Home · Recipes · Course · Main Dishes · Instant Pot Cashew Chicken Recipe

Instant Pot Cashew Chicken Recipe

Jump to Recipe
23 minutes
21 Comments
3.50 from 2 votes
This post may contain affiliate links. Read our disclosure policy.
This Instant Pot Cashew Chicken is better than take out! Full of flavor with that delicious cashew crunch, and ready in under 30 minutes!
Instant Pot Cashew Chicken Recipe

Cashew Chicken is one of our favorite take out meals! This Instant Pot Cashew Chicken is even better! Made in the comfort of your own home and in no time at all!

Instant Pot Cashew Chicken served over rice on a plate

Here’s how you can make Instant Pot Cashew Chicken:

Step 1: Turn Instant Pot to SAUTE and add olive oil to the bottom of the bowl.

Step 2: Once heated, add chopped chicken and cook until golden on all sides, then turn Instant Pot to OFF.

Sauce ingredients for Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

Step 3: In a separate bowl, whisk together broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, onions, and minced garlic. Pour mixture over your chicken.

Chopped broccoli and peppers

Step 4: Add chopped bell pepper, broccoli, and cashew halves to the Instant Pot. Gently stir until everything is coated in the sauce.

Can of cashew halves

Step 5: Replace lid and turn knob to SEALING. Press PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL and set timer for 8 minutes.

Step 6: Once the timer is up, release the pressure (quick release).

Top view of Instant Pot Cashew Chicken served over rice on a plate

Step 7: Remove chicken and vegetables from the Instant Pot. And turn the pot again to SAUTE.

Step 8: Add 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch dissolved in water to your pot and whisk gently until it begins to thicken.

Step 9: Serve Cashew Chicken over rice and topped with your thickened sauce.

hand holding a phone that displays how to use the Prepear app for meal planning and grocery shopping

“I have so much time!” -No mom ever

Let us give you your time back. With the Six Sisters’ Meal Plans, we do the dinner planning, grocery ordering, and then all you have to do is decide whether to pick them up or have them delivered.

Get My Meal Plans NOW!

Don’t have an Instant Pot?

Check out our crock pot version here: Slow Cooker Cashew Chicken

How to turn this Instant Pot Cashew Chicken into a freezer meal:

Place chicken, chicken broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, green onions, garlic, red bell pepper, broccoli, and cashews into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Place freezer bag into freezer and it will last up to 90 days.

When ready to use, dump ingredients from bag into Instant Pot and add 1/2 cup of water in with the frozen food.

Place the lid on top, move the valve to SEALING, and press the MANUAL button. Set timer for 20 minutes. Do a 5 minute NATURAL RELEASE when the timer is done.

Follow the rest of the instructions as written.
(Because we are making this a dump-and-go freezer meal, we will skip the saute steps).

Watch how to make this recipe below:

Instant Pot Recipes on Six Sisters Stuff

Here are a few more Instant Pot recipes you should try!

Instant Pot Cashew Chicken Recipe

3.50 from 2 votes
Delicious cashew chicken that tastes like it's from a restaurant made right in your instant pot!
Serving4
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 8 minutes
Total Time 23 minutes
Save Print Pin

Video

Ingredients

  • 3 Tablespoons olive oil
  • 3 boneless, skinless chicken breasts, (chopped into 1-inch pieces)
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 4 Tablespoons hoisin sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon soy sauce
  • 1 Tablespoon rice vinegar
  • ½ teaspoon sesame oil
  • 1 Tablespoon honey
  • 2 green onions, finely chopped
  • 2 teaspoons minced garlic
  • 1 red bell pepper, diced
  • 1½ cups broccoli florets
  • 1 cup lightly salted cashew halves
  • 1 Tablespoon cornstarch
  • 1 Tablespoon water
  • 3 cups rice, cooked

Equipment

Instructions

  1. Turn Instant Pot to SAUTE and add olive oil to the bottom of the bowl.
  2. Once heated, add chopped chicken and cook until golden on all sides, then turn Instant Pot to OFF.
  3. In a separate bowl, whisk together broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, onions, and minced garlic. Pour mixture over your chicken.
  4. Add chopped bell pepper, broccoli, and cashew halves to the Instant Pot. Gently stir until everything is coated in the sauce.
  5. Replace lid and turn knob to SEALING. Press PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL and set timer for 8 minutes.
  6. Once the timer is up, release the pressure (quick release).
  7. Remove chicken and vegetables from the Instant Pot. And turn the pot again to SAUTE.
  8. Add 1 Tablespoon of cornstarch dissolved in water to your pot and whisk gently until it begins to thicken.
  9. Serve Cashew Chicken over rice and topped with your thickened sauce.

Notes

How to turn this into a freezer meal:
Place chicken, chicken broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, rice vinegar, sesame oil, honey, green onions, garlic, red bell pepper, broccoli, and cashews into a gallon-sized freezer bag. Place freezer bag into freezer and it will last up to 90 days. When ready to use, dump ingredients from bag into Instant Pot and add 1/2 cup of water in with the frozen food. Place the lid on top, move the valve to SEALING, and press the MANUAL button. Set timer for 25 minutes. Do a 5 minute NATURAL RELEASE when the timer is done. Follow the rest of the instructions as written. (Because we are making this a dump-and-go freezer meal, we will skip the saute steps).

Nutrition

Calories: 987 kcal · Carbohydrates: 141 g · Protein: 36 g · Fat: 31 g · Saturated Fat: 6 g · Polyunsaturated Fat: 5 g · Monounsaturated Fat: 18 g · Trans Fat: 1 g · Cholesterol: 55 mg · Sodium: 1064 mg · Potassium: 938 mg · Fiber: 5 g · Sugar: 13 g · Vitamin A: 1232 IU · Vitamin C: 75 mg · Calcium: 94 mg · Iron: 4 mg
Cuisine: Asian
Course: Main Course
Did You Make This Recipe?We’d love to hear your thoughts! Leave a review or a question in the comment section below the post.

Be sure to not miss another recipe! Follow Six Sisters’ Stuff on Instagram|Facebook|Pinterest|YouTube

Check out our new cookbook:

Have you heard about our newest cookbook, Copycat Cooking? We took over 100 of our favorite restaurant recipes and simplified them so that you can make them right at home!

Six Sisters' Stuff Copycat Cooking Cook Book

We are so excited to share these recipes with you. Order your copy today!
Six Sisters’ Stuff COPYCAT COOKING <—– Click here to order!

Have you checked out our YouTube channel?

Instant Pot Cashew Chicken
Published: February 18, 2022Updated: November 10, 2022

Join The Discussion

I love hearing from you! Submit your question or review below. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked*.

Rate This Recipe!




This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Questions & Reviews

  1. Paul S says:
    Step 3, are you sure the rice is added then? I don’t see how you can add cornstarch later in the recipe if rice is already added? Thanks
  2. Holly says:
    My family and I did not find this very flavorful. The broccoli was mush, to the point where my teenage son asked if there really was broccoli in there. If I were to make this again, I would steam the broccoli on my own and add it after the rest of the food was cooked, more like a topping. I will keep trying your dishes!
  3. Cyd says:
    The rice is not added to the recipe. You serve the Instant Pot Cashew Chicken over cooked and prepared rice.
  4. Ken says:
    The broccoli looks terrible. Almost brown. Extrememly overcooked.
  5. Nicole says:
    I suggest cooking way less time so that the broccoli, peppers, and cashews aren’t mushy and overdone.
  6. Lauren says:
    Bummer! Totally overcooked at 8 mins- next time I will do it maybe half that! Thanks for the recipe though- flavors were great!!
  7. Douglas says:
    Aloha! I concur. I had all ingredients at home except for the broccoli. After running to the store and selecting the finest broccoli crowns. I carefully followed directions and questioned that 8 minutes was too long (especially since you pre-browned the chicken, but I had failed to read the comments... Lesson learned. I had a pot full of moss green mush. While the flavors were very good (I did add a little ginger for kick and omitted the red pepper but used pepper flakes) we were so disappointed with the appearance and texture. I will use the recipe again but definitely cut down on the cooking time. Mahalo~
  8. Wendy Steward says:
    May I cut all of your recipes in half using the 3 qt duo instapot?
  9. Patricia says:
    Why do you add thee cashews while cooking. I( thought they were added after cooking for the crunch. I tried making this years ago on stove top
  10. Mindy says:
    Very bland. Don’t put broccoli and cashews in until after 8 minute cooking time. They were both mush. Next time I would add them while the sauce is thickening.
  11. Mindy says:
    Very bland. Don’t put broccoli and cashews in until after 8 minute cooking time. They were both mush. Next time I would add them while the sauce is thickening.
  12. Lisa Samples says:
    I love this recipe! Even my mother, who does not care for this type of dish, loves it! I typically do not buy fresh broccoli, so cook the chicken then throw frozen broccoli in at the last minute, sautéing in the instant pot. I sometimes use frozen chicken tenderloins and cook @ 25 minutes without cashews and broccoli. Turns out great! I use this recipe in my menu rotation about once every two weeks. Another great job, ladies!
  13. Cathy says:
    This was great. I followed your suggestion of steaming broccoli and adding to the pot at the end. It was perfect. I’m wondering if I were to double this recipe would cooking time be the same?
  14. Momma Cyd says:
    Yes, same cooking time.
  15. SF says:
    Going to try the recipe this week for dinner guests. If adding the pepper and broccoli at the end does the chicken itself still need to cook for 8 minutes?
  16. Momma Cyd says:
    Yes, to cook the chicken through.
  17. ANITA FARRAR says:
    The vegetables were mushy. I was very disappointed. Followed recipe exactly. Not as tasty as I'd hoped.

    2 stars

  18. Jess says:
    When making into a freezer meal, are you cooking the meat first or is it raw when you throw it into the freezer bags?
  19. Momma Cyd says:
    You are putting the chicken into the freezer bag raw when making this into a freezer meal.
  20. Michael Baron says:
    This was absolutely wonderful and delicious.

    5 stars

  21. Joyce says:
    Pressure cook time was way too long. Broccoli and cashews were too soft. Suggest 0 for pressure cook time
As Seen On BuzzFeedElleGlamourGood HousekeepingHuffington PostParadeParentingToday Show