Springfield Style Cashew Chicken

This Springfield Style Cashew Chicken recipe is the perfect blend of salty and sweet and is the ultimate comfort meal.

You’ll fall head over heels for perfectly crispy fried chicken over a bed of rice with an Asian fusion sauce. Garnish with cashews and green onions for the perfect comfort cook.

WHAT DOES CASHEW CHICKEN TASTE LIKE?

Ok, so I like to pretend that my recipes are high end and complicated.

But this Springfield style cashew chicken is basically fancy brown gravy with fried chicken over some white rice.

If you’re a lover of southern fried chicken with a twist, you’re in luck.

INGREDIENTS TO GRAB

Worried about buying a ton of special ingredients for a new recipe? This isn’t that recipe. Most of the ingredients you’ll need are already tucked away in your fridge or pantry.

Spend a few minutes in your kitchen to make sure you have these ingredients on hand before you start cooking:

For The Cashew Sauce

• Chicken Broth– boxed or canned is fine. We’re not picky around here as long as it works.
• White Pepper– this gives a bit more kick than traditional black pepper. Feel free to sub with black pepper.
• Sugar– to balance out some of the saltiness of this recipe.
• Hoisin Sauce– gives this recipe the umami kick that you know and love.
• Soy Sauce– the dish is already packing a salty punch, but people traditionally finish with a splash of soy sauce as well.
• Corn Starch– to thicken the cashew sauce.
• Water– add to the cornstarch to make a cornstarch slurry.

For The Cashew Chicken

• Chicken Breast– I usually make about 2 pounds (but we have a large family)
• All Purpose flour– to coat the chicken
• Panko breadcrumbs– makes your chicken extra crispy
• Garlic Powder
• Salt
• Black Pepper
• Paprika
• Egg– to help the flour, panko, and spice mixture stick to the chicken

You’ll also need to grab some oil. This comfort food recipe is of the deep fried variety. A lot of people prefer the flavor and the high smoke point of peanut oil to fry their chicken. While it is delicious (and you should totally use it if you have it in your pantry) vegetable or canola oil will work in a pinch.

HOW TO MAKE SPRINGFIELD STYLE CASHEW CHICKEN

It may seem like a lot of steps, but if you coordinate your kitchen gadgets just right, you can have Springfield Style Cashew Chicken in a flash. Here’s how I do it:

Step 1: Make the rice. This is a totally optional step. Some people prefer the chicken and sauce alone, some prefer it with noodles, but most prefer it with rice (at least everyone that eats at my table). Since rice can take quite a while to cook, go ahead and start it first. I try to serve around a half of a cup per portion of Cashew Chicken. After all, why fill up on rice when you can savor that delicious fried chicken and sauce.

Step 2: Make the fried chicken batter. In a large mixing bowl, combine flour, panko breadcrumbs, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and paprika. This will create the dry part of the breading for the chicken. In a separate bowl, crack the eggs and mix together until scrambled.

Step 3: Coat the chicken in the batter. Using tongs, place the chicken chunks in the egg wash. Once coated, move them from the bowl of eggs to the bowl of flour and spices, ensuring all sides are coated.

Step 4: Fry the chicken. Once the oil in your skillet is heated to the proper temperature, begin placing the chunks of chicken in your skillet. Fry the chicken for approximately 5 minutes or until it reaches an internal temperature of 165F

Step 5: Make the sauce. In a saucepan, add chicken broth, hoisin sauce, soy sauce, white pepper, and sugar. Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer. In a separate bowl, create a cornstarch slurry. Gently whisk the slurry into the cashew chicken sauce and continue to simmer for an additional 2 minutes or until it reaches the desired consistency.

WHAT IS CASHEW CHICKEN SAUCE MADE OF?

Love, magic, sugar, some salt, and…

Nope. That’s not right. But it feels close.

Here’s what you’ll need for the perfect cashew chicken sauce:

1. Chicken Broth
2. White Pepper
3. Sugar
4. Hoisan Sauce
5. Soy Sauce
6. Corn Starch
7. Water

CAN I BUY CASHEW CHICKEN SAUCE?

You sure can! Not only can you grab it at a fraction of the price of all of the ingredients, but you can also grab it from a local vendor so you can get an authentic tasting sauce no matter where you’re cooking.

This Hopsing Cashew Sauce is tasty, delicious, and utterly authentic.

Grab a jar (or three) with this link:

Cashew Sauce Powder

If you’re a sucker for something easy, this is a great step to getting dinner on the table in no time. If you’re wanting to make the whole recipe from scratch, I can promise you’ll get every bit of the satisfaction you’re looking for if you make the sauce following my super simple steps.

WHAT TO EAT WITH CASHEW CHICKEN

Really, this recipe is so amazing you don’t need to worry about the extra things. A few bites in and you’ll be so stuffed you won’t even be able to think about making another thing to eat.

But if you’re wanting some options to compliment your Springfield Style Cashew Chicken try one of these sides:

• Rice
• Crab Rangoon
• Green Beans
• Asparagus
• Wontons

Honestly, as long as you make something deep fried, perfectly cooked greens, or a delicious rice dish you’ll have a complete meal.

WHERE DID SPRINGFIELD STYLE CASHEW CHICKEN ORIGINATE?

Rest In Peace, Mr. Leong.

He was truly the beginning of the revolution that impacted hundreds of thousands of people.

With a few recipes that influenced so many of us, you have to expect hungry people like myself to do our best to replicate it.

You can still grab some of Mr. Leong’s amazing sauces from some local chains and Amazon.

And if you’re close to Springfield, Missouri you can still stop by his flagship restaurant for a heaping plate of chicken with his signature sauce.

If you love this Springfield Style Cashew Chicken Recipe as much as I do, make sure you share it with your friends and pin it to make again later!