21 Pecan Recipes That Are Sweet, Savory, and Everything In Between
Don’t sleep on pecans!
Greg DuPree
Pecans are small but mighty. Not only do these morsels have a rich, almost buttery flavor with the perfect amount of sweetness, but they are healthy to boot. In fact, pecans are high in copper, manganese, thiamin, and zinc, and are also a great source of fiber, especially considering their small size.
When cooking with pecans, the sky's the limit. The nuts are, of course, the star of popular desserts such as pecan pie, but they shine in savory meals and side dishes as well. As anyone who has ever made roasted veggies with a pecan topping or a nutty pesto can attest, there truly is no stopping these crunchy flavor bombs. Keep reading for 21 pecan recipes that won’t disappoint!
Related: 7 Pumpkin Pie Hacks That Will Definitely Make the Dessert Better
Salty Coffee Toffee Bars
These picture-perfect bars are sweet, salty, and caffeinated thanks to ingredients such as butterscotch chips, a flaky sea salt topping, and buzzy instant espresso granules. Chopped toasted pecans (and walnuts) add a much-needed crunch.
Maple Sweet Potatoes With Spicy Pecan Praline
Proving that pecans aren’t just for a holiday pie, this recipe seasons ‘em with maple syrup, cayenne, and lime zest, and then sprinkles them over a plate of glazed sweet potatoes and shallots. While this dish is an obvious choice for Thanksgiving, it’s a great side for a dinner party or meal at home as well.
Apple Cider Doughnut Tower
Yes, the pecans are more of a garnish here, but we’d argue that this picturesque doughnut tower needs a little pecan shower to go from good to great. To bring out the rich flavor of the nuts, toast them ever so slightly before using them to top the doughnut tower.
Brussels Sprouts Salad
Thinly sliced Brussels sprouts are the star of this salad, but they’re far from the only ingredient. Elsewhere in this colorful side you’ll find colorful strips of bitter radicchio, pecans, shavings of aged provolone, and dried cranberries. The whole thing is tied together with a punchy apple cider vinegar dressing.
Double-Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies With Pecans and Cherries
When added to cookie batter, pecans provide buttery notes and a much-needed crunch. In this recipe, the healthy nuts stud a chocolatey oat batter while dried cherries bring a pop of fruity flavor. To enhance the nutty aroma of the pecans, toast and cool them before chopping and folding into the dough.
BBQ-Spiced Pecans
If you have an abundance of pecans and have no idea what to do with them, head to your pantry. Here, the nuts are flavored with barbecue sauce, brown sugar, and black pepper for a sweet and spicy snack.
Crunchy Broccolini With Lemon and Pecans
If you find that your vegetable side is missing some texture, go ahead and add some pecans to the mix. In this healthy recipe, the nuts are joined by roasted broccolini and a fresh lemon-honey dressing that really brings out their nutty flavor.
Cinnamon Sugar Cookies
Classic cinnamon sugar cookies get a pop of texture courtesy of some finely chopped pecans. The key to getting these cookies to hold their shape is rolling the topped pastry into a tight log, and then giving it a quick freeze before slicing. Trust us, this trick never fails!
Chocolate Pecan Fudge Balls
Inspired by the Brazilian treat brigadeiros, these fudge balls are rich, chocolatey, and downright delicious. To top them with pecans, simply roll each one in a pile of the toasted nuts. Not only is this activity kid-friendly, but the pecans add some delightful texture to each bite.
Maple, Pear, and Pecan Slow Cooker Steel-Cut Oats
Proving they can enhance any meal, toasted pecans bring a wonderful crunch to this hearty bowl of oatmeal, which can be made in the slow cooker. The sweet nuts also pair nicely with the pear slices, ground ginger, and maple syrup.
Related: 14 Oatmeal Recipes That Are Seriously Comforting (and Healthy!)
Pumpkin Pecan Crisps
A warmly-spiced custard consisting of canned pumpkin and heavy cream hides beneath a nutty crunchy streusel topping made with pecans, sugar, and rolled oats. Think of these delectable crisps as individual pumpkin pies with the crust on top.
Chickpea "Cookie Dough" Bites
We’ll admit that while you won’t exactly mistake these bites for cookie dough, they’re still delicious in their own right. That’s thanks to ingredients like rolled oats, raisins, molasses, and ground cinnamon. The pecans make the final product richer with just the right amount of crunch.
Chocolate Chip Pecan Blondies
If you need something to bring to a bake sale or potluck, allow us to introduce you to these flavorful blondies. These bars are made with a scrumptious combination of pecans, brown sugar, chocolate chips, and vanilla extract, and are about to become your new favorite dessert.
Strawberry Buckle With Pecan Streusel
Though some may argue that fresh strawberries are the star of this dessert, we think it’s the nutty, crunchy streusel that sets this buckle apart. Serve it warm with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and you won’t be sorry.
French Toast Casserole With Pecans and Raisins
Bring some texture and flavor to your French toast casserole by adding pecans and raisins to the mix. This dish, which is a stellar brunch option if you’re serving a crowd, can even be prepped before. To make ahead, soak the bread and custard in a bowl overnight.
Sweet Potatoes With Pecans and Parmesan
A little bit sweet and a little bit savory, this take on a classic sweet potato casserole swaps the usual sticky marshmallow topping for a mixture of brown sugar, pecans, thyme, and cayenne pepper. Inside, grated Parmesan mingles with the sweet potatoes to add some savory nuttiness to the dish. To make this recipe vegan, omit the cheese or use plant-based cheese instead.
Butterscotch Bananas With Vanilla Ice Cream
Pecans are a classic ice cream topping, and with good reason. Here, the nuts are toasted and joined by butterscotch-coated bananas for one epic sundae.
Slow Cooker Cinnamon-Pecan Monkey Bread
While monkey bread doesn’t always contain pecans, we think the nuts add just the right amount of texture and buttery flavor to the classic American treat. By layering the pecans in the bottom of your slow cooker, you’re ensuring that your monkey bread has an irresistible crust once it’s inverted.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts With Pecans
On their own, Brussels sprouts can be a tad bland and chewy, but if you add some pecans to the mix the sprouts suddenly have more texture and flavor. For yet another flavor boost, consider glazing the sprouts with a bit of maple syrup or balsamic vinegar.
Pecan Sandies
Chopped pecans bring the crunch and nutty flavor to an otherwise dull cookie recipe. Pro tip: Chop the pecans thoroughly so you can pack more in each cookie. Once these treats are ready, serve with a tall glass of milk and enjoy!
Related: 33 Easy Fall Desserts That Aren't Apple Pie
Rosemary Pecans
If you’re having guests over for dinner but don’t have the time (or patience) to whip up an entire appetizer course, allow these fragrant pecans to come to your rescue. Flavored with cayenne and fresh rosemary, these pecans are great solo or served with a simple cheese and charcuterie board.
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