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Here are all the best pecan recipes to use this super nut…that aren’t pecan pie! Try everything from glazed to energy bars to granola.
Looking for tasty recipes that use pecans? This tasty super nut is so delicious, and there are so many ways to use it outside of the traditional pecan pie. Use it to top your salads, grind it up and put it in energy bars, or use it for maple pecan flavored healthy granola (yum)! You can even use it in savory dishes like stuffed squash, pizza, and frittatas. Is there anything a pecan can’t do? Not really.
Here are all our best pecan recipes to use up the last of your bag! Here’s how to use this nutrient dense and protein-packed nut to the best of its potential.
And now…our best pecan recipes!
They’re crunchy, irresistibly sweet and salty, and totally classic: try this homemade Candied Pecans recipe! This is our master recipe that makes perfectly crunchy, sweet candied pecans with little effort: no food thermometer needed. It’s got just the right amount of cinnamon and sweetness, and it takes a load of will power to stop eating them once you make up a batch. Throw them on salads, over ice cream, or just snack on them plain!
There’s nothing we love more around here than a good slather of nut butter on our toast or oatmeal. Here’s a must-try variation on the theme: Pecan Butter! This recipe makes luxuriously creamy pecan butter in just a few minutes. Mix in a little vanilla and cinnamon, and it’s truly heavenly. The buttery, rich flavor of pecans is perfect for slathering on toast, pancakes, waffles: you name it!
They’re sweet, a little salty, and have the perfect crunch! This glazed pecans recipe is so tasty, you’ll want to make up a batch immediately for topping all your salads. Funny enough, they’re also the perfect little treat for when you’re craving sweets. Use them to top this Spinach Apple Salad, or snack on them right out of the container.
This homemade pecan energy bar recipe is perfect for healthy snacks. And let me tell you, our son Larson is OBSESSED with them, too! Not only are these kid approved, they’re perfect for adult snacking too. The sweet flavor is reminiscent of pecan pie, and they’re full of superfoods like pecans and chia seeds.
Want a healthy granola recipe that’s actually good for you? Here’s the only recipe you need! This maple pecan granola recipe is nutrient rich and 100% delicious, featuring oats, puffed rice, pecans, and maple syrup. It's warm scented with cinnamon and allspice, perfectly crunchy, and has just the right amount of sweetness.
Here’s a meal that consistently makes everyone who takes a bite say Wow. Try this Pecan Crusted Salmon! It has an air of restaurant-style fancy, but it’s quick and easy to whip up on a weeknight. It takes basic salmon to the next level, coating it in a crunchy topping of nuts, seasoned breadcrumbs, and Parmesan cheese. The flavors are elevated enough for dinner guests, but also tasty enough for kids to shovel in bites.
Pecans are perfect in green salads, and here’s one that’s on our new favorite back pocket concept: Goat Cheese Salad with Arugula and Pecans! It’s simple and comes together quickly, but my does it deliver on flavor! The crunch of the apples, creamy goat cheese, and fluffy arugula are the ideal pair for the tangy creamy balsamic dressing.
Looking for nutritious breakfast or lunch ideas...with pecans? Try these mini frittatas! Basically a muffin made of egg, they’re easy to meal prep and grab as you’re headed out the door. Refrigerate or freeze ’em, and you can eat off them all week. The best part: they’re so tasty! They’re filled with colorful veggies and crunchy pecans for added protein and nutrients.
Ever had Millionaire bars? Sometimes called Millionaire’s shortbread, they’re a layered bar of shortbread, caramel, and chocolate: like Twix candy! But this cookie originates from the British Isles and it’s a delicious homemade treat. This rendition of this famous bar replaces the caramel layer with pecan butter. It's rich and decadent, but brings in all the nutrients and plant based protein of pecans!
Want a main dish pecan recipe? This stuffed squash is roasted until it's tender, then draped in a toasted pecan rice stuffing that makes your kitchen smell like a fall paradise! You know that scent of onions, celery and leeks cooking in butter? Well, this recipe delivers it in spades. It’s seriously crowd pleasing. Everyone we’ve served it to becomes a believer…and then immediately asks for the recipe.
Here's a recipe for homemade breakfast cereal with pecans, called muesli! Muesli is basically a healthy version of granola: a mixture of rolled oats, dried fruits and nuts that’s traditionally eaten with milk for breakfast. This one stars toasted pecans and coconut, which add a delightful crunch, along with oats, cinnamon and dried cherries. There's so much flavor going on, you won't be able to put it down!
This pumpkin pecan oatmeal tastes like pumpkin pie—really!—but is made of steel cut oats. Who doesn’t want to eat pumpkin pie for breakfast? It’s also fairly healthy: with a minimal amount of maple syrup as a natural sweetener, it’s a nice whole grain option for mornings. Top with crunchy pecans and it's irresistibly delicious.
Raw Brussels sprouts, thinly sliced into feathery ribbons, form the bed of this tasty salad! They're combined with tender sweet potato and crunchy pecans into a hearty main dish salad. It's filling and could be eaten either as a side dish or a vegetarian main dish salad. Top with Parmesan cheese or Manchego cheese for a sophisticated addition.
Pecan fun facts!
Here are a few interesting things about this tasty nut that may inspire you to make even more pecan recipes! Not only are pecans full of good fats and protein, they’re the only nuts indigenous to America. Here’s what to know about pecans:
- Pecans are nutrient dense: full of good fats, protein and fiber. Pecans are nuts that are among the highest in “good” monounsaturated fats. They contain lots of plant based protein and fiber: ¼ cup pecans has 2.5 grams protein and 2.7 grams fiber. They also contain flavonoids and essential minerals like copper, manganese and zinc.
- Grown in America. Of all the major tree nuts eaten in the US, pecans are the only ones indigenous to America! They were originally grown wild and enjoyed by Native Americans. Now they’re harvested in over a dozen Southern states.
Top 13 Pecan Recipes: Candied Pecans & More!
This candied pecans recipe is easy with classic flavor: sweet, spiced and a little salty! They store well and are extremely versatile.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 3 cups 1x
- Category: Essentials
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
- ¼ cup granulated sugar
- ½ cup packed light brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons cinnamon
- ¼ teaspoon ground ginger
- ¾ teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 egg white
- 1 teaspoon water
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 3 cups (12 ounces) pecan halves
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 325°F.
- Whisk the granulated sugar, light brown sugar, cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt. In a separate bowl, whisk the egg white, water and vanilla extract until foamy. Toss the pecans with the egg white mixture with a spatula until well coated. Add half the sugar mixture and stir with a spatula until fully coated, then add the remaining sugar mixture and stir until coated.
- Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and pour the nuts in an even layer on top. Bake for 15 minutes, then remove the tray from the oven and stir (the nuts will look foamy at this point). Bake for another 15 minutes until lightly browned. Cool about 10 minutes before eating and completely (about 45 minutes) before storing. Store in an airtight container up to 2 weeks and frozen for up to 2 months.
Notes
*Doubles easily, so feel free to do 4 cups to make a large-sized pecan butter jar.
