If you’re looking for that perfect spicy-meets-sweet, crispy-yet-tender restaurant dish you just can’t stop thinking about, let me introduce you to my all-time favorite: Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight. This recipe brings together golden fried chicken, a sassy, sticky sauce, and plenty of toasty cashews—straight out of The Cheesecake Factory playbook and onto your kitchen table!

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Bold, Balanced Flavors: Every bite of Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight is a riot of sweet, fiery, and savory—just like your favorite takeout, but even fresher.
The Perfect Crunch: A double-dip in seasoned flour and rice flour batter means your chicken stays crisp even after soaking up that addictive sauce.
Better Than Restaurant: Recreate a Cheesecake Factory classic at home with no weird additives or mystery oils—just ingredients you know and love.
Customizable Heat & Sweet: Tweak the sauce, cashews, or spice level to make this dish truly your own.

Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight Recipe - Recipe Image

Ingredients You’ll Need

One of the best things about Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight is how it takes humble, everyday ingredients and turns them into something absolutely craveable. Each item—especially those cashews and the homemade sauce—adds its own personality, whether it’s crunch, color, or an irresistible punch of umami.

Chicken breast: Go for boneless, skinless chicken breasts for super tender bites that cook up juicy and soak up all the flavors.
Rice flour & all-purpose flour: This combo makes the chicken incredibly crispy and gluten-light—rice flour is the secret to that restaurant crunch!
Canola or vegetable oil: A high-smoke-point oil is essential for frying up crisp chicken that’s never greasy.
Hoisin sauce: Sweet, salty, and a little funky—hoisin builds a sticky base for this dish’s unforgettable glaze.
Soy sauce: Balances out the sweetness and gives deep savory undertones.
Sherry wine: Adds bright, aromatic complexity (don’t skip it—it provides that true Cheesecake Factory nuance).
Sriracha & red chili flakes: Double the heat, for double the flavor; adjust to fit your spicy mood.
Cashews: Toasty, buttery, and oh-so-addictive—an essential for both texture and richness in every forkful.
Green onions: Sliced and scattered for freshness, color, and a gentle oniony bite.
Garlic: Fresh garlic really makes the sauce pop—don’t skimp for best results.
Rice flour batter & seasoned rice flour: These two steps create a double layer of coating, keeping the crust crisp and flavorful.
Red wine vinegar & sugar: These brighten the sauce with tang and a little sweetness, balancing every bite.
Salt, black pepper, paprika, and baking powder: Tiny touches that boost flavor and ensure the coating is light and crunchy.

Note: You’ll find the complete list of ingredients, along with their exact measurements, in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

Variations

One of my favorite things about Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight is how forgiving and flexible it can be. Whether you’re working around allergies, dietary choices, or simply what you have in the fridge, you can easily riff on this classic while keeping it delicious.

Make it vegetarian: Swap chicken for crispy tofu or cauliflower florets—you’ll still get that dreamy crunch and spicy-sweet sauce.
Lessen the heat: Cut back on the sriracha and chili flakes, or leave them out entirely for a milder, family-friendly spin.
Go gluten-free: Double-check your soy sauce (use tamari instead) and ensure all flour used is certified gluten-free.
Add extra veggies: Toss in bell peppers, snap peas, or broccoli for extra crunch, color, and nutrition.
Peanut twist: If cashews aren’t your thing, peanuts or toasted almonds bring a fun, nutty variation.

How to Make Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight

Step 1: Mix the Seasoned Rice Flour

Start by stirring together the rice flour, kosher salt, black pepper, paprika, and baking powder in a mixing bowl. This seasoned flour is your chicken’s first stop and it’s key for setting down a flavorful, crispy base.

Step 2: Prep the Rice Flour Batter

In another bowl, whisk together rice flour, all-purpose flour, salt, black pepper, and icy-cold water. Keeping your batter cold is the real secret to light, tempura-style crispiness—pop the bowl over some ice if you can.

Step 3: Make the Spicy Soy-Sherry Sauce

Combine hoisin sauce, soy sauce, sherry wine, red wine vinegar, sriracha, sugar, minced garlic, and chili flakes. Whisk well until smooth. This sauce brings all the spicy, savory, sweet magic that makes Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight irresistible.

Step 4: Coat and Batter the Chicken

Toss your chicken pieces in the seasoned flour first to lock in moisture and flavor. Next, transfer the coated chicken into the icy rice flour batter, stirring gently so each piece is thoroughly covered. Don’t rush—an even coating means perfect crunch!

Step 5: Fry It Up!

Heat canola or vegetable oil in a large skillet (or wok) over medium-high. When a drop of batter sizzles, you’re ready! Add the chicken in batches. Fry for about 3 minutes per side, or until golden and crispy. Keep an eye out and gently break apart any chicken pieces that stick together with a spatula or tongs.

Step 6: Toss with Sauce, Cashews & Green Onions

Once all your chicken is beautifully browned, pour in that glorious sauce, add in the cashews, and stir in the green onions. Give everything a thorough toss for a minute or so—just enough for the sauce to thicken and coat every piece in spicy, glossy goodness.

Step 7: Garnish & Serve

Top your creation with extra green onions, sesame seeds, a sprinkle of fresh parsley, and a handful of crushed cashews. Serve immediately and prepare for applause from around the table!

Pro Tips for Making Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight

Stay Chilled for Crunch: Mix your batter over ice or very cold water—a chilly batter keeps the fried chicken ultra-crisp and airy, just like a pro.
Don’t Crowd the Pan: Fry chicken in batches to keep the oil temperature steady; this guarantees evenly golden bites and prevents sogginess.
Sauce at the End: Add the sauce after frying so your chicken stays crispy under that glossy, spicy blanket instead of getting mushy.
Nutty Boost: Give your cashews a light toasting in a dry pan before adding for maximum flavor and crunch.

How to Serve Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight

Garnishes

For an eye-catching finish, shower your Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight with extra fresh green onion, crunchy sesame seeds, and a handful of crushed, roasted cashews. A sprinkle of chopped parsley or cilantro adds a fresh, vibrant pop that elevates both the flavors and the look.

Side Dishes

This saucy masterpiece absolutely loves being served over fluffy jasmine or steamed white rice for soaking up every last drop. On the side? Lightly sautéed bok choy, a fresh cucumber salad, or some quick stir-fried veggies bring welcome balance to the rich, spicy flavors.

Creative Ways to Present

Feeling playful? Serve your Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight in lettuce cups for a party-friendly bite, arranged atop a bed of rainbow veggies, or even skewered as appetizer-style bites. Mini skillets or chic bowls make weeknight dinners feel just a little more special, too!

Make Ahead and Storage

Storing Leftovers

Leftovers keep nicely in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. The chicken will soak up some extra sauce overnight, making every bite even more flavor-packed the next day.

Freezing

If you want to freeze Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight, let it cool completely and store in a freezer-safe container for up to a month. For best texture, freeze the chicken and sauce separately if possible, and hold the garnishes until serving.

Reheating

For best results, reheat in a 350°F oven or in a hot skillet to recapture that just-fried crispiness—microwaving works but may soften the crust. Add a splash of water or chicken broth if the sauce has thickened too much.

FAQs

Can I use chicken thighs instead of chicken breast?

Absolutely! Chicken thighs are juicier and more forgiving during frying, so feel free to swap them in—just trim excess fat and cut into similar-sized pieces for even cooking.
How spicy is Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight?

The heat is noticeable but balanced with sweetness from hoisin and sugar. Easily adjust by increasing or dialing back the sriracha and chili flakes to match your spice preference.
Is it possible to make Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight in advance?

You can prep the chicken and sauce ahead, store them separately, and fry or toss them together just before serving. This way, you’ll keep the chicken crispy and fresh!
What can I use instead of sherry wine?

If sherry wine isn’t available, a splash of dry white wine or even apple cider vinegar (in a pinch) will do! The dish will still captivate with its signature Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight flavors.

Final Thoughts

Ready to bring bold, restaurant-worthy flavor home? Don’t wait another second to try this Spicy Cashew Chicken Delight. I promise—one bite and you’ll see why it’s at the top of my comfort-food list. Gather your ingredients and get cooking; your kitchen is about to smell amazing!