This easy sheet pan cashew chicken recipe is perfect for Sunday meal prep or busy weeknights that require minimal clean up. Plus, it’s a healthy alternative that tastes even better than your favorite takeout!
As a registered dietitian who has PCOS (aka polycystic ovary syndrome), I want to eat meals that not only taste delicious but also help to manage my PCOS symptoms. This PCOS friendly chicken recipe is just that!
Why You’ll Love This
I love a good sheet pan meal…and when it’s like a stir fry dish with the perfect mix of flavors…even better!
This sheet pan recipe is also a great way to get plenty of vegetables into your day! This dish includes a hefty serving of colorful vegetables that are packed with vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. Antioxidants are naturally occurring compounds that can lower inflammation, which is commonly seen with PCOS and many other chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases.
The cashews in this dish truly make it stand out while also morphing it into a healthy PCOS chicken recipe. Cashews are great sources of zinc and magnesium, two nutrients that can help reduce inflammation, insulin resistance, and testosterone levels.
Zinc is especially helpful at lowering testosterone levels, which is often the culprit behind lousy symptoms of PCOS like hair loss, adult acne, and hirsutism (aka unwanted facial hair or body hair).
Since PCOS is rooted in insulin resistance, chronic inflammation, and high androgen levels (aka high male hormones like testosterone), a balanced diet can make a big impact on your overall health.
For more info on a healthy PCOS diet, don’t miss this post: A Dietitian’s 7-Day PCOS Diet Plan (Free PDF).
This sheet pan cashew chicken uses high-fiber foods and packs an impressive 35 grams of protein to help fill you up and keep your blood sugar levels more stable. Protein is also instrumental in helping with weight loss goals by altering our hunger hormone levels.
For more PCOS friendly meals, including more delicious chicken recipes, check out this round-up post: 75 PCOS Recipes (Easy & Quick Meals).
Ingredients You’ll Need
Okay, here’s what you’re going to need to make this easy sheet pan cashew chicken recipe:
- Chicken – I used boneless skinless chicken thighs because I prefer the taste to chicken breasts. Honestly, either one will work well in this recipe though to give you flavorful and tender chicken that your whole family will love. Choose chicken breast if you want a leaner protein source though.
- Broccoli Florets – this cruciferous vegetable adds a bit more texture to this sheet pan meal. Cruciferous veggies can help to promote normal estrogen detoxification in our bodies – one of the common hormonal imbalances seen with PCOS.
- Sweet Bell Peppers – I used yellow, orange, and red bell peppers to give me a rainbow of veggies. These veggies provide a rainbow of colors and are especially rich in the powerful antioxidant vitamin C. You can also include green bell peppers if you prefer them.
- Cashews – I used raw, unsalted cashews since I wanted to roast them alongside the chicken and veggies. If you can’t find raw cashews in your grocery store, you could substitute roasted cashews. If using roasted cashews, I’d add them at the end since you won’t need to roast them.
- Soy Sauce – I usually opt for low-sodium soy sauce whenever possible since soy sauce tends to be really high in sodium. You can also substitute coconut aminos instead of soy sauce too if you need a gluten-free or soy-free option.
- Honey – adding honey provides a nice balance to the savory and salty flavor profile of this dish. You can use less honey based on your taste preferences.
- Rice Vinegar – most rice wine vinegar options at the grocery store are seasoned with added sugar. If possible, look for unseasoned rice vinegar to reduce some unnecessary added sugar. White wine vinegar can be used to replace rice vinegar.
- Sesame Oil – sesame oil has a pretty neutral flavor. I think sesame oil is a great pantry staple to have on hand, but you can always substitute extra-virgin olive oil if you need to.
- Garlic – fresh garlic cloves always elevate the flavor of any dish in my opinion. This dish calls for 4 cloves of garlic so having a garlic press on hand can make this task a lot more enjoyable. You can also use shelf-stable minced garlic or garlic powder too.
- Ginger – this powerful anti-inflammatory agent can help to lower inflammation while adding a nice flavor to your meals. You can also substitute fresh ginger instead of ground ginger.
How To Make It
One of the reasons I love this recipe so much is because it’s super easy to make. You essentially just toss everything on a sheet pan and set the timer!
Step One: Turn your oven on to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
Step Two: Make your cashew chicken sauce by combining the sauce ingredients together: soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ground ginger. Mix well to combine.
Step Three: Place the chicken and veggies into a large bowl and pour the sauce mixture on top. Toss well to combine and ensure all ingredients are covered in the sauce.
Step Four: Spread the cashew chicken mixture onto a large sheet pan in a single layer. To make for an easy cleanup, add cooking spray to your baking sheet or just line it with parchment paper.
Step Five: Roast in the preheated oven for 25 minutes or until the chicken is cooked through and the vegetables are tender.
Top with chopped green onions or sesame seeds if desired. Store any leftover cashew chicken in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
You can eat this dish as is, or you could serve it with udon noodles, brown rice, jasmine rice, or cauliflower rice to make it a complete meal.
Substitutions, Variations, + Tips
- Vegetarian or vegan? Substitute tofu, tempeh, or edamame for the chicken.
- Substitute coconut liquid aminos for the soy sauce if you’re gluten-free or soy-free.
- To reduce the total sugars even further, limit or omit the honey.
- Substitute white wine vinegar for rice vinegar.
- Use extra virgin olive oil or canola oil instead of sesame oil.
- Change up the vegetables to include ones you prefer such as zucchini, summer squash, water chestnuts, carrots, cabbage, or sugar snap peas.
- Make it a complete meal by adding rice, cauliflower rice, or udon noodles.
Other Popular PCOS Recipes You’ll Love
Korean Ground Beef Bulgogi + Veggies
If you make this Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken Recipe, please consider leaving a 
star rating and review at the end of this blog post. This is incredibly helpful to me and it helps other readers to know what to expect!
Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken
Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken thighs cut into bite size pieces
- 1 head of broccoli cut into florets
- 1 red bell pepper cut into large chunks
- 1 yellow bell pepper cut into large chunks
- 1 orange bell pepper cut into large chunks
- 1 red onion cut into large chunks
- 1 cup raw cashews unsalted
Sauce
- ⅓ cup soy sauce reduced sodium
- 2 ½ tbsp honey
- 2 tbsp rice vinegar unseasoned
- 2 tbsp sesame oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tsp ground ginger
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Combine cubed chicken, bell peppers, onion, broccoli, and cashews in a large bowl.
- In a small bowl or salad dressing shaker, mix the soy sauce, honey, rice vinegar, sesame oil, garlic, and ground ginger to make the sauce.
- Pour sauce mixture over the chicken and veggies. Toss well to combine.
- Spread the chicken, veggie, & sauce mixture onto a baking sheet in a single layer. Roast in the oven for 25 minutes or until chicken is cooked through and veggies are tender.
- Serve with rice or udon noodles. Top with green onions, sesame seeds, or chopped cashews if desired.
Notes
Nutrition
The post Sheet Pan Cashew Chicken (Easy PCOS-Friendly Recipe) appeared first on The PCOS Nutritionist Alyssa.