Southern Roasted Pecans Recipe
These Southern roasted pecans are three ingredients: pecans, butter and salt. A lot of salt. They roast low and slow in a cast iron skillet until the whole house smells like the holidays.
We have a pecan orchard, so pecans are not exactly a special occasion ingredient around here. This is still the recipe I make most. If you want yours with some heat, my sweet and spicy pecans are the other half of the snack table.
Below is what you need, how to roast them without burning them, how long they keep and a few ways to use them besides eating them out of the skillet. The recipe card is at the bottom.
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Ingredients for Southern Roasted Pecans
- Pecans: 5 cups of shelled halves. Fresh ones make a difference. Old pecans taste stale no matter how much butter you add.
- Butter: half a stick, cut into pats. Margarine works too if that is what is in the fridge.
- Salt: to taste, and taste means more than you think. These are supposed to be salty.
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How to Make Southern Roasted Pecans
- Heat the oven to 250 degrees. Yes, 250. Low heat is the whole trick.
- Fill a 12 inch cast iron skillet about half full of pecans.
- Salt them.
- Scatter the pats of butter over the top.
- Bake for 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes so the butter coats everything.
They will feel a little soft when they come out of the oven. They crisp up as they cool, so do not leave them in longer trying to get them crunchy. That is how you end up with burnt pecans.
Tips for Roasting Pecans
- No cast iron? Use a rimmed baking sheet and spread them in one layer. A thin pan runs hotter, so check them at 20 minutes.
- Taste one after it cools for a few minutes. If it needs more salt, add it while they are still warm so it sticks.
- Doubling it? Use two skillets on the same rack instead of piling them deeper in one.
Handy for Mixing and Prep
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How to Store Roasted Pecans
- Cool them completely, then keep them in an airtight container on the counter for about two weeks.
- Freeze them in freezer bags for up to three months.
- To rewarm, spread them on a baking sheet in a 250 degree oven for a few minutes.
Ways to Use Them
- Put a bowl out with your Thanksgiving appetizers. They are gone before the turkey is carved.
- Serve them next to baked brie with fig jam.
- Toss them on a spinach salad with dried cranberries.
- Spoon them over ice cream or a bowl of oatmeal.
- Pack them in mason jars for teacher, neighbor or hostess gifts.
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More Pecan Recipes
- Spiced Pecans
- Cheeseball with Pecans
- Maple Pecan Fudge
- Pecan Pumpkin Cobbler
- Pecan Thumbprint Cookies
- Pecan Pie Coffee Cake
- Cranberry Pecan Coffee Cake
- Butter Pecan Sticky Buns
- Crunchy Seasoned Pretzels
Southern Roasted Pecans Recipe
Equipment
- Wooden spoon or spatula
Ingredients
- 5 Cup(s) Pecans shelled
- ½ stick butter or margarine
- Salt to taste this means quite a bit of salt!
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 250.
- Fill cast iron skillet half full of pecans.
- Salt to taste.
- Add butter (or margarine) to top, in pats
- Bake for 30 mins, stirring every 10 minutes.
Nutrition
Salty or sweet, which side of the pecan debate are you on? Tell me in the comments.
Our family has made these for years and years. They are everyone’s favorite gift and the perfect snack all through the holidays. I’ve made them for friends and they always say that they are their favorite most addicting treat!
Trust me…. They are to die for!
You didn’t mention the butter? At what point to add all or half? The other half of the pecans were not mentioned either, does the butter cover both halves of the pecans or do I use more butter for the second half?
You put all the pecans at once. The skillet needs to be large enough so that when the 5 cups are in it, it is only about half-full. Sorry for the butter, I have updated the recipe. 🙂
Thanks for this recipe! Amazing!1
Toasted pecans are the quintessential Southern snack. I add a dash of cayenne pepper and use kosher or sea salt. This is my go-to snack and a must-have on an olive and cheese tray.
How deep do you put the pecans in the skillet? Would a pound be too many at one time?
as long as they fit and you can easily stir them, it is fine 🙂
Pecans are my favorite nut! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up!
Do you melt the butter and toss the pecans in it before putting them in the skillet?
Not normally 🙂 I just toss it all in and then stir frequently 🙂
Bet you could help me with a recipe for a sugar and spice pecan. Would like to give my volunteers something to munch on as a Christmas gift. Thanks in advance. Since they are Seniors I best watch the salt 🙂
HI Linda, thanks for stopping by! I bet they would LOVE spiced pecans: https://3boysandadog.com/2012/02/spiced-pecans-recipe/
Wow that would be amazing to grow up with all those pecan trees. Thanks for sharing.