The Ultimate Bacon Cashew Broccoli Salad: A Refreshing & Flavorful Delight
Prepare to fall in love with the ultimate Bacon Cashew Broccoli Salad! This incredibly easy, light, and healthy side dish is bursting with fresh flavors and irresistible textures. Imagine crisp, raw broccoli florets, salty crunchy bacon, creamy roasted cashews, and sweet, tangy dried cranberries, all tossed together in a subtly sweet and tangy homemade dressing. It’s a delightful symphony for your palate, coming together in mere minutes, making it the perfect addition to any meal or a satisfying light lunch on its own.
If you’re searching for a refreshing, wholesome, and effortlessly prepared salad that truly shines, especially during warmer months, this broccoli salad with bacon and cashews is your answer. While it’s an absolute hit for summer potlucks, barbecues, and picnics, its vibrant flavors and satisfying crunch also make it a fantastic side dish for holiday gatherings. Its versatility knows no bounds!
This classic salad recipe effortlessly combines sweet and savory elements, creating a perfectly balanced flavor profile that makes it a standout. The satisfying crunch of raw broccoli, paired with the smoky bacon and nutty cashews, makes every bite an experience to savor. Whether you need a quick side for dinner, a packed lunch, or a crowd-pleasing dish for your next social event, this easy broccoli salad delivers on taste and simplicity.
Why This Broccoli Salad Will Be Your New Favorite
- Effortlessly Simple: Say goodbye to complicated recipes! This bacon cashew broccoli salad is incredibly straightforward to prepare, perfect for those days when you want a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen. With minimal chopping and mixing, you can whip up this delightful salad in under 30 minutes, making it an ideal choice for last-minute potlucks, busy weeknight dinners, or casual gatherings. Its simplicity truly makes it shine.
- Nutrient-Packed & Wholesome: Packed with fresh, vibrant ingredients, this salad is as healthy as it is delicious. Fresh broccoli provides a fantastic source of vitamins and fiber, while cashews offer healthy fats and protein, and dried cranberries (or raisins) add a burst of antioxidants. This colorful and flavorful combination makes it a gluten-free and nutrient-dense option that you can feel great about serving to your family and friends. It’s a wonderful way to enjoy wholesome goodness without sacrificing taste.
- Perfect for Any Occasion: From backyard barbecues and poolside lunches to elegant picnics and holiday buffets, this broccoli cashew salad is a versatile crowd-pleaser. Its appealing blend of crunchy, sweet, and savory flavors ensures it’s a hit with guests of all ages. It travels well and holds up beautifully, making it an excellent make-ahead dish for entertaining. Whether served as a refreshing side or a light appetizer, it always impresses.
- Irresistible Flavor and Texture Combination: What truly sets this salad apart is its masterful balance of flavors and textures. The raw broccoli offers a satisfying crunch that contrasts beautifully with the creamy dressing. Crispy, smoky bacon bits add a savory depth, while roasted cashews contribute a rich nuttiness and additional crunch. The sweet tang of dried cranberries provides a delightful counterpoint, making every forkful a harmonious blend of tastes and sensations.
- Year-Round Appeal: While often associated with summer, this broccoli salad has a timeless appeal. Its fresh ingredients and vibrant flavors are equally welcome at a spring brunch, a fall potluck, or even as a lighter option during winter holidays. Its versatility ensures it can be enjoyed no matter the season, bringing a burst of freshness to any table.
Essential Broccoli Salad Ingredients
Creating this flavorful broccoli salad requires just a few simple, high-quality ingredients. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need for the salad base:
- Fresh Broccoli: The star of the show! For the best texture and flavor, always opt for fresh, firm broccoli florets. Chop them into bite-sized pieces to ensure they absorb the dressing well and provide a pleasant crunch. Avoid frozen broccoli, as it tends to become watery and lose its desirable crispness when thawed. Approximately 3 bunches will yield about 8 cups of florets.
- Crispy Bacon: Smoky, savory bacon adds an incredible depth of flavor and a delightful crunch. Cook your bacon until it’s perfectly crisp, then crumble it into small pieces. You can pan-fry it, bake it in the oven, or even cook it in an air fryer for easy cleanup. The bacon is a crucial element that ties all the flavors together.
- Green Onions: These mild and fresh onions add a subtle sharpness and a beautiful color contrast. Slice them thinly, using both the white and green parts, to distribute their delicate flavor throughout the salad. If you prefer a bolder onion taste, a small amount of finely diced red onion can be used, but green onions are typically preferred for their milder profile in this type of salad.
- Dried Cranberries (Craisins) or Raisins: Adding a touch of sweetness and a pleasant chewiness, dried cranberries (often sold as Craisins) are a fantastic choice. Their slight tartness balances the richness of the bacon and dressing. If you prefer, golden raisins or even a mix of dried cherries or blueberries can also be used for similar fruity notes.
- Cashews: These creamy, nutty cashews contribute a wonderful texture and rich flavor. You can use either salted or unsalted cashews, depending on your preference for sodium in the dish. Whole cashews offer a heartier bite, while cashew pieces integrate more seamlessly. Lightly toasting them before adding can enhance their nutty aroma and crunch even further.
The Sweet and Tangy Broccoli Salad Dressing
The dressing is what truly brings this broccoli salad to life, coating every ingredient in a luscious, perfectly balanced sweet and tangy embrace. It’s incredibly simple to prepare with just three core ingredients:
- Mayonnaise: This forms the creamy base of our dressing, providing a rich and smooth texture. You can use your favorite store-bought brand, or for an extra fresh touch, try making your own homemade mayonnaise. Full-fat mayo will yield a richer dressing, but a lighter version can be used if preferred.
- Granulated Sugar: A crucial component that provides the subtle sweetness needed to balance the tanginess of the vinegar and the savory elements of the salad. Adjust the amount to your taste; some prefer a sweeter dressing, while others like it milder. You can also experiment with other sweeteners like honey or maple syrup for a different flavor profile.
- Apple Cider Vinegar: Just a touch of apple cider vinegar is all it takes to introduce a bright, zesty tang that cuts through the creaminess of the mayonnaise and enhances the overall flavor. It’s essential for creating that signature sweet and sour balance that makes this dressing so addictive. White vinegar or red wine vinegar can be substituted in a pinch, but apple cider vinegar offers a distinct fruity note that complements the salad beautifully.
How to Master This Easy Broccoli Salad
This bacon cashew broccoli salad recipe is designed for maximum ease and minimal stress. It’s the perfect solution when you’re short on time but still want to impress with a homemade dish. For precise measurements and step-by-step instructions, please refer to the detailed recipe card below.
Step 1: Combine the Salad Base
Begin by taking your freshly chopped broccoli florets and placing them into a large mixing bowl. Ensure the florets are bite-sized for easy eating and optimal flavor distribution. Next, add the thinly sliced green onions, the crunchy cashews, and your choice of dried cranberries or raisins. These vibrant ingredients form the core of your salad.
With all the dry salad ingredients in the bowl, gently toss them together. Use a large spoon or your hands to ensure everything is evenly distributed. This step helps to prepare the ingredients for the dressing, ensuring every component gets coated beautifully.
Step 2: Whisk the Creamy Dressing
In a separate, smaller bowl, it’s time to prepare the star dressing. Combine the mayonnaise, granulated sugar, and apple cider vinegar. Whisk these ingredients vigorously until they are thoroughly blended and the sugar has completely dissolved. This ensures a smooth, consistent, and perfectly balanced sweet and tangy dressing.
Once your dressing is smooth and ready, pour it generously over the prepared salad mixture in the large bowl. Make sure to scrape out all the delicious dressing to ensure maximum flavor.
Step 3: Add Bacon and Serve
Finally, add the crumbled, cooked bacon to the salad. Gently toss all the ingredients together one last time, ensuring that the dressing evenly coats every piece of broccoli, every cashew, and every bit of bacon. This thorough mixing ensures a burst of flavor in every bite.
For optimal flavor, you can serve this delicious salad immediately at room temperature. However, chilling it in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes (or even a few hours) allows the flavors to meld beautifully, creating an even more harmonious and refreshing dish. Enjoy!
SAVE THIS RECIPE! PIN IT FOR LATER!
Don’t let this incredible recipe slip away! Make sure to save this yummy raw broccoli salad so you can easily find it the next time a craving strikes. Pin this recipe to your favorite Pinterest recipe board now and share the deliciousness with your friends!
Expert Tips for the Best Broccoli Salad with Cashews
Elevate your broccoli salad game with these helpful tips and customization ideas:
- Storage and Make-Ahead: This salad is fantastic for meal prepping! Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to four days. For the best crunch, if making ahead for a party, consider keeping the dressing and the broccoli/onion/cranberry/cashew mixture separate. Toss them together about an hour before serving. Add the bacon just before serving to maintain its crispiness.
- Sweetener Variations: Feel free to customize the sweetness of the dressing to your liking. While granulated sugar is traditional, you can substitute it with honey, maple syrup, or even a sugar substitute for a low-carb option. Taste and adjust as you go!
- Make it Vegetarian: Easily transform this into a vegetarian broccoli salad by simply omitting the bacon. For an extra savory kick, you can add some smoked paprika to the dressing or a sprinkle of toasted sunflower or pumpkin seeds.
- Add More Veggies: This salad is wonderfully versatile! Consider adding finely shredded carrots, diced bell peppers (red or yellow work well for color), or even some thinly sliced red cabbage for an extra pop of color and crunch.
- Different Nuts & Seeds: While cashews are delicious, feel free to experiment with other nuts like pecans, walnuts, or almonds. For a nut-free option, toasted sunflower seeds or pumpkin seeds are excellent alternatives.
- Chill for Enhanced Flavor: While delicious immediately, allowing the salad to chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes, or even a few hours, truly allows the flavors to meld and deepen. This creates a more cohesive and refreshing taste experience.
Best Summer Salads and Beyond
There’s something uniquely satisfying about a crisp, cold salad on a warm summer day. It’s refreshing, often light, and perfectly complements outdoor dining. When the heat saps your appetite, a vibrant salad like this Bacon Cashew Broccoli Salad is the ideal solution.
This broccoli cranberry cashew salad truly has it all – it’s hearty enough to serve as a main dish, yet perfectly suited as a vibrant side for your summer barbecues, picnics, and family gatherings. With the rich protein from the crispy bacon and creamy cashews, a healthy dose of fiber and vitamins from the fresh broccoli, and a burst of fruitiness from the dried cranberries, it’s a balanced and incredibly flavorful meal in itself.
More Delicious Summer Salads to Try
My blog is a treasure trove of incredible salad recipes, catering to every taste and occasion. From crisp lettuce salads and hearty vegetable blends to refreshing fruit concoctions and comforting pasta salads, you’ll find inspiration for every potluck or family meal. The next time you’re seeking a fantastic salad recipe beyond this beloved broccoli salad, consider exploring some of my other top picks!
Best Salad Recipes:
- Tomato Cracker Salad – Pictured Above
- Pea Salad with Cauliflower
- PF Changs Lettuce Wrap Salad
- Picnic Potato Salad
- Summer Fruit Salad with Honey Lime Poppyseed Dressing
- Mom’s Macaroni Salad
- Little King Hoagie Salad
- Sauerkraut Salad
- Snicker Apple Salad
- Peg’s Salad – Italian Raw Veggie Salad
Ready to try this amazing salad? Let’s grab the recipe, shall we? 
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Print Recipe
Bacon Cashew Broccoli Salad
This is truly the BEST recipe for Broccoli Salad! A delicious raw broccoli salad filled with smoked bacon, tangy Craisins, and crunchy cashews, all covered in a sweet homemade dressing.
Keywords: Bacon Cashew Broccoli Salad, best broccoli salad recipe, broccoli salad with Craisins, cashew salad, Sweet mayo dressing for broccoli
Servings: 10 servings
Calories: 314 kcal
Author: Michaela Kenkel
Equipment
- Zyliss Comfort Utility Knife
- 12-Piece Black Sharp Knife Set with Covers, Cutting Board and Sharpener
Ingredients
For the Salad
- 8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
- 3 bunches fresh broccoli, chopped (about 8 cups of florets)
- 6 green onions, sliced
- 1 cup Craisins, or raisins work, too
- 1 cup cashews
For the Sweet Dressing
- 1 cup mayonnaise
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 1/2-2 Tablespoons cider vinegar
Instructions
- Place broccoli in a large bowl. Add onion, raisins and nuts, toss.
- In a small bowl mix dressing ingredients until sugar is dissolved.
- Pour dressing over the salad, toss to combine. Add in bacon toss again. Serve room temperature.
Notes
Recipe from my sister in law, Sue. Adapted from food.com
Nutrition
This recipe was originally posted on August 23, 2016. It was updated to improve user experience and re-shared on June 4, 2021.
This truly is the BEST recipe for Broccoli Salad! A delicious raw broccoli salad filled with smoked bacon, tangy Craisins, and crunchy cashews, all covered in a sweet homemade dressing that makes it simply irresistible.
I first encountered this super yummy Bacon Cashew Broccoli Salad when my sister-in-law, Sue, made it during a summer visit to their lake home in Tablerock. Sue, famously known for her beloved taco salad, certainly has a knack for creating crowd-pleasing dishes. I instantly fell in love with this salad from the very first bite. It was so good, I quickly scooped some into a bowl and snapped a picture before I devoured it all myself!
