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Home Chicken

Cashew Chicken Meatballs

By Nagi Maehashi
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Published27 Feb '17 Updated17 Jul '25
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Cashew Chicken Meatballs are everything you know and love about Chinese Cashew Chickenโ€ฆ.made with meatballs! Plump juicy chicken meatballs and tossed through with green capsicum / peppers and cashews and a savoury Chinese sauce. This is a must try!

This Chinese Cashew Chicken Meatballs recipe is everything you know and love about Cashew Chicken...made with meatballs! recipetineats.com

Cashew Chicken Meatballs

Monday Meatball Mania isย back!!!

Wow you guys LOVED the Swedish Meatballs I shared last month. Soft tender meatballs bathed in a creamy gravyโ€ฆ.ugh. How did it take me so long to share that one??

For those not already on board the meatball train, hereโ€™s the background: my friend Jo from Jo Cooks and I whole heartedly agree thatย there needs to be more ball shaped foods in this world. Because ball shaped food areย all delish. Think about it, come back and let me know if you think of any ball shaped food that youโ€™re not a fan of. (Other than so-name animal part โ€“ doesnโ€™t count!)

And the king of ball shaped foods are meatballs. So Jo and I embarked upon a monthly meatball challenge, aptly namedย Monday Meatball Mania. On the last Monday of every month, we will both post a meatball recipe. Pop over toย Jo Cooksย and see what sheโ€™s sharing this month!

As for moi? I have for you something a little different.ย One of your favourite Chinese takeout dishes โ€“ Cashew Chicken. In meatball form!

This Chinese Cashew Chicken Meatballs recipe is everything you know and love about Cashew Chicken...made with meatballs! recipetineats.com

This Cashew Chicken Meatballs recipe truly is everything you know and love about classic Chinese Cashew Chicken, except itโ€™s made with meatballs rather than chicken pieces. Beautifully saucy, with tender, seasonedย meatballs with green capsicum / bell peppers and cashews.

Fans of meatballs and Chinese foodโ€ฆ.ย one bite and you willย fall in love. Completely and utterly. I couldnโ€™t stop. I skipped the riceย and inhaled an inordinate amount of these, with Dozer looking on pitifully, disbelieving that not a single meatball fell his way.

This Chinese Cashew Chicken Meatballs recipe is everything you know and love about Cashew Chicken...made with meatballs! recipetineats.com

Iโ€™m a firm believer in learning to makeย classics the right way. And I expect that in my lifetime, Iโ€™ll be makingย Chinese Cashew Chickenย the classic way much more frequentlyย than with meatballs. Thereโ€™s no denying it takes more hands on time to make meatballs, albeit because of the time it takes to tenderise and marinate the chicken, the classic way actually does take longer from start to finish.

But sometimes, itโ€™s just nice to do something different, donโ€™t you think?

Plus, this is a really versatile recipe. 4ย basic ingredients for the sauce: soy sauce, Chinese cooking wine, Oyster sauce and cornflour/cornstarch. Chicken or pork mince (thatโ€™sย ground chicken to Americans!). Everything else is optional or can be substituted for whatever you have.

And truly, I think youโ€™ll be amazed how delicious the sauce is! You can read the reviews on the Cashew Chicken recipe because it is exactly the same sauce! โ€“ Nagi x


I Get A Round: More Meatball Recipes

  • Thai Meatballs โ€“ Pork meatballs with lemongrass, garlic and a zesty hint of kaffir lime

  • Mexican Meatballs โ€“ Beef and pork meatballs supercharged with fiesty Mexican spices

  • Vietnamese Meatballs (Bun Cha!) โ€“ Char-grilled pork meatballs with dipping sauce from the streets of Hanoi

  • Italian Meatballs โ€“ ย An Italian-American classic, these meatballs are pillowy soft

  • Swedish Meatballs โ€“ With a savoury and creamy sauce, these are one of the worldโ€™s most iconic meatballs!

  • Browse all Meatball recipes

This Chinese Cashew Chicken Meatballs recipe is everything you know and love about Cashew Chicken...made with meatballs! recipetineats.com

Cashew Chicken Meatballs
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT

Cashew Chicken Meatballs recipe video!

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Cashew Chicken Meatballs - chicken mince recipe (ground chicken recipe)

Chinese Cashew Chicken MEATBALLS!

Author: Nagi@RecipeTin Eats
Prep: 20 minutes mins
Cook: 15 minutes mins
Total: 35 minutes mins
Chinese
4.96 from 21 votes
Servings4
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Everything you know and love about Chinese Cashew Chicken โ€“ made with meatballs! Recipe video below.

Ingredients

Sauce โ€“ Part 1:

  • 1/4 cup soy sauce, ordinary or light (Note 1)
  • 1/4 cup Chinese cooking wine (shaoshing wine, or sub with dry sherry) (Note 4)
  • 1/4 cup Oyster sauce
  • 2 tsp sesame oil

Sauce โ€“ Part 2:

  • 1 tbsp cornflour / cornstarch

Meatballs:

  • 500g/1lb chicken mince (ground chicken)
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 egg, small (Note 2)
  • 3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp white pepper (or sub with black)

Stir Fry:

  • 2 tbsp peanut oil (or vegetable or canola)
  • 1 clove garlic, minced
  • 1 small onion, sliced
  • 1 green capsicum / bell pepper, chopped into 1.75cm / 2/3โ€ณ
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 1 cup cashews, unsalted
Prevent screen from sleeping

Instructions

  • Place Sauce Part 1 ingredients in a jar and shake well. Place 2 tsp Sauce into a large bowl that you will be making the Meatballs in. Then add the cornflour into the Sauce jar and shake. Set Sauce aside.
  • Add remaining Meatballs ingredients into the bowl. Mix until just combined.
  • Measure out a heaped tablespoon of mixture and dollop onto a work surface. Then roll into balls (see Note 2 if mixture is too loose / sticky to form into balls).
  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium high heat. Add meatballs and cook, browning as best you can all over, or at least on both sides. Once browned all over (about 4 minutes), carefully transfer onto a plate. They will still be a bit raw inside.
  • Return skillet to the stove, still on medium high. Add onion and garlic, cook for 1 minute. Add capsicum and cook for 1 minute. Add Sauce and water and quickly mix โ€“ it will simmer quickly.
  • Transfer meatballs (and juices on the plate) into the Sauce. Turn heat down to medium and simmer, stirring occasionally, for 3 โ€“ 4 minutes, or until the Sauce reduces and thickens (by which time the meatballs will be cooked).
  • Stir through cashews, serve over rice!

Recipe Notes:

1. I make this with ordinary or light soy sauce. Do not use dark soy sauce or sweet soy sauce or kecap manis, it will change the flavour too much.
2. If you find that the meatballs are a bit too wet, which can happen if the chicken is purchased at supermarkets and is vac packed (or if the egg you used is large), you can either refrigerate the meat mixture for 30 minutes (this firms it up, making it easier to handle) or add a bit more breadcrumbs. Donโ€™t add too much, it will make the meatballs tough! Also, the other tip is to wet your hands lightly when rolling.
Chicken mince is wetter and softer than other meats so donโ€™t fret if you donโ€™t end up with perfect rounds โ€“ mine certainly arenโ€™t!
3. For all my other meatballs made with meat other than chicken, I always start with a mixture of fresh bread soaked with grated onion because it makes them super soft and adds extra flavour. The reason I donโ€™t do this with chicken is because it makes the meat too wet and loose, making it hard to form into balls (refer note 2 above). However, these meatballs are cooked faster than other meatball recipes, so as to ensure they are kept nice and juicy!ย 
4. Chinese cooking wine is a key ingredient in Chinese cooking so I really urge you to find it or use dry sherry as a sub. Or even Sake or Mirin as a fall back. However, if you are unable to consume alcohol in any form, then just leave this out and instead of adding 3/4 cup of water, add chicken broth/stock instead.
5.ย This is also fantastic made with turkey or pork!
6. Nutrition per serving, assuming 4 servings.ย 1/3 of the calories is from the cashews so if you want to reduce the calorie count, sacrifice the cashews!

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 297gCalories: 615cal (31%)
Did you make this recipe?I love hearing how you went with my recipes! Tag me on Instagram at @recipe_tin.

LIFE OF DOZER

Just washed him. ๐Ÿคฆ๐Ÿปโ€โ™€๏ธ I guess I should be grateful the grass is clear of ๐Ÿ’ฉ?

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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if youโ€™re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative!

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82 Comments

  1. lily gar says

    February 28, 2017 at 3:15 am

    I love all your recipes ,you are my cookbook ,and Dozer is a beautiful Dog spell it backwards , thank you so much for being there ,your Mom is a great inspiration for Japanese recipes and education ,,Lily

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 1, 2017 at 2:52 pm

      Awwwโ€ฆ.I just got it! i.e. spelling dog backwards ๐Ÿ™‚ Of course, Dozer is just that in my world! N x

      Reply
  2. Fida | Sweet and Savoury Pursuits says

    February 28, 2017 at 3:12 am

    Hi Nagi, this looks really delicious and is perfect for my kids, they love ball shaped food!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 1, 2017 at 2:52 pm

      Your kids clearly have excellent taste!

      Reply
  3. Ruby & Cake says

    February 27, 2017 at 9:31 pm

    I love your meatball mondays! This is such an interesting take on meatballs they look superb!!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 1, 2017 at 2:50 pm

      Thank you Ruby!!! PS Iโ€™m more concerned about what you will think about my recipe on Friday! ๐Ÿ˜‰

      Reply
      • Ruby & Cake says

        March 1, 2017 at 5:08 pm

        ooo I am intrigued and excited for Friday now ๐Ÿ˜‰

        Reply
  4. Mary says

    February 27, 2017 at 7:53 pm

    Meatballs make me happy too Nagi. Will definitely give this one a go this week, thanks! What about porcupine meatballs for your next recipe? Mine always turn into a stewy mess and totally non-porcupine looking, I know you would totally nail it!

    Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 1, 2017 at 2:49 pm

      I just googled itโ€ฆ. oh myโ€ฆ.. to strive for porcupiney meatballsโ€ฆ.I feel the thrill of a challenge! ๐Ÿ˜‰ N x

      Reply
    • Nagi says

      March 1, 2017 at 2:48 pm

      Porcupine meatballs???? Googling immediately

      Reply
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I believe you can make great food with everyday ingredients even if youโ€™re short on time and cost conscious. You just need to cook clever and get creative! Read More

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