20 Minute Garlic Butter Cashew Chicken Recipe
This 20 Minute Garlic Butter Cashew Chicken is a quick and flavorful stir-fry dish featuring ground chicken cooked in a savory, sweet, and spicy hoisin-based sauce. Enhanced with garlic, ginger, cashews, and tender broccoli, this recipe delivers a perfect balance of textures and tastes, ideal for a wholesome weeknight dinner served over rice.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Asian-inspired
Ingredients
Sauce
- 1/2 cup hoisin sauce
- 1/4 cup tamari or soy sauce
- 1-2 tablespoons real maple syrup
- 2 tablespoons apple cider vinegar
- 1 tablespoon sriracha
- Black pepper, to taste
- Chili flakes, to taste
Main Ingredients
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil (or olive oil)
- 1 1/2 pounds ground chicken
- 1 tablespoon arrowroot powder or cornstarch
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 1/2 cups broccoli florets
- 3 tablespoons salted butter
- 3-4 cloves garlic, chopped
- 1 tablespoon chopped fresh ginger
- 1 cup cashews
- 1/3 cup pickled ginger
- 4 green onions, chopped
- Cooked rice, for serving
- Sesame seeds, for garnish
Instructions
- Make the sauce: In a glass jar, combine hoisin sauce, tamari or soy sauce, maple syrup, apple cider vinegar, sriracha, black pepper, and chili flakes. Shake or stir well to blend all the flavors thoroughly.
- Cook the chicken: Heat sesame oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add ground chicken, arrowroot powder (or cornstarch), paprika, and black pepper. Break up the meat with a spatula and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes.
- Add aromatics and cashews: Stir in the salted butter, chopped garlic, fresh ginger, and cashews. Continue cooking for about 2 minutes until the butter browns slightly and the chicken develops a crispy texture.
- Add sauce and vegetables: Pour in two-thirds of the prepared sauce over the chicken mixture. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens slightly. Then add the broccoli florets and pickled ginger. Stir and cook for another 2-5 minutes until broccoli is tender-crisp.
- Serve: Remove the skillet from heat. Serve the garlic butter cashew chicken mixture over bowls of cooked rice. Drizzle with the remaining sauce, and garnish with chopped green onions and sesame seeds. Enjoy your flavorful meal!
Notes
- You can substitute ground turkey for ground chicken if desired.
- For a nuttier flavor, toast the cashews lightly before adding them.
- Adjust the amount of sriracha and chili flakes to control the spiciness level.
- Arrowroot powder or cornstarch helps thicken the sauce; either can be used based on preference.
- Serve with steamed white or brown rice for a complete meal.