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Easy Thai Cashew Chicken Recipe

This easy thai cashew chicken is a great weeknight recipe everyone will love. This kid friendly recipe is inspired by thai flavors and takes minutes to prep.

The best thing about slow cooker and instant pot recipes is how conveinant they are. As a mom of 4 I need things to be easy in the kitchen. With freezer meals, like this easy cashew chicken recipe, home-cooked healthy family dinners feels easy.

Tip: if you like a little heat add some sriracha to your plate.

You will love this easy cashew chicken freezer meal!

Freezer meals have been a huge game changer for our family. Spending an hour once a week to have my healthy dinners prepped and in the freezer gives me back free time. Plus I do not have to think about dinner.

Losing that mental stress is my favorite part about this recipe. Having a couple freezer meals stocked up ready to go has been a regular life saver for me. It’s amazing!

Why you will love slow cooker cashew chicken recipe.

5 Minutes to Prep
Super Easy
Extremely Tasty
Healthy (Soy Free, Gluten Free, Dairy Free, Preservative Free)
Family Friendly

Is cashew chicken spicy?

No this recipe is not spicy at all. It is based on thai flavors which tends to be more in the sweet and savory type of cuisine.

A great way to add some kick and spice to this recipe is by using some crushed red pepper flakes or sriracha in your individual portion. I LOVE spice but my kids can’t handle the heat.

How do you shred, cashew chicken?

SUPER EASY! If the mean has been cooked low and slow as directed it will easily shred apart with two forks when you try shredding the chicken.

Shredded meats are a great easy way to feed a large family, a crowd, or portion out your meat for the week.

If you use a chicken thigh bone-in be sure to remove the bone and cartelidge when you shred the chicken.

How to make this thai cashew chicken recipe in the slow cooker?

Just throw everything into a slow cooker and let it cook for you. No mess, no fuss and a delicious home-cooked dinner!

What kind of meat can I use?

My favorite cut of chicken are by far chicken thighs. They give the best flavor and texture when using in the slow cooker.

You can also use chicken breast bone-in or boneless. Be sure to remove skin if you have any cut of chicken with skin on or the meal will have way to much fat in it. Leaving the bone-in is fine and can even enhance the flavor of your dish as it cooks.

What to serve with this cashew chicken recipe?

Serve with any of your favorite sides. I absolutely love serving with a crunchy side for different flavors and textures. Try a fresh slaw, fruit salad, or some roasted vegetables.

You could even mix in the roasted vegetables to your cashew chicken for a delicious custom dish.

*See FAQ’s and specific tips following recipe below. (so you don’t have to scroll for a million years to find the food).

How to store this shredded chicken recipe?

After cooking store in the fridge in an airtight container for 3-5 days.

Do I need a slow cooker for this recipe?

You can use a slow cooker or crock pot for this recipe. It is designed to be fast and easy so you do not have to take the time to cook all night.

You can also use Dutch ovens in a similar fashion to a slow cooker or crock pot if desired. I absolutely love using Dutch ovens, especially when I am able to be home all day.

Can I use an instant pot instead?

Of course! If you are tight on time or a last minute cook then throw everything in the instant post and adjust cook time.

Do I need chillis for this recipe?

I do not include the chillis in this recipe. In an authentic thai cashew chicken recipe you will find the chicken is breaded and there are more vegetables including a specific chilli pepper.

However for budget and time I like to make this version of a cashew chicken and then roast whatever vegetables I have on hand to mix in.

Can you freeze thai food?

Classic meal prep involved freezing food after cooking it. The biggest problem with this method is food comes out of the freezer cooked and extremely mushy. It also loses a ton of flavor. So they best way to freeze thai food is before cooking it.

This thai cashew chicken recipe can be prepped raw in 5 minutes and then frozen. This way you will be able to cook it fresh the night you want to eat it for dinner. Resulting in a fresh delicious dinner with good flavor and good texture.

How many calories are in a serving?

A serving size assumes 1 cup of shredded thai chicken at 362 kcal per serving.

Ingredients you will need for this easy cashew chicken recipe.

chicken thighs (or chicken breasts)
water
vinegar
coconut aminos
tapioca starch
garlic
raw cashews
green onions

*Garnish with lime juice or lime wedges for a colorful presentation and a little extra flavor to your shredded chicken.

How do you make this Thai Cashew Chicken Recipe? 👇

Print Recipe

Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

Prep Time10

Cook Time4

Total Time4 10

Calories: 362kcal

Author: Hannah Stewart

Equipment

Slow Cooker/Instant Pot

Ingredients

2 lb Bone-In Chicken Thighs, no skin*
1/4 cup Water
2 tbsp Vinegar
2 tbsp Coconut Aminos
1 tbsp Tapioca Starch
1 clove Garlic, crushed
1/2 cup Raw Cashews, roughly chopped

Sauce:

2 tbsp Vinegar
2 tbsp Coconut Aminos
1 tbsp Tapioca Starch
1 clove Garlic, crushed
1 bunch Green Onions
1/2 cup Raw Cashews, roughly chopped (Garnish)

Supplies for freezing:

1 Gallon Freezer Bag
1 Quart Freezer Bag

Instructions

Directions:

Add all main ingredients into slow cooker.
Stir and cook on low 4-6 hours or high 2-3 hours.
Shred chicken, remove bones and set chicken into serving dish.
Whisk together sauce ingredients
Pour sauce over shredded chicken and mix, if you need extra sauce add some from slow cooker.
Serve over cauliflower rice and garnish with extra green onions, if desired.

Freezer Directions:

Label Freezer bag with Recipe name, cooking directions and expiration date (todays date plus three months).
Add all main ingredients to labeled gallon freezer bag.
Add all sauce ingredients to quart freezer bag.
Set quart freezer bag into gallon freezer bag and seal (Remove as much air as possible and freeze for up to three months).

Cooking from Freezer Directions:

Thaw overnight in fridge or in the morning in water (meal may not be 100% thawed but that is ok).
Dump contents of gallon freezer bag into slow cooker.
Cook on low 4-6 hours or high 2-3 hours.
Shred chicken, remove bones and set chicken into serving dish.
Whisk together sauce ingredients in quart freezer bag.
Pour sauce over shredded chicken and mix, if you need extra sauce add some from slow cooker.
Serve over cauliflower rice and garnish with extra green onions, if desired.

Thai Cashew Chicken Recipe

Easy Thai Cashew Chicken Recipe

You will love this easy cashew chicken freezer meal!

Why you will love slow cooker cashew chicken recipe.

Ingredients you will need for this easy cashew chicken recipe.

How do you make this Thai Cashew Chicken Recipe? 👇