi Paige, so glad you liked it and made it your own!!
Charlotte says
Made this recipe as meal prep for my boyfriend and we loved it so much he actually made it HIMSELF, twice!!! Super easy and great for prepping for the week. Thanks Erin!!
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Erin says
Hi Charlotte, so happy you both loved it!!
Erin Elwood says
I decided to try this recipe last week and loved it so much that I made it twice! It is so delicious and I love the fact that it is healthy. I made it for the family and everyone loved it, even the picky eaters. I then made it for my Mother who also gave it rave reviews. Thank you, Erin! I love your insta posts, your website and your recipes.
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Erin says
Hi Erin, I am so happy you and your family loved it! Thank you for all your support!!
Kate says
This was amazing!! I subbed tofu to make it vegetarian and it was delicious. I sent it to my mom right after and told her to make it too. Thanks Erin!
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Erin says
Hi Kate, so happy you both loved it and made it your own!!
Sarah Koch says
We have this and also the sesame chicken from Erin’s ebook on a bi-weekly rotation meal plan! The whole family loves it, it is easy to prep with minimal clean up, and heats up great for my husband to take for leftovers to work the next day! Love it over lo-mein and over rice!
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Erin says
Hi Sarah, so glad you loved it!!
Jen says
This recipe is easy and delicious! Used cauliflower instead of broccoli, and it turned out amazing. So excited for all the leftovers I’ll be eating this week 🙂
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Erin says
Hi Jen, so happy you loved it!!
Heather says
This is amazing! Made it for my boyfriend and he cleaned his plate. Definitely will be making this again
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Erin says
Hi Heather, so happy you both loved it!!
Lauren says
My favorite dish so far!!
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Erin says
Hi Lauren, so happy you enjoyed it!
Hayley Lindahl says
LOVE this recipe! I make this at least once per month and it never disappoints. I double the sauce and skip the cashews. Erin kills it again with this staple dinner!
★★★★★
Erin says
Hi Hayley, so glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for your support!
Erin says
Love this recipe!!! Very simple ingredients and so flavorful!! A great meal to add to my list. Thank you for sharing!!!
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Erin says
Hi Erin, so glad you liked it! 🙂
Janelle Molitor says
Soo good!!!
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Erin says
Hi Janelle, so glad you liked it!