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Sticky Vegan Cashew Chicken

Name: Sticky Vegan Cashew Chicken
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 30 min
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 1 cup raw, unsalted cashews; 1 tablespoon agave syrup; 1 ½ inch piece of ginger, peeled (may use ¼ teaspoon of ground ginger instead); Pinch salt; 2 teaspoons tapioca flour/starch; ¼ cup water; ¼ cup gluten-free hoisin sauce; 1 tablespoon gluten-free soy sauce (tamari/liquid aminos); 10 oz (383 grams) plant-based chicken, chopped; 1 tablespoon sesame oil; 1 tablespoon minced garlic; 1 tablespoon rice vinegar; Brown rice; 1 green onion, sliced

Published byGina Fontana onApril 24, 2023January 29, 2025 Updated onJanuary 29, 2025

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If you’re looking for a quick and easy dinner that’s gluten-free and vegan, look no further than this Sticky Vegan Cashew Chicken dish that’s better than takeout and can be made in just 30 minutes! This Chinese-American dinner is made with plant based chicken, roasted ginger-agave cashews, and served over rice for the perfect plant-based meal.

Table of Contents

Get ready to drool over this delicious Sticky Vegan Cashew Chicken! Made with tender pieces of plant-based chicken, this dish is served in a rich and flavorful sauce that will satisfy your takeout Chinese food cravings. The cashews add a delightful crunch to every bite. It’s a dish that’s sure to impress both vegans and non-vegans alike. No actual chickens were harmed in the making of this dish, just some super crunchy cashews 😉

3/4 shot of a bowl of sticky vegan cashew chicken served over brown rice with chopsticks resting on the bowl, a glass of water on the side, a small wooden cutting board with sliced green onions on it.

If you’re tired of ordering takeout and want to try your hand at something new, this vegan cashew chicken dish is not only gluten-free, but it’s also sticky and delicious. Plus, it can be made in just 30 minutes! This sticky cashew chicken dish is the perfect example of how plant-based meals can be just as tasty as their meat-filled counterparts.

If you want to impress your friends and family with a delicious dinner that’s also vegan and gluten-free, this sticky cashew chicken dish is sure to do the trick. Let’s dive into this simple dinner recipe, shall we?!

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The Roasted Ginger-Agave Cashews

Indulge in the deliciousness of these roasted cashews with a hint of ginger and sweetness from agave. They’re a perfect snack on their own that will satisfy both your cravings and taste buds, and are absolutely delightful in this cashew chicken recipe.

Simply combine raw cashews with agave syrup and fresh grated ginger and bake on a parchment-lined baking sheet until golden and crunchy 🤤 Just look at these beauties!

roasted golden brown ginger-agave cashews on a parchment lined baking sheet

The Sauce

The sauce is really simple to make with just 3 ingredients: gluten-free hoisin sauce, tapioca starch/flour, and gluten-free soy sauce.

Hoisin sauce. I bought gluten-free hoisin sauce from the grocery store to keep this recipe super duper easy and with minimal ingredients. You can also buy it on Amazon. Make sure it’s gluten-free. There are a couple different brands that make gluten-free hoisin sauce. You are more than welcome to make your own homemade hoisin sauce.

cooked vegan sticky cashew chicken in a skillet garnished with sliced green onions

Tapioca starch/flour. Tapioca starch/flour acts as a thickener in this sauce, while also making this sauce “sticky”. You can find it in select stores, or you can buy it on Amazon. I like using tapioca starch rather than cornstarch as a grain-free alternative, and also I find it makes this Sticky Vegan Cashew Chicken stickier, but if you can’t find it you may also use cornstarch or arrowroot flour/starch. You’ll combine two teaspoons of tapioca starch with 1/4 cup of water.

Soy sauce. You will only need one tablespoon of soy sauce for this recipe. I always have it on hand, I actually prefer this soy-free soy sauce, but you can use any brand you’d like, just make sure it’s gluten-free. You can also use liquid aminos in place of the soy sauce

In a small bowl, combine the tapioca flour with water. In a separate bowl, whisk together the hoisin sauce, soy sauce, and tapioca mixture and set aside until you’re ready to add it to the skillet with the cooked plant-based chicken.

The Chicken

Use your favorite plant-based chicken in this recipe and cook with a little sesame oil and minced garlic in a skillet until golden. I used Abbot’s Butcher Chopped Chick’n. Then add a tablespoon of rice vinegar and cook just a couple more minutes. Then you’ll combine it with the sauce and the roasted ginger-agave cashews for the most swoon worthy dinner! 😍

cooked vegan sticky cashew chicken in a skillet garnished with sliced green onions and a wooden spatula in the pan

How To Enjoy

Serve this Sticky Vegan Cashew Chicken over brown or white rice, or rice of choice 🍚.

a close up of a bowl of sticky vegan cashew chicken served over brown rice with chopsticks resting on the bowl, a glass of water on the side, a small wooden cutting board with sliced green onions on it.

So if you’ve decided to try more plant-based meals, or go vegan but you’re missing that savory, chicken-y taste, fear not, my friend, because this cashew “chicken” recipe will make your taste buds dance! So grab your apron (or not, I won’t judge) and let’s get cooking! 😉

a close up horizontal image of brown rice in a bowl topped with vegan sticky cashew chicken and garnished with sliced green onion

I hope you love this homemade cashew chicken recipe! Let me know what you think down below in the comments section, as well as giving it a five star rating ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ so that others can discover this salad recipe! Tag me on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest!

Also check out my better than takeout Vegan Beef & Broccoli Teriyaki Noodles!