Savory and Slow Cooker Spicy Asian Cashew Chicken with minimal prep and the most amazing flavor.
Even though I’ve loved Asian flavors for as long as I can remember, there was a time when all I wanted when my family went out for Chinese was a bowl of white rice with soy sauce. No I’m not kidding, I would ask for a bowl of white rice and pour soy sauce right on top and that was my dinner. I might’ve snuck a few bites of sweet and sour chicken in there but for the most part my story consisted of a girl and her bowl of salty white rice.
Thankfully I don’t order that for my entree anymore because SODIUM ALERT! not to mention a severe lack of protein and other important nutrients. But truth be told I really don’t even go out for Chinese very often anymore. I craved it so often I decided it was time I started making some at home and once that began, I never looked back.
General Tso’s, Sweet and Sour Chicken, Broccoli Beef, Honey Walnut Shrimp, and allllll the other good stuff.
Cashew chicken has to be one of my very top picks as far as Asian dishes go just for the fact that it has cashews in it. I seriously love me some cashews and they miiiight just be my favorite nut so when my friends at Diamond Nuts started producing cashews I nearly cried tears of joy.
This slow cooker cashew chicken is basically my favorite ever cashew chicken (better than any restaurant version I’ve had for sure) but amped up with a little bit of a spicy kick – I LOVE love love it. The flavor, the no-fuss easiness of it. The way my house smells like spicy cashew heaven after it’s been slow cooking in my kitchen for a few hours. I love all of it.
What people are saying about this Slow Cooker Spicy Cashew Chicken
“Just cooked this!! Oh my gosh amazing would recommend 1000%!! I replaced the chili flakes for lime juice (because the other half doesn’t like spicy food) will definitely be replacing our Chinese takeaway with this – thank you!! 
” – Hayley
“Absolutely amazing!! I just made it last night for dinner for my husband and I. So much flavor and just enough of a kick! I was swooning all over again today at lunch when I had the leftovers. Perfect served with rice (I used brown).” – April
“Delicious!! Also worked really well for leftovers in lunch boxes for several days (it’s hard to know if a recipe will reheat well!). My husband and I tend to like things extra-saucy, so we made double the sauce, but it wasn’t necessary. Next time, I will just make a single batch of the sauce.” – Cassie
“Tried this today- what can I say: delicious! Took peanuts instead of cashews and it turned out great.” – Daniela
Slow Cooker Spicy Cashew Chicken
Savory and spicy slow cooked Asian cashew chicken with minimal prep and the most amazing flavor.
Ingredients
- 3-4 boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into 1 inch pieces
- 3 tablespoons oil
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 white onion, chopped
- 2 green onions, chopped
- 1/3 cup Diamond of California Cashew Halves
- cooked white or brown rice, for serving
Sauce (see note)
- 4 tablespoons soy sauce
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons rice vinegar
- 2 teaspoons sugar
- 1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 4 tablespoons cold water + 2 teaspoons corn starch
Instructions
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Add oil to a large pan and preheat over medium heat. Add chicken and sauté 1-2 minutes, just long enough to brown the outside. Transfer to slow cooker.
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Add bell peppers, onions, and green onions to slow cooker.
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Whisk together soy sauce, fish sauce, rice vinegar, sugar, and red pepper flakes. In another small bowl stir together cold water and corn starch til dissolved. Stir into soy sauce mixture. Pour over chicken and veggies and stir to coat.
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Cover slow cooker and cook on low for 3-4 hours. About 30 minutes before serving stir in cashews. Serve hot over steamed white or brown rice.
Recipe Notes
If you like saucier dishes (like me!) I recommend doubling the sauce portion of the recipe.
This recipe has been sponsored by Diamond of California Nuts – thanks for letting me work with the brands I truly love!
shawnna griffin
hey girl this would be so yummy!
lARA
Sounds delish, but I really, really DO NOT like fish sauce. Any recommendations for a swap, or can it just be omitted?
Liza
I wonder the same about swapping or omitting the fish sauce as my husband can’t have it. This looks awesome and can’t wait to try it!!
Tiffany
Hi Liza, I haven’t tried it myself but I have read that worcestershire sauce + soy sauce make a pretty good substitute for fish sauce! I would maybe take the amount of fish sauce for a recipe and try half of that amount of worcestershire, and the other half soy sauce and mix together. Hopefully that would give a similar flavor!
Cassie
Delicious!! Also worked really well for leftovers in lunch boxes for several days (it’s hard to know if a recipe will reheat well!). My husband and I tend to like things extra-saucy, so we made double the sauce, but it wasn’t necessary. Next time, I will just make a single batch of the sauce.
Alan
Let’s talk about nuts! Do you use salted or unsalted?
Tiffany
I prefer salted 🙂
Hayley Davies
Just cooked this!! Oh my gosh amazing would recommend 1000%!!
I replaced the chilli flakes for lime juice (because the other half doesn’t like spicy food) will definitely be replacing our chinese takeaway with this – thankyou!! ❤️❤️
Hayley Davies
Oh PS! (TIP:) made a garlic and mint sauce to go with it – complimented it perfectly 👌🏼👌🏼
jocelyn
Hi Tiffany
what kind of crock pot do you use and what size?
thanks!
Tiffany
LOVED this recipe and the flavor .. I used low sodium soy sauce and it was still incredibly salty. I will be making this again but will have to figure out the salty…
docmo
Cut Soy sauce to 2 tablespoons, cut fish sauce to 1/2 tablespoon and add 1 & 1/2 tablespoon of water. Should solve the “too salty taste” problem.
Daniela
Tried this today- what can I say: delicious! Took peanuts instead of cashews and it turned out great.
Greetings from Germany!
April
Absolutely amazing!! I just made it last night for dinner for my husband and I. So much flavor and just enough of a kick! I was swooning all over again today at lunch when I had the leftovers. Perfect served with rice (I used brown).
Karla
Can this be made stove top rather than in a slow cooker?
Tiffany
Yes! Turns out great on the stove.
Chris
Do you know of a substitute for rice vinegar? I have been looking for healthier Chinese food that is not oil blanched and full of MSG, and I can’t wait to try this out! Keep the good recipes coming.
Tiffany
Hi! The only substitute I know of for rice vinegar is cider vinegar. Hope that helps! 🙂
Amber Ferguson
I really enjoyed making this. I do not eat seafood and was kind of like, whaaat, when i saw fish SAuce…but i went for it anyway! It was very tasty! If i may suggest adding more cashews to also help absorb some of the salt? I put in whole cashews, unsalted, for a bit longer than Called for and it seemed to help a lot! Also, a bit more sugar, of course!