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Weeknight style 20 Minute Honey Garlic Cashew Chicken and Coconut Noodles. The super-fast chicken bowl that looks restaurant-style, but tastes even better…and is healthier too! Quick-cooking chicken tossed in a sweet and spicy honey soy sauce with mango jam, cashews, and lots of fresh basil. Serve this chicken over creamy coconut rice noodles and top with plenty of lime juice. Every bite is spicy-sweet, and the cashews add a nice little crunch. It’s delicious, healthy, and so darn easy. Perfect for busy weeknights.
One of the questions I get asked most often is where I draw inspiration from. Unfortunately, the answer isn’t always that simple. I get inspiration from almost everything. The littlest things can inspire an entirely new idea. Maybe it’s a brother recommending his favorite T-Bell menu item. Or a pretty color palette that inspires everything from the recipe creation to the way I style the dish. Honestly, there are so many things, which is why I feel like I’ll never fully run out of new ideas. You just never know where new inspiration will come from.
But for today’s recipe? The inspiration was simple and so easily explainable. A couple of fresh Thai basil plants found at Whole Foods. Along with some pretty champagne mangos picked up there as well. Two, simple ingredients inspired this quick-cooking honey garlic cashew chicken. And while it’s simple, it’s so flavorful and fun too!
Since it’s such a quick dish, let’s jump into the details…
With Thai basil being my inspiration, the flavors within this chicken are heavily Thai influenced. I always start out with the noodles. I like to use vermicelli rice noodles, but you could use any variety of rice noodles or even angel hair pasta. Cook them according to the package directions, and while that’s happening, start prepping the chicken. By the time the water has come to a boil you should be able to have everything prepped and ready for the chicken.
Next, drain off those noodles and start in on the chicken. For the sauce, there are just three ingredients…low sodium soy sauce (though I prefer to use low-sodium tamari – but either works), honey, and sweet mango jam. If you don’t have mango or pineapple jam on hand, try using apricot preserves. Mango jam is ideal, but apricot will work in a pinch!
I grab my mango-pineapple jam from The Little Market. I’ve worked with the Little Market for years. I love all the incredible things they do for women. They’re a fair trade organization that supports dignified income opportunities for women in need. They sell exclusive hand-crafted, ethically sourced, products from over 70 women-led artisan groups and social enterprises. Right now I am obsessed with their new line of jams and hot sauces. Every last one is so flavorful and delicious, yet made with simple, real ingredients. The Little Market jams actually come from women artisans in Eswatini Africa!
Alrighty…next, cook up the ginger and garlic, then add the chicken and a splash of soy sauce. The key is to caramelize the chicken and get the garlic nice and crispy, but not burnt. So, make sure to watch it closely as the chicken cooks.
Once the chicken has caramelized, pour in the sauce and simply simmer until the sauce glazes the chicken. This happens quickly, about five minutes or so.
While that’s happening, finish up the noodles
I toss them up in a hot pan full of sesame oil and garlic. Yes, noodles, oil, and garlic…but then add a touch of coconut milk for a little more sauce and additional creaminess. These are SO GOOD. A little unusual I guess, but so good.
By the time the noodles have cooked, the chicken should be done as well. The noodles are meant to be saucy, so once you toss them with the coconut sauce, be sure to serve them right away.
Spoon the noodles plus the sauce into bowls, then add the chicken. Finish each bowl off with a squeeze of fresh lime juice and Thai basil. Then, toss in some mango chunks too. Only if you’d like of course, but I wouldn’t skip them. I love mango…and spicy-sweet + fruity recipes are the best.
Now enjoy…immediately, it’s that simple, and that quick-cooking. Honestly, this will take you no time at all to make and it uses mostly pantry staples too.
And most importantly, this is just a really delicious, fresh, flavorful, and healthy dinner that you can mix up any night of the week. You might even already have all of the ingredients on hand too!
Pretty hard to beat that.
Looking for more super fast dinner recipes, try these…
15 Minute Cajun Hot Honey Butter Shrimp
15 Minute Garlic Butter Ramen Noodles
20 Minute Orzo Carbonara with Crispy Prosciutto and Burrata
Lastly, if you make this 20 Minute Honey Garlic Cashew Chicken and Coconut Noodles, be sure to leave a comment and/or give this recipe a rating! Above all, I love to hear from you guys and always do my best to respond to each and every comment. And of course, if you do make this recipe, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram! Looking through the photos of recipes you all have made is my favorite!
20 Minute Honey Garlic Cashew Chicken with Coconut Noodles
Servings: 6
Calories Per Serving: 531 kcal
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, thinly sliced
- 5 tablespoons low-sodium soy sauce
- 3 tablespoons sesame oil
- 3 tablespoons mango or pineapple jam (or apricot preserves)
- 1-2 tablespoons honey
- 6 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 1 tablespoon grated ginger
- 1/2-1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 cup raw cashews
- 1 cups fresh Thai basil or regular basil, roughly chopped
- 8 ounces rice noodles
- 1/3 cup canned coconut milk
- 1 mango, diced
- lime wedges, for serving
Instructions
- 1. Cook the rice noodles according to package directions. 2. In a glass jar, whisk together 4 tablespoons soy sauce, the mango jam, and honey.3. In a large skillet over medium-high, cook 2 tablespoons oil, 4 cloves garlic, the ginger, and red pepper flakes until fragrant, 30 seconds. Add the chicken and 1 tablespoon soy sauce, cook 5 minutes until lightly caramelized. Stir in the cashews. Add the honey-soy sauce and cook until the sauce glazes the chicken and is cooked through, about 5 minutes. Remove from the heat and stir in the basil.3. Meanwhile, set a medium skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon sesame oil and 1-2 cloves garlic. Cook 1 to 2 minutes, until golden. Stir in the coconut milk, cook 3 minutes until warmed through. Remove from the heat and toss the noodles with the sauce.4. Divide the noodles between bowls and spoon the chicken over. Serve with basil, mango, and limes.
This post was originally published on April 15, 2021
Delish! Subbed in orange marmalade and it was very yummy.
Hey Michelle,
Wonderful!! I am so so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
Another winner! This Honey Garlic Cashew Chicken is to die for! So quick, easy and good! Made it with Apricot Preserves.
Hey Gladys,
Wonderful!! I am so so glad that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks a lot for giving it a try! Happy Sunday! xTieghan
My husband and I loved this!! I used my sour cherry jam instead of the mango jam as my husband is not a mango fan. Really tasty and pretty easy to put together.
Hey Nancy,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Could I use marmalade in place of the jam?
Hey Izzy,
Yes, that will work well for you! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Easy & Good!
I was short on skillets, so I just combined the sauces for the chicken and the noodles into one pan (omitting the second dose of oil). Also didn’t have mango or jam so I subbed pineapple juice and pineapple for a topping. Turned out delicious!
Hey Shawna,
Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am delighted that it was enjoyed! Have a great weekend! xTieghan
Do you think date paste might be ok in place of jam?
Hey Rita,
Sure, that should work for you! I hope you love this recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
This recipe was tasty but a little too sweet. Also, I followed the recipe as written and the sauce was watery and never thickened. I ended up putting a bunch of steamed veggies to soak up some of the sauce.
Hey Cyndi,
Thanks so much for giving the recipe a try! If you ever need help thickening a sauce, you can always add some cornstarch. xTieghan
What can I use instead of coconut milk?
Hey Peter,
I would just skip the coconut milk and keep your noodles plain. I hope you love the dish, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
I made this tonight! It was delicious!! Subbed mango jam for apricot, but otherwise made as is. The flavors were fantastic, thanks!!
Hey there,
Fantastic!! I am thrilled that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for making it! Happy Friday:) xTieghan
This looks amazing and I’m wondering what a good substitute for the sesame oil would be as my daughter has a sesame seed allergy. I usually replace with avocado oil and extra soy sauce but let me know if there’s a better substitute. Our family loves all of your recipes!
Hey Brooke,
I think that would work just fine here! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Suggestions on other types of jams that would work? Don’t have either apricot or mango. Have lots of berry jams and fig preserves. I might toss in some pineapple on top; but looking for suggestions on jams or preserves that might already be in the pantry.
I think you have the best food photography of any print or online site I use. I’m having breakfast, and you get me interested in dinner! 🙂
Hey John,
I think something like mango, pineapple, or apricot jam would work best here, I don’t think berry jam would be your best option. I hope you enjoy the recipe, please let me know if you have any other questions! xTieghan
This recipe looks delicious. just one question: In the photo, it looks like the chicken is in cubes, not sliced. Please advise. I am so excited to try this recipe.
Hey Monica,
Either sliced chicken or cubed chicken will work, whatever your preference is. I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
Trying to think what veggies would go well with this? Broccoli? Zucchini? Shredded carrots? Baby corn?
Hey Annelise,
Any and all of those sound great to me! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Where do I get RAW cashews, can you use “Unsalted” instead…. or is there another work around
Hey Sharon,
You should be able to find raw cashews at any local grocery store, yes unsalted would be the same thing:) I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan
will be making this soon can i use mushrooms instead as am a vegan perfect for my after office meals will dm you if i make this and let you know how it goes Thanks Ramya
Hey Ramya! I would actually use cauliflower, I think that would work well for you! xTieghan
In the pictures you have the. Hi Jen marinating is something but in the actual recipe I don’t see that. Can you clarify.
Hey Connie,
I just tossed with a little bit of the sauce, you don’t have to do this:) I hope you love the recipe! xTieghan