Paleo Cashew Chicken Recipe
Paleo Cashew Chicken Recipe: So tasty, you won’t miss the naughty ingredients. This is a quick healthy meal, easy enough to pull together on any night!
Best Cashew Chicken
You, guys, Cashew Chicken is SO good… Thinking healthy thoughts… Thinking healthy thoughts.
I’m trying my best to ramp up our intake of greens and get rid of processed ingredients this month. Yet one week in, and I’m already tired of salad for every meal. Something’s got to give.
My plan to stay on the straight and narrow is to recreate some of our most-loved dishes into lighter cleaner versions of themselves.
You can find quite a few “comfort food reborn” recipes sprinkled around our site. And today’s cleaned-up meal idea, my Paleo Cashew Chicken Recipe, is an instant favorite. Guaranteed.
Paleo Recipe Ingredients
I’ve taken our classic cashew chicken recipe and substituted several paleo-friendly ingredients to make it (hopefully) fit into your eating plan this month.
Since paleo eaters avoid grains, legumes, and processed sugar, I’ve removed the typical cornstarch, soy, and sugar. Then replaced them with:
- arrowroot powder to thicken
- coconut aminos to add savory flavor
- palm sugar (or raw honey) to sweeten
The verdict in my house is that this paleo version is just as good, if not better than the original.
You still have the strong tangy essence of the original recipe, yet without the junk. The savory sauce is kissed with garlic, fresh ginger, a touch of palm sugar, and crushed red pepper. So it’s savory and a little spicy, bringing out the natural sweetness in the red bell peppers.
What Can I Sub for Coconut Vinegar?
You can sub coconut vinegar for apple cider vinegar, but be careful, it is more potent than coconut vinegar. So instead of subbing 1/4 cup, try 3 tablespoons.
Let me know how it turns out if you try it!
Cashew Chicken Recipe
Honestly, I love my new Paleo Cashew Chicken Recipe. I have a feeling we will be eating it a lot this year, no matter what diet we are following.
And if you are planning to make some dietary adjustments this year, the substitute ingredients used in this recipe are nice to have on hand.
See The Recipe Card Below For How To Make This Paleo Cashew Chicken Recipe. Enjoy!
other healthy chicken recipes you might like:
- Healthy Crockpot Potato Soup with Chicken
- Sheet Pan Keto Chicken Nachos
- Paleo White Chicken Chili Recipe
- Chicken Quinoa Bowls with Romesco Sauce
- Healthy Orange Chicken from The Clean Eating Couple
- Paleo Pumpkin Bread – from Well Plated
- Low Carb Thai Chicken Noodle Soup – from All Day I Dream About Food
- Perfect Paleo Chocolate Chip Cookies – from Texanerin
Paleo Cashew Chicken Recipe
Ingredients
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken thighs, cut into bite-size pieces
- 2 tablespoons coconut oil
- 2 red bell peppers, seeded and cut into bite-sized pieces
- 1 1/3 cups raw whole cashews
- 1 bunch scallions, chopped
- 2 tablespoons arrowroot powder (instead of 1 tablespoon of cornstarch)
- 1/2 teaspoons sea salt
For the Sauce:
- 1/3 cup coconut aminos (instead of soy sauce)
- 1/4 cup coconut vinegar (instead of rice vinegar)
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 3 tablespoons palm sugar or raw honey (instead of sugar)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh grated ginger
- 1/4-1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
Instructions
- Preheat a large deep skillet to medium high. Add the coconut oil and once melted, add the red bell pepper. Saute for 2-3 minutes to soften. Then scoop out the bell pepper.
- Sprinkle the arrowroot powder and salt over the cut chicken pieces and toss to coat. Add the chicken to the skillet. Stir and saute for 5-8 minutes until the chicken is mostly cooked through and seared on the outside.
- Meanwhile, whisk all the ingredients for the sauce in a small bowl. Once the chicken is mostly cooked, add the sauce to the skillet and stir. Add the red bell peppers and cashews to the skillet. Once the sauce starts to simmer, lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer another 3-5 minutes to thicken.
- If the sauce tightens up too much, add a little water to loosen it. Turn the heat off and add the chopped scallions. Serve warm with Roasted Cauliflower Rice.
Video
Nutrition
Making this recipe? Follow us on Instagram and tag @ASpicyPerspective so we can share what you’re cooking!
This recipe is AAAAAAAAmazing! Â It tastes just so good.. my family loved it!
I’ve tried a few cashew chicken recipes and this one is by far the best. It is lighter than others I have enjoyed and bases its flavor less on the crispiness of the chicken and more on the overall flavor of the dish. My daughter is gluten and dairy-free so we are constantly looking for great dishes that meet these criteria and this one definitely does. We are already on our third round of the dish and my wife is taking it to a company party.
Looks amazing but cashews are in the list of ingredients but there are no directions for what to do with them?
Hi Lorie,
The cashews are added in step three.
Pingback: Top 10 Paleo Foods That Contain Zinc | Zinc Health Benefits
Pingback: Chicken Detox Soup - A Spicy Perspective
Pingback: The Best Cloud Bread Recipe - A Spicy Perspective
Pingback: My Top 10 Favorite Online Recipes - Leah@Home
Pingback: Ultimate Guide to Paleo Diet Recipe: 50 Best Paleo Diet Recipes
Pingback: Slow Cooker Turkey Breast - WonkyWonderful
Pingback: 25 Paleo Diet Recipes – BlogGesundLeben
Pingback: Add It to My List - Jana Says
Made this recipe without the added sugar for Whole 30 compliance and it turned out great! Â Picky husband and child approved ??.
This was so great! My husband and I made it together after work one night and we had fun making it. We reduced the honey by 2 tablespoons because we are watching sugar intake. It was delicious. We both have lunch tomorrow and we were thinking we would make a little more next time! Served with roasted cauliflower. It was awesome! Thanks for the great Paleo recipe.
Thank you. This was delicious. I added celery and carrots to the recipe for extra veggies and everyone loved it.
Pingback: Easy Weekly Meal Plan #79 ⋆ Sweet C's Designs
This is amazing!! Making it for the second week in a row.
Pingback: Weekly Meal Plan - The Cookie Rookie
Pingback: WEEKLY MEAL PLAN (WEEK 79) - Diethood
Pingback: Weekly Meal Plan - Pass The Sushi
Pingback: Weekly Meal Plan #79 - LemonsforLulu.com
Pingback: Weekly Meal Plan #50 - Yellow Bliss Road
Pingback: Easy Meal Plan Week 79 - Foodie With Family
Pingback: Easy Weekly Meal Plan #79 – Sweet C's Designs
Pingback: Weekly Meal Plan Week 79 - Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
Pingback: Weekly Meal Plan {Week 79} | Wishes and Dishes
Pingback: This 14-Day Paleo Meal Plan Will Help You Lose Weight Fast!
Pingback: The Best Paleo Lasagna - A Spicy Perspective
Quick and healthy recipe. I personally would prefer a more savory, less sweet version… I made it with only half the honey and would cut actually back to just two teaspoons next time. Will make it again and try it with cauliflower rice next time!
Made this for dinner tonight. Fantastic!! Â We loved it. We will definitely make this part of the regular rotation, plus it’s special enough to make for company.Â
Pingback: Paleo Cashew Chicken | theskinnycavegirl
Pingback: Paleo Cashew Chicken Recipe | Pinimprovement
Pingback: This week in...: 2016, second edition -
Pingback: Cashew Chicken Stir Fry | rd2be2016
Pingback: Slow Cooker Chicken Wild Rice Soup (Healthy) - A Spicy Perspective
Just made this for lunch and my husband couldn’t quit talking about how amazing it was! So good!
Pingback: Fitness Jumpstart: Week Five - Happiness is Homemade
seriously easy and super delish
Made this tonight along with the cauliflower rice and both were delicious. Made with chicken breasts since that’s what I had on hand but next time I’ll use the thighs. Thanks so much. Have been working hard to find great recipes. My husband loved it too. Appreciate your efforts. Â
Yum yum! Just like the real deal! Topped it with sesame seeds too :)
Wonderful. Just made this and I definitely repeat it :)
Excellent beat ! I wish tο apprentice while you amend үour site, hoա can і subscribe
foг a blog web site? The account helped mе a acceptable deal.
І hаԀ been tiny bit acquainted of this your broadcast offered bright ϲlear concept
Great recipies! Thank you for sharing that!
I’ve lost over 100lbs on low carb and I’ve been doing it for over 2 years. It was rough to get started, but I used a 21 day sugar detox program which helped a lot. Check out the reviews of it http://www.lowcarbreviewsite.com/21-day-sugar-detox/
I made this tonight for dinner. I added chopped broccoli to it. The husband and I loved it! Thanks for the delicious recipe.
I made this for dinner tonight, and it was so fabulous! I even made the cauliflower rice. I added some asparagus to mine, since I already had it. I will absolutely be making this again. Thank you for the recipe :)
So glad you liked it Michelle!
Hi,
What would be a good substitute for the Coconut Vinegar? I cannot seem to find it in Australia? Would Apple Cider Vinegar be ok?
I’m following Paleo diet so can’t use rice vinegar as the replacement.
Hi Tash, Yes I think apple cider vinegar would be acceptable in small amounts. Happy Cooking!
So should I decrease the amount on your recipe instead of 1/4 cup?
Hi Alison,
Apple Cider Vinegar does seem to be a little more potent. Maybe go with 3 tablespoons. :)
We just made this for dinner- it was fantastic- thanks for the recipe!
Great dinner idea! My family would go crazy for it!
My mouth is seriously watering… I totally feel you about the new years resolution… I debated whether or not to make my resolution as “eat more sugar.” ;) Because I know that’s what’s going to happen anyway. But the way I think about it is if I can cut back on the amount of junk I eat… I’m still making progress!
Love cashew chicken and your healthy version is more reason to devour this, soon!
This has such pretty colors and looks both fresh and flavorful. Must give it a try!
This is totally going on the menu for next week! Yummmm.
I am making this right now, AMAZING!!!
wow This is perfect for me. I just discovered coconut vinegar and had no idea what I wanted to make with it yet. I’m definitely making this tonight!!
This recipe looks quite good and i see that you list the replacement ingredients. IF i wanted to utilize the original recipe, would the amounts that are given for the replacement ingredients the same as would be for those original ones? Thank you in advance.
Hi Faleen, Almost! You can substitute the original ingredients in the exact same measurements, except for the cornstarch. Use 1 tablespoon of cornstarch instead of 2. :)
Sommer, this looks wonderful & I LOVE that it’s paleo too!
I need more healthy, comforting meals during the week! This looks fabulous!!
This looks absolutely delicious. Love all the colors in this, beautiful photos :)
Wow, this looks so good and something my whole family would! Dinner tonight for sure!
I was just looking for a great Cashew Chicken recipe and this sounds amazing!
Funny – we had cauliflower chicken fried rice two nights ago for dinner! So good and easy!
Yes and Yes! Dinner perfection!