Surely better than takeout, this paleo and keto cashew chicken makes for one super scrumptious (and ultra speedy!) weeknight meal!
Paleo & Keto Cashew Chicken
Totally Better Than Takeout!
Fresh, simple, and ultra saucy! This cashew chicken is one of those low carb dishes that you’re bound to have on repeat throughout the week (week after week after week!).
Its explosive flavors are totally addictive, and its just so (so!) easy to whip up.
And talking flavors, I felt the need to take a few liberties with the ingredients. As many of you know, Chinese cuisine uses incredible sauces which are unfortunately not keto. But fear not, because with a few swaps here and there you still get super yummy results (if albeit, a little different!).
The Ingredients
As mentioned, this isn’t your classic cashew chicken (i.e. with oyster sauce etc). Keep in mind that yumminess aside, these ingredients are high in sugar and have cornstarch and soy.
So I took a different route and used some coconut aminos, fish sauce and a little ginger (i.e. I went a little Thai!). In place of the Chinese wine (Shaoxing), I just use a little chicken broth (think extra collagen and goodies!)… but do feel free to use some white wine instead!
Also note that cashews are a little higher in carbs than other more keto-friendly nuts and legumes. So just be sure to adjust the amount to fit your macros, or you can even do some peanuts instead (ahem, peanut chicken!).
Serving Suggestions
If keto (and paleo or whole30!), I cannot recommend enough that you serve it up with cauliflower rice. It’s wonderful this way, trust me!
Just keep in mind that I prefer to rice my cauliflower slightly bigger here, so you get more of a ‘mouthful’ and it doesn’t completely blend into the cashew chicken.
And if you’re looking for something a little extra special, whip up our coconut cauliflower rice from Keto Speedy Comfort Foods (it’s what I did here!).
Looking for more keto Asian dishes?! Be sure to check out our famous pad Thai and coconut curry chicken!
Paleo & Keto Cashew Chicken
Ingredients
For the sauce
- 2 tablespoons coconut aminos
- 1 tablespoon fish sauce
- 2 teaspoons sesame oil
- 1-3 teaspoons freshly grated ginger to taste*
- 1-2 tablespoons golden erythritol or allulose/xylitol, to taste
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice or rice vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon white pepper or black pepper
For the stir fry
- 500 g chicken thigh (skinless, boneless) diced into bite-size pieces
- 1 tablespoon coconut oil as needed, for cooking
- 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
- 1/2 medium onion diced
- 1 red bell pepper or color of choice, seeded & diced
- 1-2 cups broccoli optional
- 1/2-3/4 cup cashews roasted**
- 1/3 cup chicken stock or water
- 2 teaspoons arrowroot or 1/4 teaspoon konjac powder, as needed***
- 2 tablespoons water
Serving suggestions
- cauliflower rice
Instructions
- Mix all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. See notes, but feel free to adjust the amount of ginger and sweetener to taste.
- Add 2-3 tablespoons of the sauce to the chicken, and allow to marinade for 10 minutes while you prep the veggies.
- Heat up the oil in a skillet or wok over medium high heat. Add the garlic and onion and cook for a couple minutes. Add in the chicken and cook for a couple more minutes.
- Add in the bell pepper, broccoli, sauce and stock. Make a slurry with the arrowroot and water (i.e. mix them together until completely dissolved!) and pour it into the pan. Mix well and cook until just thickened.
- Stir in the cashews and serve right away over a bed of cauliflower rice (highly suggested!).
This looks delicious! I can’t wait to try it!
Delicious ~ we heated the sauce just to bubbling point stirring constantly and it thickened on its own with out thickener of any kind. Silky smooth and yummy . Marinated chicken in it after it cooled.
Since finding your recipes no other recipes will do. Thank you
What can I use in place of the fish sauce? I keep kosher
Made this for dinner last night with the konjac powder. Added more chicken as my package was bigger, but the rest was exactly as the recipe called for. It was delicious! Even my 12 yr old grandson had two servings. I served it on cauli rice and this recipe is definitely going in my rotation. It’s easy to make too.
Made this tonight for dinner. My husband and I loved it! Thank you for this awesome alternative to Chinese take out 🙂
Great recipe, had fresh brusselsprouts so substituted also used walnuts. Sauce was sooooo good too, will make it often!
no coconut aminor, or arrowroot or Konjac in my country. Replacements?
Think it’s possible to use Xanthangum as thickener?
Grrrrr nuts!!!!! 😡😂
Leave them out…