Roasted Pecans Recipe

My roasted pecans recipe is one of the easiest, healthiest, and quickest snacks or appetizers to prepare. These beauties are often called the “little black dress of appetizers”.

This post will show you how to roast pecans in the oven or on the stove to bring out their natural oils and intensify their rich, irresistible, nutty flavor. 

In the South, where they are grown, roasted and salted nuts will likely be present at baby and wedding showers, cocktail parties, tailgating, or anywhere folks gather and munchies are served.

Buttered, salted, roasted pecans are ridiculously addictive and make a terrific homemade gift for the foodies in your life. I always have some in my freezer for a quick and easy appetizer and recipes that call for roasted or toasted nuts, salad toppings, or plain snacking.

Roasted pecans can also be substituted for other nuts in most recipes. For example, I make Easy Homemade Southern Basil Pesto using roasted pecans instead of pine nuts. I always substitute toasted pecans for sunflower seeds in Broccoli Salad, and when used instead of peanuts, they make an incredible Homemade Pecan Butter.

Ingredients For Roasting Pecans

This recipe is one of the easiest on my blog and only requires three ingredients:

• Pecan halves: have a sweet, mildly nutty, and buttery flavor. Always try to purchase the freshest pecans you can find. If you use them as an ingredient in baking, you can get away with less expensive pieces, but if you are serving them as an appetizer or snack, try to find nice pecan halves. 
• Unsalted butter: you can substitute salted butter here, but you will need to reduce the amount of salt you add.  
• Kosher salt: in the event you use regular table salt, only use half as much as kosher salt. 

You will also need a rimmed baking pan and parchment paper or aluminum foil to line the pan. 

How to roast pecans in the oven:

Follow my easy instructions to learn how to roast pecans:

1. First, preheat your oven to 325°F. The low temperature is essential to maximize the flavor of the nuts.
2. Spread out the halves in a single layer on a rimmed baking sheet lined with either aluminum foil or parchment paper, and top with chunks of butter.

3. Place the nuts in the oven and bake for approximately 10 minutes.
4. Remove the nuts from the oven and toss to coat with the melted butter, which helps the salt stick to them.  
5. Sprinkle lightly with about a teaspoon of kosher salt or sea salt flakes and shake the pan to distribute them evenly.

6. Place them back in the oven and continue cooking for another 10-15 minutes. Start tasting the nuts every 5 minutes and remove them from the oven when they are fragrant and one shade darker.  

7. While they are still hot, add additional salt if desired and allow to cool completely.

Roasting Pecans on the Stove

Pecans can also be roasted on the stove using a heavy-bottomed skillet.

1. Place the skillet on the stove over medium-low heat. Once the pan is heated, add a single layer of pecans and a few pats of butter. Make sure the nuts are spread out evenly to ensure even roasting. If you’re roasting a large batch, you may need to do this in batches.
2. Stir the pecans frequently to prevent them from burning. Keep a close eye on them; they can go from perfectly roasted to burnt quickly. Add salt if desired. Roast the pecans for about five to ten minutes or until they become fragrant and one shade darker.

The exact cooking time can vary depending on the freshness and moisture level of the pecans. 

Roasted Pecans Recipe Tips

• This is a great recipe to serve around the holidays as an appetizer or snack. If you are in a hurry or plan to use them as an ingredient in baking, you can speed up the process. Increase the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. and then roast them for 10-12 minutes. But watch them carefully; they can burn in seconds.
• Nuts that have been just harvested or are very fresh take a little more time to roast because they have more oil and moisture. Older, drier nuts take less time.
• Always use pecan halves when roasting. Pieces burn easily due to their small size.
• When I use these nuts in baked goods, I always roast them, whether the recipe calls for it or not. I think the flavor and texture are much improved.
• When you are tasting the roasted nuts to see if they are done, allow them to cool first. This makes it easier to tell if they are done.

How to Store Toasted Pecans

Whether fresh or roasted, pecans should be stored in airtight plastic bags in your refrigerator or freezer unless you plan to use them right away. They will turn rancid very quickly, especially in hot, humid climates.

Store the toasted pecans in an airtight container at room temperature for about one week.

Or, when stored in a refrigerator, these nuts will keep for several months, and they will keep up to a year in the freezer.

Pecans can be added to your dishes while still frozen, as they will thaw very quickly. When I use them in baking, I always roast them, whether the recipe calls for it or not, and think the flavor is much improved.

Toasted Pecans Recipe Serving Suggestions

Roasted or toasted pecans go with just about everything, but they pair exceptionally well with cheese and are a great addition to a charcuterie board or a relish tray.

Pecans are versatile, and their crunchy deliciousness is a welcome addition to main dishes, appetizers, salads, and side dishes, as well as desserts. For example, easy-to-make Pecan Crusted Grouper is one of our all-time favorite dishes.

Frequently asked questions:

Ways to Used Toasted Pecans

Check out these delicious and popular recipes that feature pecans on my blog: 

• Dot’s Ultimate Southern Pecan Pie
• Southern Pecan Praline Cheesecake
• Healthy Wild Rice Chicken Salad
• Georgia Cornbread Cake AKA Pecan Cake
• Cranberry Pecan Mini Goat Cheese Balls
• Quick and Easy Stovetop Candied Pecans
• Southern Pecan Praline Cake
• Easy Butter Pecan Cookies
• Pecan Pralines and Cream Ice Cream
• Old-Fashioned Pecan Pralines
• Healthy Apple Pecan Chopped Salad
• Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

★ If you make this recipe, please leave a comment and give it a star rating. I would love to know how you liked it!

Thank you so much for visiting Grits and Pinecones!

📋 Recipe:

*This post was republished on January 18, 2022, with the addition of a FAQ section and expanded tips and notes. There is no change to the original recipe.