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Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

This slow cooker cashew chicken is a healthy spin of a classic Chinese-American dish. Ditch the sugar! My crockpot version paleo and Whole30 compatible but not lacking in flavor. Instructions to make this easy chicken recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.

overhead shot of cooked Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken in a white plate garnished with sesame seeds

 

Ingredients For Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

  • Chicken Thighs
  • Bell Pepper
  • Green Onion
  • Coconut Aminos or Soy Sauce
  • Rice Vinegar
  • Sesame Oil
  • Ground or Fresh Ginger
collage of ingredients for slow cooker cashew chicken

before

How To Make Cashew Chicken In The Slow Cooker

Slow Cooker

  1. Add all ingredients except the cashews to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
  2. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours, LOW 4-6.
  3. Stir in cashews. Let sit on WARM for 5-10 minutes or until cashews are soft to your liking.

Instant Pot

  1. Add all ingredients except the cashews to the Instant Pot.
  2. Close and seal vent. Select manual setting and set time for 6 minutes. When cooking time is complete, quick-release the pressure.
  3. Open the lid and stir in the cashews. Let sit on WARM for 5-10 minutes or until cashews are soft to your liking.
overhead shot of uncooked chicken in a black slow cooker

before

Healthy Cashew Chicken

Cashew chicken is a popular Chinese-American dish where chicken is stir-fried with ingredients like bell peppers, onions, and of course cashew nuts. The sauce is traditionally a savory brown sauce made from soy sauce & other seasonings. While cashew chicken is already considered a healthier Chinese-American dishes because it uses less oil and has more vegetables and lean protein, it was important to me that this recipe be paleo and Whole30 compatible. In order for that to happen, I had to clean up the sauce a bit. Unfortunately it’s not low-carb because of the cashews. And since the recipe is called cashew chicken, it doesn’t make sense to omit them. If cashews aren’t your thing, this probably isn’t the recipe for you.

overhead shot of cooked chicken in a black slow cooker with cashews added

after, add cashews

What Kind Of Chicken To Use

The is best made with chicken thighs. You can use chicken breasts but please note that chicken can quickly overcook in the slow cooker. The result will be very dry chicken. 

overhead shot of cooked cashew chicken in a black slow cooker

 

FAQs & Tips

  • Cashew chicken is usually served with rice or noodles. Personally, I like to serve this cashew chicken over cauliflower rice or white rice. 
  • Store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
  • I used half of a green bell pepper and half of a red bell pepper. You can use 1  whole green or red.
  • I used a  6-quart slow cooker for this recipe.

overhead shot of cooked Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken in a white plate garnished with sesame seeds

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overhead shot of cooked Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken in a white plate garnished with sesame seeds

Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

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This slow cooker cashew chicken is a healthy spin of a classic Chinese-American dish. Ditch the sugar! My crockpot version paleo and Whole30 compatible but not lacking in flavor. Instructions to make this easy chicken recipe in the Instant Pot are also included.

  • Total Time: 3 hours 10 minutes
  • Yield: Serves 4

Ingredients

Units Scale
  • 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken thighs (fat trimmed & cut into pieces)
  • 1 cup whole roasted, unsalted cashews
  • 1 bell pepper, cut into 1-inch pieces
  • 1 green onion, chopped finely
  • 1 tablespoon oil (for Instant Pot only)
  • 1/2 cup coconut aminos (or low-sodium soy sauce)
  • 3 tablespoons rice vinegar
  • 1/2 teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 tablespoon fresh ginger
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • Salt & pepper to taste

Instructions

Slow Cooker

  1. Add all ingredients except the cashews to the slow cooker. Stir to mix well.
  2. Cook HIGH 2-3 hours, LOW 4-6.
  3. Stir in cashews. Let sit on WARM for 5-10 minutes or until cashews are soft to your liking.

Instant Pot

  1. Add all ingredients except the cashews to the Instant Pot.
  2. Close and seal vent. Select manual setting and set time for 6 minutes. When cooking time is complete, quick-release the pressure.
  3. Open the lid and stir in the cashews. Let sit on WARM for 5-10 minutes or until cashews are soft to your liking.
  • Author: Shannon Epstein
  • Prep Time: 10 minutes

Nutrition

  • Serving Size:
  • Calories: 636
  • Sugar: 3.9 g
  • Sodium: 887.5 mg
  • Fat: 34.8 g
  • Saturated Fat: 7 g
  • Carbohydrates: 25.8 g
  • Fiber: 1.9 g
  • Protein: 55.3 g
  • Cholesterol: 213.1 mg

 

 

 

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Sheryl R Cooper

Sunday 21st of May 2023

So, I guess you just add the cashews at the end??? You don't mention them

Slow Cooker/Instant Pot Beef Stir-Fry (Paleo/Whole30) - Fit Slow Cooker Queen

Monday 7th of January 2019

[…] love a good homemade Chinese recipe. Like my cashew chicken, this recipe is super easy to cook on your own, and you can make it in either your slow cooker or […]

Maria Anne M

Tuesday 6th of November 2018

I LOVE cashews, but I don't order this dish much due to the unhealthy sauces used in take away places. I cant wait to try this healthy version!