Cashew Chicken Meatballs are everything you know and love about Chinese Cashew Chicken….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!
Cashew Chicken Meatballs
Monday Meatball Mania is back!!!
Wow you guys LOVED the Swedish Meatballs I shared last month. Soft tender meatballs bathed in a creamy gravy….ugh. How did it take me so long to share that one??
For those not already on board the meatball train, here’s the background: my friend Jo from Jo Cooks and I whole heartedly agree that there needs to be more ball shaped foods in this world. Because ball shaped food are all delish. Think about it, come back and let me know if you think of any ball shaped food that you’re not a fan of. (Other than so-name animal part – doesn’t count!)
And the king of ball shaped foods are meatballs. So Jo and I embarked upon a monthly meatball challenge, aptly named Monday Meatball Mania. On the last Monday of every month, we will both post a meatball recipe. Pop over to Jo Cooks and see what she’s sharing this month!
As for moi? I have for you something a little different. One of your favourite Chinese takeout dishes – Cashew Chicken. In meatball form!
This Cashew Chicken Meatballs recipe truly is everything you know and love about classic Chinese Cashew Chicken, except it’s made with meatballs rather than chicken pieces. Beautifully saucy, with tender, seasoned meatballs with green capsicum / bell peppers and cashews.
Fans of meatballs and Chinese food…. one bite and you will fall in love. Completely and utterly. I couldn’t stop. I skipped the rice and inhaled an inordinate amount of these, with Dozer looking on pitifully, disbelieving that not a single meatball fell his way.
I’m a firm believer in learning to make classics the right way. And I expect that in my lifetime, I’ll be making Chinese Cashew Chicken the classic way much more frequently than with meatballs. There’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, it’s just nice to do something different, don’t you think?
Plus, this is a really versatile recipe. 4 basic ingredients for the sauce: soy sauce, Chinese cooking wine, Oyster sauce and cornflour/cornstarch. Chicken or pork mince (that’s ground chicken to Americans!). Everything else is optional or can be substituted for whatever you have.
And truly, I think you’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! – Nagi x
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Vietnamese Meatballs (Bun Cha!) – Char-grilled pork meatballs with dipping sauce from the streets of Hanoi
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Italian Meatballs – An Italian-American classic, these meatballs are pillowy soft
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Swedish Meatballs – With a savoury and creamy sauce, these are one of the world’s most iconic meatballs!
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Browse all Meatball recipes
Cashew Chicken Meatballs
WATCH HOW TO MAKE IT
Cashew Chicken Meatballs recipe video!
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Chinese Cashew Chicken MEATBALLS!
Ingredients
Sauce - 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 - 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 / 2/3"
- 3/4 cup water
- 1 cup cashews, unsalted
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 - 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 - 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:
Nutrition Information:
LIFE OF DOZER
Just washed him. 🤦🏻♀️ I guess I should be grateful the grass is clear of 💩?
I made this tonight and it turned out so delicious! Thank you so much for this recipe – will definitely cook again! Chicken balls were juicy and tender & really did taste like Chinese take out but better. Keep the amazing recipes coming xx
I’m so pleased to hear that Anastasia, thank you for letting me know! N xx
Would this work just as well with turkey mince? i’m in the UK and we don’t really have chicken mince here! Thanks very much 🙂
ABSOLUTELY! I will add it to the notes now, I should have included it! N x
Another hit Nagi! My 6 and 4 year olds loved it – the 4yo even stealing my last meatball from my plate!! I made the balls and sauce on my day off yesterday and whipped t all up easily after work tonight. Definitely going on the list of ‘do agains’. Thank you! Xx
This was excellent sauce. I was lazy and made it with frozen meatballs. I’m shocked at how great it turned out. Can’t wait to try another one of your recipes. I live that you include the nutritional values. My husband is a type 1 diabetic and I need to let him know how much insulin to use. Thank you so much.- Chris F
I’m so pleased you enjoyed it Chris, thank you for letting me know! N xx
My tummy just can’t handle bell peppers. What can I substitute?
Hello Chris! Hmmm – what about zucchini slices? Or broccoli. 🙂
So Yummy and fun to make.Suppose to feed four,the two of us certainly pigged out. Thanks for another great recipe,will make again.
Hi Alana! I’m so happy to hear you enjoyed this, thanks for taking the time to come bak and let me know! N xx PS Err… this would probably feed 2 in my world too!!! 😉
This dish sounds awesome! I love cashew chicken so I am sure that this meatball version will be made in the near future. How about cheese-stuffed meatballs for the next Meatball Mania post?
OMG. Cheese stuffed! Can you just imagine?????
This recipe is a keeper. I subbed hoisin sauce for oyster sauce and it was great. I also used leftover pork tenderloin and just reheated it in the sauce. Was very tasty. Love recipes that I can adapt to what’s in my pantry. Thanks Nagi!
Fantastic to hear you enjoyed it Nancy, thanks for letting me know! N xx
Hi Nagi
The Chicken Meatballs with Cashews are delicious. The recommended cooking times result in the Meatballs being fully cooked through but not overcooked. The sauce is full of flavour and the cashews are the perfect complement. Thanks for yet another winner!
Lyn and David
Fantastic to hear you enjoyed this Lyn and David, thanks for letting me know! N xx
Hmm it seems like your site ate my first comment (it was super long) so
I guess I’ll just sum it up what I wrote and say, I’m
thoroughly enjoying your blog. I too am an aspiring blog blogger
but I’m still new to everything. Do you have any tips and hints for
beginner blog writers? I’d certainly appreciate it.
Hili! What happens is that comments from 1st time readers remain unpublished until I moderate it 🙂 It’s to stop spammers – there are sooooo many spammers out there! If you have a look under my “About” you’ll find a link to FBC which is where I talk about blogging. Hope that helps! N x
These look lovely ”””
I look at comments to see what peeps actually say about the recipe.
I don’t think there was one coment from someone that has made this why do you coment when you haven’t made it.
Hi Vicky! There is now! Up above you 🙂 People like to engage in conversation, give thoughts on the recipe etc when I publish new recipes which is why they leave comments shortly after I publish a new recipe. But after a day or two, you will start to see messages from people who have tried them. 🙂 I hope that helps! N x
Probably for the same reason that you just did it…
That’s a spicy meataballa,(said in a really badly portrayed Italian accent)!Love how every domesticated animal does THE DOZER,after their bath!Like they hate being wet and completely SPAZZ OUT!Love any meatballs!Thanks!
The most ridiculous thing is that he will happily spend hours in the water at the beach, then when we arrive home the tail goes between the legs and he stands forlornly waiting for the routine (20 second) hose down. I mean, come on! Such a drama queen!
Pantry has all the needs, now I’m going to make some for work. Thanks Nagi!!
(PS. Dozer is the epitome of what Joy looks like! 🙂 )
No that’s the picture of disgraceful!!!! 😉
Dozer: ‘Monday Meatball Meanie’ she is, is too, right? Not one?? And she tells us she SO missed you when she was skiing in Japan! Ha!! Ha!!! Nagi: Meanwhile am glad I clicked on your post before I filled in my on-line grocery order and omitted chicken mince: this is lovely and full of flavour and easy to do . . . and, and, and – am sure there are many more of those . . . . . shall investigate further . . .
Ba ha ha!!!! Meanie I may be, but it’s for his own good! 😉 PS You know he got one, right?? I caved. As I often do!
Pinned!!!! I absolutely love chicken meatballs for a change and can’t wait to give your recipe a try.
Oooh I hope you do Sharon! 🙂 Thanks for pinning! N xx
Can fish sauce be substituted for the oyster sauce? It’s what I have on hand. Not sure what the difference in flavor would be.
Hi Dollye! Unfortunately not, fish sauce is salty whereas oyster sauce is thick and sweet (see consistency in the video) 🙂 Hoisin would be the next best substituted. N x
Hi Nagi. What a bowl of saucy comfort food. The meatballs would make a fun appetizer skewered with a piece of the green pepper, with the sauce for dipping, don’t you think?
Trust you to come up with an even BETTER idea Dorothy! 🙂 N xx
Aw, gosh, these look fantastic! I just don’t know what to sub for the Chinese cooking wine. Out here in rural Pennsylvania, specialty ingredients slam the brakes on my good intentions and your wonderful recipes! Would a dry sherry or sake work?
Hi Sherry! thanks for the question, I totally forgot to add the subs! I’ve put it in the notes now 🙂 N xx
What are the possible subsitutes for shaoshing wine. Can add chicken stock instead. Will it work?? I cant use any wine thing in my cooking. ….
Hi Zaira! I’m sorry I forgot to add it – I added it in the notes! 🙂 N xx
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
Awww….I just got it! i.e. spelling dog backwards 🙂 Of course, Dozer is just that in my world! N x