Meal Bite: Cashew Chicken

Hi Busies!

Q:  Is there anything better than ordering takeout?!  Spreading all the cartons in the middle of the table, then free-for-all passing them around in a mad dash to get the perfect combo of food on your plate, over a bed of that sweet sweet rice?

A:  YES!  This Cashew Chicken is a lightened up, homemade version of the classic.  It’s a quick & easy stir fry that, if you make it as part of meal prep, is not only better than takeout – you don’t have to drive anywhere to pick it up.  *aahhhh* …that’s the sound of my relief when I know I can have a delicious takeout-style meal while also staying in my PJ’s.

This Cashew Chicken features:

• Tender, golden browned bites of chicken
• Luscious, sweet and tangy homemade stir fry sauce (takes less than 5 minutes to make!)
• Crunchy roasted broccoli sprinkled with garlic powder and sea salt
• CASHEWS (more to come on these)
• All over a bed of brown rice that soaks up that amazing sauce!

Stir fry meals like this come together in a snap.  Start the rice on the stovetop and roast the broccoli (or whatever stir fry veggies are your fav) in the oven, then you’re free to focus all your attention on the chicken and sauce.  Everything finishes around the same time and combines into the perfect bowl!  

Because the timing is so fast, it definitely helps to be as prepared as possible before any cooking starts.  This is a do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do piece of advice, because I don’t always plan ahead as much as I should.  AKA, I’m scrambling to:

• stir the sauce so it thickens and doesn’t burn
• take the broccoli out of the oven (…so it doesn’t burn)
• turn the timer off for the rice and keep an eye on the roasting cashews (you see where this is going…)
• rinse and chop the scallions

all at the exact. same. time.  SO!  Rinse and chop the scallions while you’re taking care of the other stir fry veggies.  Stir together the sauce ingredients before you start cooking the chicken. Set timers for the veggies and rice so they don’t get forgotten while you’re stir frying away!  

The best thing about this meal for me is obviously the cashews!  Especially after getting coated in the stir fry sauce, they add the perfect rich and salty crunch to every bite.  I give mine a quick roast in the toaster oven for 5 minutes at 350°F before stirring them in.  

My favorite way to serve this is with all the goodness in one bowl.  Because if I’m in my PJ’s, you know I’m also eating dinner from the couch.  But, if you really want to recreate that takeout vibe, serve the rice separately, and reheat some Mongolian Beef to serve along with it!

What are your favorite takeout meals?  Let me know in the comments below and I’ll try to include some in the next round of meal prep!  If you make this cashew chicken, tag me on Instagram @busygirl_bites or #busygirlbites so I can see how it turned out!