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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
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.
Nutrition
Nutritional information is only an estimate. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed.
Did you make this recipe? Please rate & comment below.
This was VERY delicious and so fast/easy!!!
Hey Amy,
Thanks so much! I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
Made tonight, was very good! I made a previous recipe of yours with vermicelli noodles, and they are so tasty to make this way. Could only find apricot jam, but I probably could have used crushed pineapple/fresh crushed mango in a pinch as well. I just did one tablespoon of honey, and the sweetness was balanced. Loved all the flavors together, and the oomph from the basil (I only had a handful of basil). I forgot to buy mangos, and forgot the lime at the end. Seems to be a forgiving recipe. Will definitely make again!
Hey Kris,
Thanks so much! I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
Made this tonight. It was sooooo good!!! I had bought all the ingredients besides the mango and went to the store just for a mango before cooking. So glad I did!! That extra touch of sweetness is the perfect combo. This will definitely be on our “repeat” list!!! Thanks for sharing 🙂
Hey there,
Thanks so much! I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
Can you use tamarind paste instead of the jams?
Hey Deb,
I don’t see why that wouldn’t work! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know how it turns out! xTieghan
Made tonight using apricot preserves- delicious! Definitely had a kick but loved every bite.
Hey Stephanie,
Thanks so much! I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
So easy to make and I didn’t have rice noodles subs in Angel hair and also apricot jam.
Yum
Hey Michele,
Thanks so much! I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
We made this last night and it was excellent! We’ll probably double the soy/honey/mango sauce next time. The coconut milk and garlic on the noodles was a nice touch as well! Thanks for another great dinner!
Hey Michelle,
Thanks so much! I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
This came out fantastic!
I cubed and coated the chicken with arrowroot flour before cooking it. I think this helped with the caramelizing process. I also added by spoonfuls the coconut milk to my desired sauce thickness.
4 boys + 1 dish = all happy! It doesn’t get better than that! Thanks Tieghan.
Hey Joyce,
Thanks so much! I am so glad the recipe was enjoyed, thanks for making it! xTieghan
Ohhh!! The one ingredient I’m out of is HONEY! Would maple syrup or agave work here?
Hey Susan,
Maple syrup would work just fine! I hope you love the recipe, please let me know if you give it a try! xTieghan
Thanks for the great recipe and the tip on the cast iron skillet – I used mine and the sauce consistency turned out great! I’m a vegetarian and I used a chicken substitute – I may add edamame with the leftovers to get a veggie in there but really enjoyed it!
Hey Sarah,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! xxTieghan
I just made this tonight for supper. My family loved it! It was so easy and sooo tasty. Thank you another great, quick meal.
Hey Glenda,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! xxTieghan
Amazing recipe- will definitely become a staple in my house!!
Hey Sara,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! xxTieghan
Made this tonight. Fast and easy also delicious! Didn’t have mango jam so used spicy mango chutney. Worked out really well. My hubby really enjoyed it too. Thanks
Hey Sue,
I am delighted that this recipe was enjoyed, thanks so much for giving it a go! xxTieghan
Got to make this!
Thanks so much Gloria!
I didn’t have any basil, and used frozen/thawed mango chunks I stirred in at the last just to warm them. The noodles (rice sticks) didn’t have a lot of flavor on their own… I used boxed coconut milk, not sure if it’s the same., but under the chicken everything was so good. Mine didn’t turn as dark as yours, but will definitely make again! Thanks!
Hey Wendy,
Fantastic! Thanks so much for making this recipe, I am it was enjoyed! xTieghan