How to Roast Cashews

Follow this simple recipe for how to roast cashews. Roasting cashews (or any nut for that matter) is an easy way to enhance the flavor of the nut. Roasting brings out their natural sweetness and creates a nice crunch (which in my opinion tastes better than raw cashews, which have a softer texture).

Roasted cashews are great for snacking, adding to charcuterie boards, snack boards, or topping off salads. These are a versatile little gem. Try them with my dairy-free chicken salad, broccoli kale salad, superfood salad, or swap the almonds for roasted cashews in this wild rice pilaf.

Benefits of Cashews

Cashew are a great choice if you're looking for an easy healthy snack. Like all nuts, cashews provide a plethora of benefits. And in my opinion, they are one of the best tasting nuts (with pistachios being my favorite).

Cashews in particular are a rich source of fiber, zinc, copper, antioxidants, heart healthy fats, and other essential minerals and vitamins.  They also contain a decent amount of plant-based protein (5 grams in about 18 cashews).

Clean food tip: High amounts of pesticides are used to grow cashews, so I recommend using organic if you can.

How to Roast Cashews in the Oven

Roasting cashews in the oven is my preferred method. Roasting in the oven allows the cashews to more evenly cook and is helpful if you need to roast larger amounts.

Step 1: Preheat oven to 325-degrees F and line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Evenly spread cashews out on prepared baking sheet.

Step 2: Bake for 12-14 minutes, stirring every 3-4 minutes. They are done when lightly browned and you can smell their nutty aroma.

How to Roast Cashews on the Stovetop

Roasting cashes on the stovetop is much quicker than roasting in the oven. However, you do run the risk of burning and uneven cooking compared to roasting in the oven.

I usually prefer to roast on the stovetop if I'm just needing a small amount.

Directions: Heat a large skillet over medium/medium-low heat. Add cashews to skillet and cook for 4-6 minutes, stirring frequently. Cashews are done when they are lightly browned and fragrant.

How to Roast Cashews in the Microwave

While this is not my recommended method, it can be done.

Directions: Spread cashews out on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave for 1 minute. Remove from microwave and stir. Continue microwaving in 30-second intervals, stirring in between, until browned and fragrant. Total time will vary pending your microwave.

Flavor Suggestions

There are lots of ways to spice up roasted cashews if you're looking for something a little fancier than plain roasted. Mix up some of the below flavor combinations with the raw cashews and follow the same roasting directions as listed in the recipe card.

Spiced - Toss cashews with 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, ¼ tsp. garlic powder, ¼ tsp. smoked paprika, and ¼ tsp. chili powder. For extra heat, add some chili flakes.

Herb roasted - Toss cashews with 1 tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil, 1 tsp. dried rosemary, ½ tsp. dried thyme, ½ tsp. dried sage, salt and pepper to taste.

Sweet honey roasted - In a microwave safe bowl, or on the stovetop, melt 2 tbsp. of butter. Add ¼ cup honey and ¼ tsp. salt and mix until honey has softened and mixture is smooth. Add cashews to a bowl and pour mixture on top. Mix until cashews are evenly coated. For honey roasted, bake at 300 to avoid burning.

Ways to Use Roasted Cashews

There are lots of ways to enjoy roasted cashews! Try one of the below:

Snacking: Enjoy as is for a simple snack.

Trail mix: Mix with other nuts, dried fruit, and chocolate chips for a healthier homemade trail mix.

Stir-fry: Make your favorite teriyaki stir-fry and top with roasted cashews.

Salad toppings: Add to your favorite salad. These are especially good on my cashew chicken salad.

Chocolate covered cashews: Enjoy a better-for-you sweet treat with these chocolate covered cashews.

Expert Tips

Regardless of which method you use to roast, watch cashews closely towards the end! Cashews cook quickly and can easily burn. Once you can smell a nutty fragrance and they are lightly browned, they are done.

Use whole cashews. Whole cashews cook up better and won't burn as fast. If you need chopped cashews, simply chop after they have been roasted.

Storing

Room temp: Once fully cooled, store roasted cashews in an air tight container at room temperature. These will stay fresh for 1 week.

Freezer: While I have never stored these in the freezer, you should be able to. Place them in a freezer safe container for up to 3 months. They are so easy to make though, and everything is better fresh, so I recommend making them when needed.