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    Urban Bliss Life » Blog » Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

    Published: May 15, 2019 / Updated: April 29, 2023 by Marlynn Jayme Schotland · This post may contain affiliate links.

    Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

    2014 shares
    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    This Instant Pot Cashew Chicken is better than take-out! Plus it's healthier, and easy to adjust for Whole30 and Paleo diets.

    Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

    I love Chinese take-out. I really, really do. There's something so comforting about ordering food and having it delivered to your door while you answer in your sweats and no make-up. Then eating out of those adorable take-out containers while binge watching the latest Netflix shows (have you watched Dead to Me yet? So good!).

    Instant Pot Cashew Chicken close up

    There are a lot of Chinese recipes that are super duper easy to make at home, though. And I also find it just as comforting being zen in my kitchen whipping up these better-than-take-out dishes in 30 minutes or less.

    I've long loved making Slow Cooker Mongolian Beef and Easy Shrimp Lo Mein. But as my love for the Instant Pot continues to grow, I've got a new fave Chinese dish: Instant Pot Cashew Chicken.

    Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

    Instant Pot Cashew Chicken with rice

    This dish is SO simple and so fast. The most time you'll spend is in cutting the chicken and the veggies, but that takes just about 10 minutes tops.

    You can also adjust the recipe to comply with Whole30 and Paleo diets. I've included notes in the recipe below for that.

    How to Avoid the Burn Notice on Your Instant Pot

    Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

    One common complaint of Instant Pot users is that they will sometimes get a BURN notice when cooking certain dishes. Usually that means there's not enough liquid to cook the solids without charring them to the bottom of the pan a bit. It seems like most people get this when cooking pastas in the Instant Pot, or meats with thicker sauces.

    When I first made this dish in the Instant Pot, I got the BURN notice. So, I've adjusted the liquids to where I no longer get it. They key is to ensure you have enough liquid to mostly cover the chicken and veggies before you seal the lid. I use 1.5 pounds of chicken, but you may use 1.7 pounds of chicken and just a little more veggies, which would call for more liquids. Simply add a little chicken stock, water, or more coconut aminos if you want more flavored liquid.

    Instant Pot Cashew Chicken with rice

    Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

    5 from 16 votes
    Prep Time: 10 minutes mins
    Cook Time: 15 minutes mins
    Total Time: 25 minutes mins
    Recipe by Marlynn Schotland
    This Instant Pot Cashew Chicken dish is Paleo, Whole30, gluten-free and dairy-free - AND better than take-out!
    Servings: 4 people
    Calories: 535kcal
    PRINT PIN RATE 🤍 SAVESaved!

    Ingredients

    • 2 tablespoon sesame oil, divided
    • ½ cup coconut aminos
    • 3 tablespoons ketchup (sugar-free for a paleo/whole30 dish)
    • 1 tablespoon rice wine vinegar
    • 1 tablespoon honey
    • 2 tablespoons garlic, minced
    • 1 tablespoon ginger, peeled and minced
    • 3 tablespoons arrowroot flour, divided
    • ½ teaspoon Five Spice Powder
    • 1.5 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts, cut into small 1" pieces
    • ½ cup green pepper, chopped into small pieces
    • ¼ cup carrots, julienned
    • ¼ cup chicken stock
    • ¼ teaspoon salt
    • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
    • 2 tablespoon water
    • 1 cup cashews
    Get Recipe Ingredients

    Instructions

    • In a large bowl, mix together 1 tbsp sesame oil, coconut aminos, ketchup, vinegar, honey, garlic, ginger, and Five Spice powder. Stir and set aside.
      sauce for Instant Pot Cashew Chicken
    • In a large ziplock bag or another large bowl, mix together 2 tbsp arrowroot flour with salt and pepper. Then add the chicken and coat evenly with the flour mixture. 
    • Turn Instant Pot to SAUTÉ, and add remaining 2 tbsp sesame oil to the bottom of the pot. Once the oil is heated, add the chicken and stir, searing evenly on all sides for 2-3 minutes.
      chicken in instant pot
    • Pour the sauce mixture over the chicken in the instant pot. Add the chopped green peppers and carrots, then pour in the chicken stock; stir. Cover, seal, and set to PRESSURE COOK or MANUAL to 10 minutes. 
    • Meanwhile, in a small bowl, combine 1 tbsp arrowroot flour with 2 tbsp water and stir well to dissolve. 
    • When the instant pot is done, Quick Release, and open the lid once the valve is down and it's safe to open. 
    • Set the Instant Pot to SAUTÉ, and add the water and flour mixture into the instant pot and mix well into the sauce. Add the cashews and continue stirring until the sauce has thickened, which takes just about a minute or two.
    • Serve immediately with rice, cauliflower rice, quinoa, and additional veggies. 

    Notes

    I make this in my 8-quart Instant Pot Duo, but you could also make this in a 6-quart pressure cooker. If using a 6-quart pressure cooker, just be sure to sauté the chicken in one layer; if they will overlap, then sauté in two batches.
    To avoid a burn notice, be sure to add enough liquid (add chicken stock, water, or coconut aminos) to mostly cover the chicken & veggies before sealing.
    Tried this recipe?Please leave a star rating and comment! Then snap a pic of your dish and share it on social media. Tag @UrbanBlissLife and #UrbanBlissLife!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 535kcal | Carbohydrates: 33g | Protein: 43g | Fat: 26g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 109mg | Sodium: 1156mg | Potassium: 983mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 10g | Vitamin A: 1517IU | Vitamin C: 20mg | Calcium: 42mg | Iron: 3mg

    Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.

    PIN IT:

    Instant Pot Cashew Chicken

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      Reader Interactions

      Comments

      1. Meredith Mulhern says

        May 10, 2021 at 8:11 am

        Hi- can we sub potato starch or corn starch for the arrowroot? Same amount? Thank you!

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          May 10, 2021 at 10:59 am

          5 stars
          Hi Meredith! I personally haven't subbed either cornstarch or potato starch in this particular recipe, so I can't vouch for the results. However, in other recipes, I've subbed potato starch or cornstarch for arrowroot 1:1 and it's worked just fine. If you do substitute, please let me know how it turns out!

      2. Katie says

        March 03, 2020 at 3:06 pm

        Instructions say vinegar but not in ingredients list. I’m confused. Maybe I missed it.

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          March 03, 2020 at 3:47 pm

          5 stars
          Hi Katie! It's 1 tablespoon of rice wine vinegar. Thanks for letting me know. I updated the recipe.

      3. Stefani says

        February 15, 2020 at 5:48 pm

        Is there a substitute for coconut aminos?

        Reply
        • Marlynn Jayme Schotland says

          February 15, 2020 at 6:06 pm

          If you can have soy sauce, you can use that instead of coconut aminos.

      4. CL King says

        June 05, 2019 at 6:37 am

        5 stars
        It's a great idea, it becomes even more flavorful

        Reply
      5. Mary says

        May 17, 2019 at 11:59 am

        My goodness this looks so good! Definitely pinning this one to try in the next couple weeks. And DEAD TO ME!!! LOVING IT!!!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 28, 2019 at 8:58 pm

          Right?! Thanks, Mary! :)

      6. Hillary Knudsen says

        May 16, 2019 at 10:37 pm

        wow this sounds incredible! I love making my favorite Chinese takeout dishes at home!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 28, 2019 at 8:57 pm

          Thanks so much, Hillary! :)

      7. Amanda says

        May 16, 2019 at 5:05 pm

        Love the photos! Looks like such an easy dinner recipe!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 16, 2019 at 8:39 pm

          Thank you, Amanda! :)

      8. Erin @ Platings and Pairings says

        May 16, 2019 at 2:59 pm

        5 stars
        Yes! I love Instant Pot recipes and your cashew chicken sound so amazing Marlynn!! Can't wait to give it a try!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 16, 2019 at 8:39 pm

          Thanks so much, Erin! :)

      9. ilona says

        May 15, 2019 at 9:43 pm

        This will be great for weeknight dinner. Looks very delicious!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 16, 2019 at 8:37 pm

          Thank you! :)

      10. Laura says

        May 15, 2019 at 9:42 pm

        5 stars
        I always prefer homemade to take-out. It is healthier, tastier and better overall. Great Instant Pot recipe - so adjustable!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 16, 2019 at 8:37 pm

          Agreed! I like being able to make my own variations! Thanks, Laura!

      11. Tina says

        May 15, 2019 at 9:06 pm

        5 stars
        Your recipe really makes me want to get an instant pot. That glistening cashew chicken is speaking to me right now. I may just try this without the IP. Thanks for this!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 16, 2019 at 8:36 pm

          You really should! They make dinners so quick and easy! Thanks, Tina! :)

      12. Katie Carrick says

        May 15, 2019 at 8:23 pm

        5 stars
        I'm also a big fan of Chinese takeout. Chicken + cashew sounds spot on and will definitely have to try it out soon.

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 16, 2019 at 8:35 pm

          Thanks so much, Katie!

      13. Lisa says

        May 15, 2019 at 7:45 pm

        5 stars
        My stomach is growling looking at these beautiful photos! And I'm so happy its Gluten-Free! I can't wait to try this! :)

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 16, 2019 at 8:34 pm

          Yay! Let me know how you like it! :)

      14. Tilly says

        May 15, 2019 at 6:51 pm

        5 stars
        Cashew chicken is one of my favourite meals and I had no idea how easy it was to make. Thank you!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 16, 2019 at 8:34 pm

          It's one of mine, too! Thanks, Tilly!

      15. Becca says

        May 15, 2019 at 5:03 pm

        5 stars
        I need more instant pot recipes, I’m always forgetting to use it! This looks so quick and easy but sounds so delicious! Thank you so much!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 16, 2019 at 8:33 pm

          Thanks, Becca! :)

      16. jana seitzer says

        May 15, 2019 at 2:51 pm

        5 stars
        We love our instant pot and love to try new recipes! This looks delish!

        Reply
        • Marlynn | UrbanBlissLife says

          May 16, 2019 at 8:31 pm

          I love mine, too! Thanks, Jana! :)

      5 from 16 votes (5 ratings without comment)

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      Marlynn Jayme Schotland 2021 profile pic

      Hi! If you're looking for easy, fast, delicious family-friendly recipes, wine pairings, and travel tips, you've come to the right place! I'm Marlynn - a cookbook author, writer, photographer, and mom of two teenagers + a lovable lab retriever. I hold a WSET 2 with Distinction in wine, and am a member of Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine, and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA).

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