If you love takeout-style cashew chicken, this Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken is an easy way to make it at home. Tender chicken cooks slowly in a savory, flavorful sauce, then gets finished with crunchy cashews for that classic combination of textures.
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For more easy slow cooker recipes be sure to check out Slow Cooker Homemade Applesauce (No Sugar), Slow Cooker Hawaiian Pulled Pork, and Slow Cooker Creamy Chicken Noodle Soup!
Or try my recipe for Chinese Peanut Sauce!
Why This Works
This easy slow cooker chicken recipe is perfect for busy weeknights because most of the work happens in the slow cooker. Serve the cashew chicken over steamed rice with your favorite vegetables for a simple dinner the whole family will love.
I adapted this recipe to make it more Weight Watcher Friendly. Instead of cooking the chicken in some cornstarch with oil in a pan, which adds on more fat and calories, I just cut up the chicken and threw all the ingredients in a slow cooker. No need to dirty up another dish or two. To make this carb friendly, leave out the rice or make cauliflower rice.
Ingredients Needed
- Boneless skinless chicken breasts - They’re lean and quick-cooking and always come out juicy and tender. Use an instant-read thermometer to make sure that the chicken is not over cooked. When reading labels for chicken breasts try to find ones that say Organic or Free Range.
- Soy sauce - Use a Low Sodium or if you don’t have that on hand go for Tamari or Coconut Amino Acids
- Rice wine vinegar - some good substitutes for this type of vinegar is White Wine, Apple Cider, or Sherry Vinegar
- Sweet chili sauce - is typically made with chili peppers, garlic, vinegar, sugar, and salt. Some recipes also include ginger, lime juice, or other spices.
- Brown sugar - Or regular granulated sugar, I do not use sugar substitutes in any of my recipes but if you know the conversions feel free to do so
- Garlic cloves, minced - Chopped fresh garlic can take some time to chop so I often always use the freshly minced garlic that comes already made in a jar.
- Fresh ginger - just like the prechopped minced garlic I like to get the grated ginger in the tubes that you can just squeeze out.
- Red pepper flakes - are small pieces of dried hot peppers, typically made from cayenne, that are crushed or ground into small flakes.
- Cashews - no substitutions here! It is called cashew chicken for a reason.
- Green onions for garnish
- See the recipe card below for a full list of ingredients and measurements.
How to Make Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
Step 1: Combine soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, sweet chili sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, pepper flakes in a small bowl.
Step 2: Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot and then pour the sauce over. Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours.
Pro Tips for Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
- Cut the chicken into evenly sized pieces so everything cooks at the same rate.
- For the best texture, add the cashews toward the end of cooking so they stay crunchy instead of becoming soft.
- If you prefer a thicker sauce, let the sauce cook uncovered for a few minutes after the chicken is finished.
- Don't overcook the chicken. Once it's cooked through and tender, it's ready to serve.
- Add sliced green onions or sesame seeds just before serving for extra flavor and a little crunch.
Serving Suggestions
Serve Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken over steamed white rice, brown rice, or cauliflower rice. The rice is perfect for soaking up the savory sauce.
For a complete meal, serve it with steamed broccoli, snap peas, green beans, or your favorite stir-fry vegetables.
Top each serving with extra cashews and sliced green onions for a restaurant-style finish.
Storage and Freezing
Store leftover cashew chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3–4 days.
For best results, store the cashews separately when possible and add fresh cashews when reheating so they maintain their crunch.
To freeze, allow the chicken and sauce to cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave.
Meal Prepping
Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken is great for meal prep because it reheats well and can be portioned into individual containers.
Divide the chicken and sauce between meal-prep containers with rice and your favorite vegetables. Keep the cashews in a separate small container or add them just before eating to keep them crunchy.
Elite Gourmet - Electric oval slow cooker has adjustable temps and can make anything from entrees, sauces, stews & dips. Plus it’s dishwasher safe. This one also comes in a 4 quart size!
Crock-Pot 7-Quart Oval - Manual Slow Cooker | Stainless Steel (SCV700-S-BR) Spatious 7 quart manual slow cooker that servers up to 9 people. Fits a 7 pound roast. Keeps food at an ideal serving temperature for as long as you need to so you can make dishes ahead of time!
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Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken
- Prep Time: 10 min
- Cook Time: 4 hours
- Total Time: 4 hours
- Yield: 4 to 6 1x
- Category: Slow Cooker
- Method: Slow Cooker
- Cuisine: Chicken
Description
By the time you go and get some Chinese takeout food, you can have this slow cooker cashew chicken prepared, and it tastes just as good as the stuff in the takeout restaurant.
Ingredients
- 2 lbs boneless skinless chicken breasts (About 4 pieces)
- ½ cup soy sauce
- 4 Tbsp rice wine vinegar
- 4 Tablespoons ketchup
- 2 Tablespoons sweet chili sauce
- 2 Tbsp brown sugar
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp grated fresh ginger
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes
- 1 cup cashews
- Green onions for garnish
Instructions
- Combine soy sauce, vinegar, ketchup, sweet chili sauce, sugar, garlic, ginger, pepper flakes in a small bowl.
- Place the chicken breasts in the bottom of the crock pot and then pour the sauce over.
- Cook on LOW for 3 to 4 hours.
- Add the cashews after the cooking is done and stir to combine.
- Serve over rice. Makes 4-6 servings. Between ½ cup to 1 cup.
- Garnish with green onions and serve with regular rice or cauliflower rice.
Notes
My WW Personal Points: 7 Click here to see in recipe builder (will have to log in)
You can keep the chicken whole or shred it with a fork.
Serving size: ½ to 1 cup of the chicken and sauce
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1
- Calories: 306
- Sugar: 6.09g
- Saturated Fat: 2.187g
- Carbohydrates: 13.91g
- Fiber: 0.9g
- Protein: 38.81g
Recipe adapted from The Recipe Critic.
Jenna says
Right, or sprinkle them on top.
Taylor says
In my opinion don't add the cashews until the last 15 seconds. Unless you like cashews that taste like boiled peanuts.
Kimberly says
This was so good! It was kinda soupy so i put in 2 tablespoons of coernstarch to thicken it up the last 30 minutes of cooking.
Edith Doil says
This blog about Weight Watchers Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken has helped me a lot, is very well written.
Kiss you All!
Stacy Arick says
This was amazing! I ran out of time so I cooked it in a Dutch oven at 325 degrees for 1.5 hours. It cooked perfectly, and the taste was so good. I served it over cauliflower rice and my family absolutely loved it. We will definitely have this again soon. Thank you so much.
Michelle R says
Loved this recipe but would recommend shredding the chicken after cooking. Also do not add cashews until the very end when serving as they became soft and chewy. The flavor is delicious- perfect amount of heat and sweet.
Darlene says
Is the chicken cut up raw or after it is cooked?
Caroline says
This turned out so good! And it was so easy! I will make it often!
Jennifer says
Found this recipe easy to make , full of flavour very nice
Ashley Williams says
Is the calorie count of the slow cooker cashew chicken for 1 cup or 1/2 cup? Both measurements are mentioned but I wanted to be sure I have the right amount logged. Thank you!