Pecans are one of those ingredients that are incredibly easy to implement into a recipe, but they add so much more flavor and a tremendous amount of texture that there really aren’t many reasons not to use them.
Their sweet nutty and buttery flavor is incredibly unique and works well with such a wide range of different foods that it can initially seem a little hard to know exactly where they work best. Luckily, we’ve got some delicious recipes that use pecans right here.
Here are 15 of the tastiest and most appetizing recipes, from baked goods all the way to meat-filled salads, that all benefit from adding a few pecans into the mixture.
15 Best Pecan Recipes To Try Today
1. Pecan Pie
Whether it’s as a simple dessert to finish off the day after a big and hefty meal, or as a crunchy party appetizer that you know everyone is going to love once they take that first bite, pecan pie is a buttery, sweet, and downright delicious pie recipe that can be made in just a few minutes.
Be sure to add a wallop of whipped cream or ice cream to compliment the nutty texture of the pecans which cover the entire pie on both the outside and the inside.
2. Turtle Cookies
The core of turtle cookies is made from the delightful pairing of chocolate chip (see also “How To Make Chocolate Chip Cookie Ice Cream Cake“), caramel pieces, and pecans, making each cookie extremely soft and chewy, rather than ever being too stale or a little hard to chew on.
An entire batch can be made in just a few minutes, so feel free to whip them up as a dessert for guests to enjoy after evening dinner, or just as a surprise for the entire family to snack on later in the day.
3. Butter Pecan Chicken
The key to this recipe is cooking the chicken until it’s nice and juicy before then brushing it over with butter which will make the texture as creamy as possible, before then adding chicken broth, brown sugar, honey, thyme, and of course, a few pecans while it’s still in the pan.
Heating up pecans gives them an even crunchier texture and a lovely nutty aroma that goes so well with chicken, and to make things even better, you can use any kind of chicken you want for this recipe, whether it’s breast, thighs, or even wings, the choice is entirely up to you.
4. Caramel Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars
Looking for a bite-size pecan recipe that is still packed full of that nutty and slightly buttery flavor that so many of us can’t get enough of?
Try out these pecan pie cheesecake bars which use a graham cracker crust to add even more crunch to the recipe and a cheesecake filling topped off with pecans to make for one of the tastiest Thanksgiving and fall desserts out there.
5. Pecan Pie Brownies
Pecan pie brownies are a fan favorite when it comes to crunchy desserts since they manage to still maintain the dark and chewy texture of the brownies while still having a little more firmness and a whole new level of sweetness added to the flavor thanks to the pecans which are added to the recipe.
The good news is they can be made in huge batches in just a handful of minutes, making them perfect as a tasty dessert to enjoy after family dinner, and even better as a seasonal treat for everyone to enjoy to celebrate the holidays.
6. Butter Pecan Layer Cake
Butter and pecans really are the perfect pairing when it comes to making a smooth and delicious dessert, and there’s no better way to combine the two than as part of a large and filling cake.
The vanilla extract in this recipe helps to enhance the flavors even more, alongside adding a tremendous amount of sweetness to the frosting that rests on top.
The amount of pecans you add will depend on how crunchy you want the cake to be, though the more you put in, the sweeter and nuttier the overall taste and texture will be.
7. Maple-Pecan Pork Chops
It’s not only baked goods and desserts that pecans pair well with, but they are also a fantastic addition to many meat dishes, especially pork which tends to be a lot firmer and a little chewier than many other types of meat, and perfect for layering over with pecans.
This recipe also smothers the chops in apple juice and maple syrup to make the overall taste as sweet as it can be, putting a mouthwatering spin on the basic pork chop recipe that so many of us are accustomed to by this point.
8. Roasted Beets, Plums & Pecan Salad
While this recipe does use beetroot which, for some people, can be a little too strong and potent in its taste, the sweet and fruity plums, alongside the sweet aroma of the pecans even the whole recipe out to make it one of the tastiest salads you can try.
If you wanted to turn this into a seasonal feast, you can even add some meat into the mix with lamb usually being the best type to use (see also “15 Best Ground Lamb Recipes To Try Today“).
9. Marrow Cake
The combination of grated marrow and pecans really is a joy on the taste buds, but they both taste even better when used as ingredients in a sponge cake to keep the texture moist while also adding just a small amount of crunchiness.
When topped with soft cheese frosting, this cake becomes one of the creamiest and most delightful that you can make (see also “Best Mini Bundt Cake Recipes“), and is a perfect recipe to whip up when you want to enjoy something light and refreshing that still makes use of crunchy pecans.
10. Butter Pecan Cookies
Soft, crumbly, and a pure joy to bite into, these cookies can be made in just 15 minutes and use a delightful mixture of unsalted butter, vanilla extract, and pecans to make some of the most addictive cookies you’ve ever tried.
Make sure to make a few batches of these small snacks as you can be sure people will be asking for seconds after that first bite.
11. Candied Pecans
This is a recipe that you can guarantee the kids, and anyone with a sweet tooth is going to love.
The pecans in this recipe are covered with a sticky caramel coating and then sprinkled with a dash of flaky sea salt to make the overall flavor as sweet and delicious as possible (see also “How To Make Hawaiian Sea Salt And Palm Sugar Caramel“).
If you’re a little short on time and want to make use of some leftover pecans in a fun and creative way, these candied pecans are the perfect recipe.
12. Apple-Honey Pecan Muffins
When muffins are toasted, they already gain a slightly more crunchy texture than usual, so by adding in a few pecans, it adds even more crunchiness and a nutty aroma to the overall taste, not to mention the honey and apples help to give these muffins a very light and refreshing taste that goes down so well in the warmer months.
13. Pecan Brie Brulee
If you want a snack that’s a little saltier but still offers that nutty taste and texture from the pecans, this brie brulee recipe is made up of a medley of different ingredients to make each and every bite and explosion of flavor, especially due to the chile past which is layered across the bread (see also “How To Make Cherry Beer Bread“).
On top of this, these small and bite-size snacks can be made in no time at all, making them the perfect treat to serve up at a party while they’re still warm, or even just as a late-night snack when you want something small but still very satisfying.
14. Mini Pecan Monkey Bread Loaves
If you’ve never tasted monkey bread before, it is known for being soft, sweet, and sticky and consists of very small balls of dough coated in butter, sugar, and cinnamon.
When you sprinkle a few toasted pecans over these loaves, it creates one of the most delightful bitesize snacks that you can make in just a few minutes.
Ginger is also used in this recipe to add a tiny hint of spiciness to the overall flavor, making for an incredibly unique taste that really does need to be tasted to be believed.
15. Butter Pecan Sundae
When used as part of a sundae, pecans help to add some much-needed texture to the creaminess to give you something to chew down on, and since it can be whipped up in just half an hour, you won’t want to miss out on preparing this recipe when the temperatures start to rise.
Summary
If you’re looking for an easy way to include some extra pecans into a delicious and fulfilling recipe, these are 15 of the tastiest that you need to try out for yourself today.
