These easy cashew chicken lettuce wraps are made in one pot in just 20 minutes! A better-than-takeout recipe that the whole family will love.
Table of Contents
Less Than 30 Minutes!
Whenever I’m craving Chinese food, these cashew chicken lettuce wraps always come to mind. It’s a healthier alternative to takeout like my chow mein noodles recipe. We love to serve it in lettuce wraps, but you can also serve over rice or make a stir fry with steamed vegetables.
This recipe for cashew chicken is perfect for summer and one you need to put on your “must try” list. It’s a meal that my whole family loves and my husband and I always end up going back for seconds. The chicken is so tender and the sweet and tangy sauce on top is truly divine.
How to Make Cashew Chicken
- Chicken. In large skillet, heat butter and oil over medium-heat. Once butter melts, add a single layer of chicken. Season with salt and pepper, then cook for 3 minutes. Once brown, flip and cook other side for additional 3 minutes. Turn heat to low and stir in garlic and cook.
- Sauce. While the chicken cooks, whisk together the chicken stock, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar and cornstarch in a small bowl.
- Toss. Stir the sauce into the skillet and cook over low heat with the chicken until it thickens. Then stir in the cashews. Serve chicken with cashew nuts garnished with sliced green onions on top for an extra flavor boost.
Favorite Ways to Serve
- Lettuce wraps: Just like with my Thai chicken lettuce wraps is my favorite! It tastes light and fresh and is great for when you’re looking for a lower carb option.
- Over rice: It tastes delicious over white or brown rice. You could even use cauliflower rice or cooked quinoa too.
- With noodles: You could easily mix this cashew chicken together with rice noodles or spaghetti noodles.
- Vegetable stir fry: Mix in some steamed vegetables to easily turn this recipe into a stir fry.
Cooking Tips + Variations
- Salt. Soy sauce and hoisin sauce are on the saltier side, so I like to use unsalted cashews to cut back on sodium. I also use low sodium soy sauce and chicken stock.
- Spice. For a little heat, mix in a few dashes of sriracha or red pepper flakes like I do in these Thai chicken lettuce wraps.
- Sauce. This dish would also taste delicious with a homemade teriyaki sauce.
- Veggies. Feel free to add in a few extra veggies, like mushrooms, peppers or broccoli.
- Crunch. I love it with the cashews, they add so much flavor! But you could add some crispy chow mein noodles on top for an added crunch, too.
- Serving. Serve with this pineapple fried rice recipe or cilantro lime rice.
- Reheating. When reheating any leftovers from the fridge, add a dash of chicken stock to thin out the sauce a little.
More Takeout Inspired Dishes
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Cashew Chicken Lettuce Wraps
Video
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon salted butter
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 pounds chicken breast , cut into 1-inch pieces
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- ¾ cup chicken stock
- ¼ cup low sodium soy sauce
- 3 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
- 1 ½ Tablespoon rice vinegar
- 2 Tablespoons corn starch
- ¾ cup unsalted cashews
- salt and pepper , to taste
For serving: lettuce cups or butter lettuce, sliced green onions
Instructions
- Heat the butter and oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the butter has melted, add in a single layer of chicken. Season with salt and pepper. Allow to cook for 3 minutes, or until brown and then flip onto the other side. Let cook an additional 3 minutes, or until golden brown. Turn the the heat to low and then stir in the garlic and cook.
- While the chicken is cooking, whisk together the chicken stock, soy sauce, hoisin sauce, vinegar, and corn starch in a small bowl. Stir into the skillet and cook with chicken over low heat, until the sauce has thickened. Stir in cashews.
- Serve in lettuce cups or over rice if preferred. Top with chopped green onions if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition provided is an estimate. It will vary based on specific ingredients used.
Did you make this recipe? Don’t forget to give it a star rating below!
Categorized as: 30 Minute Meals, 30 Minute Meals, Asian, Chicken, Dinner, Stovetop
Jamielyn Nye is the founder and recipe creator at I Heart Naptime. She is the author of the I Heart Naptime Cookbook and shares easy family-friendly recipes and desserts for every occasion.
This recipe was very tasty. Is there any nutritional info?
Hi Kim! I’m not sure the complete nutritional information for this recipe, but there are several great websites that can help find this out. Here is one that I entered the recipe into: https://www.verywell.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4129594. Looks like it has 347 calories per serving and 678 mg of sodium per serving.
Made these Sunday and they were amazing! Super easy and delish! We cooked some rice noodles and put those in the wraps as well…mmmm
I’m so glad you liked them! I need to add them to my rotation again!
I made your cashew-chicken lettuce wraps tonight. Great. Didn’t change a thing except I added some mushrooms I needed to use up and I only had slivered almonds rather than cashews.
Serving dish was clean at the end. Thanks.
I’m so glad you tried it and enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing, I’ll have to try mushrooms next time!
Would it be possible to get the complete nutritional information? This looks really easy and a healthier version than some others. However, I am wondering how much sodium per serving and if too much how I could reduce it? Looking forward to hearing back from you.
Hi Mary! I’m not sure the complete nutritional information for this recipe, but there are several great websites that can help find this out. Here is one that I entered the recipe into: https://www.verywell.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4129594. Looks like it has 347 calories per serving and 678 mg of sodium per serving.
I created the recipe in my WW app but on average how many wraps do you per recipe? Thanks.
Hi Shelley! It really depends how full you fill the wraps. But anywhere between 8-12.:)
I made this and it was SO good!! Thank you so much!! I added some peppers and peas, and ate this over rice.
I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe! I love adding veggies to these lettuce wraps. Peas and peppers would be perfect! :)
I used coconut aminos In place of the soy sauce. Not salty at all. Deliscious recipe, will add some red bell peppers for more flavor next time.
Sounds delicious! Thanks for sharing! :)
Even with reduced sodium soy sauce, this is SO salty! Too bad…
I’m sorry these were too salty for you. You can always cut down the amount of soy sauce. :)
If too salty, try making with coconut aminos. I use in place of soy sauce because I can’t tolerate salty foods
Thanks for the tip! :)
How many carbs are in this recipe
Have you make these the day before? If so, is all still OK? Really interested to try and the recipe sounds so delicious.
I’ve had leftovers the next day and they were still good! :)
Could I use honey in place of hoisin sauce? These look delicious, thank-you!
It will change the flavor a bit, but I think that would work! :)
This is the best website I’ve seen!!!! cant wait to try the Cashew chicken wraps
Thank you’re awesome
Made this the other night. Easy and delicious. I added some red bell pepper and loved it!
How many chicken breasts did you use for this recipe? I purchase M&M Meats chicken, and they are fairly large breasts.
I used two pounds of breasts – because it can be so hard depending on what size the store has or tenders are available. If you have really big ones, you’ll probably just need two!
I can’t find where in this recipe it says to add the vinegar? It’s driving me crazy!!!
I updated the recipe, Haily! It’s when you mix the sauce together – thanks for pointing that out!
Where do you find lettuce cups?
When you buy a head of lettuce, carefully remove each leaf and then wash and dry them. Depending on the size of the head of lettuce will depend on the size of your lettuce cups. :)
I’m new to making wraps. So little hard keeping everything in the wrap. Sauce got too thick while cooking with chicken. Kept adding water for right consistency. Absolutely fabulous and easy to make !!!!!!
Those photos are great and pull me into this recipe. Looks delicious and I know my family will love it. With lots of heat! And I like it in the lettuce wrap for lowcarb. Joining you for the first time at Link Party Palooza.
This looks so good! I don’t always have lettuce on hand but I bet it would be wonderful on quinoa or in a pinch Rice. Thanks for an easy delish dish.