Why You’ll Love this Smoky Chipotle Cashew Chicken
When you’re craving something that strikes the perfect balance between sweet and spicy, this Smoky Chipotle Cashew Chicken hits all the right notes. The combination of honey and maple syrup creates a delicious glaze that perfectly complements the smoky heat from those chipotle peppers in adobo sauce.
I’m particularly fond of how the crunchy cashews add texture against the tender chicken pieces.
And can we talk about that wholesome brown rice? It soaks up all those amazing flavors while providing a nutty base for the dish. Ready in under 30 minutes, too. What’s not to love?
What Ingredients are in Smoky Chipotle Cashew Chicken?
This recipe brings together the perfect blend of protein, vegetables, and warm spices for a meal that’s both satisfying and flavorful. The ingredient list might look long at first glance, but don’t let that intimidate you—most are pantry staples that create layers of flavor, from the smoky heat of chipotles to the sweet balance of honey and maple syrup. And honestly, who doesn’t love a dish where the sauce caramelizes into something so delicious you’ll want to lick your plate?
- 2 lbs chicken tenders, cut into 2-inch pieces
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoons butter, divided
- 1 large onion (1/4 finely chopped, 3/4 thinly sliced)
- 2 cups quick-cooking brown rice
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2-3 tablespoons dark soy sauce
- 4 garlic cloves, chopped
- 2 cups frozen broccoli
- 1 cup frozen carrots
- 3 tablespoons chipotle chiles in adobo (2 peppers and their sauce)
- 1 tablespoon ground cumin
- 2-3 tablespoons honey
- 1/4-1/3 cup real maple syrup
- 2-3 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
- 1 cup raw cashews
When shopping for the ingredients, quality matters with a few key items. Try to find real maple syrup rather than pancake syrup—trust me, the difference in flavor is worth it. For the chipotles in adobo, you’ll typically find these in small cans in the international aisle, and you can freeze the leftovers for future recipes. And while the recipe calls for frozen vegetables, feel free to substitute fresh if you have them on hand—just adjust your cooking time slightly to guarantee they’re tender before serving.
How to Make this Smoky Chipotle Cashew Chicken
Making this dish is a delicious dance of multitasking, but I promise the payoff is absolutely worth it. Start with the rice foundation by heating 1 tablespoon of extra-virgin olive oil and 1 tablespoon of butter in a medium pot over medium heat. Once the butter melts into the oil, add 2 cups of quick-cooking brown rice and let it toast for about 3 minutes—this little step adds so much nutty flavor.
Pour in 4 cups of chicken stock, cover the pot, and raise the heat until it reaches a rapid boil. Then lower the heat and let it simmer for 17-18 minutes, giving it an occasional stir until the rice absorbs all that flavorful liquid and becomes perfectly tender.
While your rice is working its magic, turn your attention to the star of the show. Heat 2 tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large skillet over high heat, then add 2 pounds of chicken tenders that you’ve cut into 2-inch pieces. Season the chicken, brown it on both sides, then drizzle with 2-3 tablespoons of dark soy sauce.
Push the chicken to one side of the pan and add 4 chopped garlic cloves along with your onions. After 2-3 minutes, toss in 2 cups of frozen broccoli and 1 cup of frozen carrots, then mix everything together. Now comes the flavor bomb—add 3 tablespoons of chipotle chiles in adobo and 1 tablespoon of ground cumin, tossing to coat all those beautiful ingredients.
For the finishing touch, create an irresistible glaze by drizzling 2-3 tablespoons of honey and 1/4 to 1/3 cup of real maple syrup over the mixture, then turn off the heat. The residual warmth will caramelize these sweeteners just enough to create a sticky, spicy-sweet sauce that clings to every morsel.
For the smoothest sauce texture that perfectly coats your chicken, consider using a Vitamix professional blender to puree your chipotle peppers with the adobo sauce before adding them to the pan.
Sprinkle 2-3 tablespoons of fresh chopped cilantro and 1 cup of raw cashews over the top, giving everything a final toss. To serve, simply spoon this gorgeous, saucy chicken mixture over your fluffy brown rice. The contrast of textures—tender chicken, crisp vegetables, crunchy cashews—against that smoky-sweet sauce is simply heavenly.
And those moments when you bite into a cashew that’s been kissed by the chipotle sauce? Pure culinary magic.
Smoky Chipotle Cashew Chicken Substitutions and Variations
Flexibility shines as one of the greatest aspects of this smoky chipotle cashew chicken recipe, allowing you to customize it to your pantry contents or dietary needs.
Don’t have cashews? Swap in peanuts or almonds for a different crunch factor. The brown rice can easily become quinoa or cauliflower rice for lower-carb diets.
Vegetarians might replace chicken with firm tofu or tempeh, while the heat level adjusts by simply adding more or less chipotle. If maple syrup isn’t your thing, honey works perfectly on its own.
And those frozen veggies? Any combination of fresh or frozen vegetables will create your own signature version.
What to Serve with Smoky Chipotle Cashew Chicken
When deciding what to pair with smoky chipotle cashew chicken, you’ll want complementary sides that balance the dish’s sweet-spicy profile.
I’m a big fan of cooling elements like cucumber-yogurt salad or simple sliced avocados to temper the heat.
A crisp jicama slaw with lime dressing works beautifully, cutting through the richness.
For something green, consider roasted Brussels sprouts or a simple spinach salad.
Need more carbs? Warm tortillas let you create impromptu wraps.
And don’t forget a pitcher of iced tea with mint—trust me, your taste buds will thank you after those chipotle kicks in.
Final Thoughts
This smoky chipotle cashew chicken has become one of my absolute favorite weeknight recipes. The combination of spicy chipotle, sweet maple syrup, and crunchy cashews creates a flavor profile that’s simply irresistible.
Don’t you love when comfort food also happens to be nutritious?
What makes this dish special is its versatility. Feel free to adjust the heat level by adding more or fewer chipotle peppers, or swap in whatever veggies are lurking in your freezer.
The wholesome brown rice base soaks up all those magnificent flavors, making every bite worth savoring.
