30 Easy Pecan Recipes

When you think of the fall and winter holidays, so many wonderful foods come to mind. Pecans fall from the tree in the autumn, perfect for all of that holiday baking.

If you have a pecan tree or know someone who does, you may have found yourself with pounds of these wonderful and nutritious nuts. You may be wondering what to do with pecans… and there are so many ideas!

These pecan recipes feature desserts, fun gift ideas, healthy side dishes, satisfying main entrees, and delicious salads.

Pecans have a wonderful nutty flavor and are so crunchy, so they are very versatile and lend themselves to many different recipes. You won’t get bored or run out of ideas of how to enjoy pecans!

1. Chocolate Chip Toffee Pecan Cookies

These chocolate chip toffee pecan cookies are to die for! This is the perfect chocolate chip cookie with a chewy inside and crisp edge that has chocolate chips, chopped pecans, and toffee bits throughout.

The extra vanilla extract sets these cookies apart and makes them irresistible.

People will beg you for the recipe, and they would be welcome on any cookie tray. They are perfect all year round! This recipe makes about 40 cookies, so be prepared to share.

2. Candied Pecans

Nothing beats a homemade gift, and these candied pecans are perfect for gifting from the heart and the kitchen.

These candied pecans also elevate any salad, yogurt parfait, oatmeal, ice cream, or whipped sweet potatoes.

This is one of the most popular recipes with pecans that can be given as a gift. The secret ingredient is just a touch of cayenne pepper for a bit of heat that will warm you from the inside out.

These nuts take less than an hour to make from start to finish and will last about 2 weeks.

3. Pioneer Woman’s Pecan Pie

Is there any recipe using pecans more classic than a pecan pie? The sweet filling, topped with crunchy pecans with a flaky crust, is the perfect combination.

White and brown sugar are combined with corn syrup, salt, vanilla, butter, and eggs and then poured into the pie crust on top of pecan halves.

The pie is baked for up to 50 minutes and then is allowed to cool. The result is the perfect pecan pie!

4. Pecan Crusted Salmon

Pecans are a healthy nut, and when they are paired with salmon, you have a good dinner for your heart health! It is an upscale dinner recipe with pecans that is simple to make.

The maple bourbon glaze makes this dish perfect for guests, but it is really simple and comes together in about 30 minutes.

Salmon filets are topped with pecans, breadcrumbs, butter, and herbs and then baked. When finished, the fish is topped with the glaze. This recipe looks amazing and tastes great!

5. Pecan Upside-Down Bundt Cake

Do you love pecan pie and cake? This recipe combines the best of both worlds!

This is one of the most beautiful desserts with pecans. A delectable pecan topping is packed into a bundt cake pan and then topped with cake batter.

Best of all, the cake uses a boxed cake mix as a base and adds some delicious adjustments to it.

This cake looks impressive, but it is so easy to make! It will really wow your guests, and it goes perfectly with a hot cup of coffee.

6. Pecan Pie Muffins

These pecan pie muffins have a delicious surprise! This recipe is like a mix between a muffin and a pecan pie, and then inside has a gooey center, just like a pecan pie.

Brown sugar, flour, pecans, butter, and eggs are combined to make these delicious muffins.

They are so simple to make and are a new twist on a classic flavor.

7. Pecan Crusted Chicken

If you want to elevate your chicken tenders, try this recipe for pecan-crusted chicken.

This recipe is low-carb and gluten-free, thanks to coconut flour.

The chicken is dredged through the flour and some spiced, then dipped in egg and coated in finely chopped pecans.

This baked chicken goes wonderfully on a salad with berries and a balsamic vinaigrette or can be served with any of your favorite side dishes.

8. Pecan Cobbler

Do you want to make a delicious pecan dessert but don’t want to fuss with making a pie?

This pecan cobbler is the perfect recipe! This dessert takes only 5 minutes to mix and 30 minutes to bake.

There is no fruit in this recipe, only cobbler dough and pecans. Vanilla ice cream goes perfectly with a warm piece of this cobbler, as does a hot cup of coffee!

9. Pecan Pie Cheesecake

This dessert is taken to a new level by combining pecan pie with cheesecake.

Cream cheese is beaten with brown sugar, eggs, sour cream, flour, vanilla, and salt, then poured over a graham cracker crust.

While the cheesecake bakes, a pecan pie topping is stirred together on the stovetop.

When all is cooled, the cheesecake is released from the pan, and the topping is spooned over and served.

10. Apple Pecan Stuffing

Bring pecans to your holiday table with this classic apple pecan stuffing recipe! Bread cubes, apples, pecans, onions, celery, butter, and garlic.

This is one of the best savory pecan recipes you’ll find. Everything is moistened with chicken broth, and then herbs and spices are combined.

This is baked for about 45 minutes, and then the foil is removed, and it is baked for a few more minutes until the top is brown and crusty.

This stuffing is moist and delicious and would be a welcome addition to any table!

11. Pecan Pie Cookies

Here’s a cookie that has all the flavors of pecan pie! It’s one of the most creative recipes using pecans.

These would be so fun to take to a fall gathering or holiday party! And yes, you can freeze these cookies for later.

The cookies are brown sugar, butter, egg, vanilla, flour, salt, and baking powder.

Then a thumbprint filling made with pecans, brown sugar, cream, and vanilla is spooned into them. In about 30 minutes, you will have delicious, festive cookies!

12. Butter Pecan Fudge

If you love fudge or know someone who does, then this butter pecan fudge is for you!

This fudge is so simple to make! It is creamy and buttery, yet the pecans add crunch. Butter, cream, white and brown sugar are combined with salt, vanilla, and toasted pecans.

This only takes about 15 minutes to make, and after an hour of chill time, you can slice them to serve or gift!

13. Caramel Pecan Rolls

These caramel pecan sticky buns are amazing! These buns have caramel sauce and nutty pecans rolled into the layers.

Once the dough is made and rolled, you set them in a pan of caramel sauce and then bake.

The pan is later inverted, so that sticky sauce runs down around the rolls. They are so decadent. People will think you got them at a bakery!

They would be perfect for taking to a breakfast or brunch, especially around the holidays.

14. Best Ever Pecan Bars

If you love the taste of pecan pie but want a different twist on it, try these pecan pie bars.

A layer of shortbread is pressed in the bottom of the pan and baked.

Then a sweet and sticky pecan pie topping is made, poured over the crust, and baked again.

The bars are cooled and then cut into bars to serve. These are so delicious and fun. People will ask you for the recipe every time you make them!

15. Pecan Pie Bread Pudding

If you have some extra bread leftover, try this pecan pie bread pudding! This is another pecan recipe idea that is so delicious.

Bread is cubed and combed with milk, eggs, corn syrup, brown sugar, vanilla, salt, cinnamon, and pecans.

This is baked for about 45 minutes or until it’s golden brown on top.

This would be perfect when served with ice cream or whipped cream.

This would make an amazing dessert for a brunch or dinner, and your house will smell amazing!

16. Sweet Potato Souffle

Looking for something different to serve during the holidays? This sweet potato souffle is a unique mix of a sweet potato casserole and sweet potato pie.

Mashed sweet potatoes form the base and are whipped into a decadent souffle. Then crunchy pecans and cinnamon sugar are sprinkled on top.

There are make-ahead instructions in this recipe, so you can prep it a day before a big holiday gathering!

17. Pomegranate Pecan Party Appetizer

Do you need an appetizer that is simple yet impressive? This recipe features only five ingredients and is finished in five minutes.

Cream cheese is topped with honey, rosemary, fresh pomegranate, and rosemary.

This is the perfect appetizer for any fall or winter gathering, and it looks so festive! It is ideal when served with crackers, small toasts, or crostini.

People won’t believe how simple this recipe is! Serve it at your next holiday party!

18. Perfect Pecan Sandies

Pecan Sandies are another classic pecan recipe. These buttery cookies would be welcome on any cookie tray or party platter.

Butter, brown sugar, vanilla, almond extracts, flour, and pecans are combined into a dough, rolled into a log, and chilled.

Then cookies are sliced and baked. The dough can even be frozen so that you can have these cookies fresh from the oven in no time, any time! These go perfectly with coffee, tea, or hot cocoa.

19. Pecan Tassies

If you want to wow people at your next party, make these pecan tassies. They are like miniature pecan pies and are as delicious as they are cute!

The secret ingredient is cream cheese. People will start asking you to make these for any party!

These can be made ahead, and there are instructions for freezing them, so you can save time during the busy holiday season and still impress!

20. Cranberry Pecan Chicken Salad

This healthy chicken salad is beautiful and delicious! This would make a healthy lunch or dinner and looks festive if served at a holiday buffet.

Cooked chicken, pecans, dried cranberries, and green onions are tossed with a creamy dijon and poppy seed dressing.

This looks beautiful when served on a bed of salad greens or served chilled in a pretty bowl with fancy crackers surrounding it.

Rosemary crackers would be a nice compliment to this salad!

21. Pecan Chicken Salad

Here is another unique spin on a pecan chicken salad! Cooked chicken is combined with celery, sweet onion, hard-boiled eggs, pecans, pickle relish, brown mustard, and mayonnaise.

This savory pecan recipe of chicken salad is excellent when served on hearty brown bread with butter lettuce leaves.

It can also go well with a multigrain cracker! The creamy dressing contrasts so nicely with the crunchy pecans. You will be making this recipe again and again!

22. Sweet Potato Pecan Bread

This quick bread is perfect for the fall and is so easy to make! Canned sweet potatoes are combined with sugar, water, oil, eggs, flour, baking soda and powder, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and crunchy, chopped pecans.

The batter is baked in a bread pan for a little over an hour and then cooled.

This would be perfect at a tea party or brunch, especially when served warm with a bit of whipped cinnamon brown sugar butter!

23. Pecan Pie Truffles

Take all the yummy flavors of pecan pie and turn them into a decadent chocolate truffle!

This would be fun to serve after Black Friday shopping or at a Ladies Night during the holidays.

Pecans are combined with graham cracker crumbs, brown sugar, salt, maple syrup, corn syrup, and vanilla.

These are rolled into balls, chilled, and then dipped into melted chocolate.

Finely chopped pecans are sprinkled on top to make these truffles beautiful and elegant, and yet you don’t have to turn on the oven once!

24. Easy Caramel Pecan Cinnamon Rolls

Cinnamon rolls are taken to a new level with caramel and pecans yet are simple and easy.

They are perfect for a holiday morning because you don’t have to bake the dough.

Instead, canned cinnamon rolls are upgraded with butter, brown sugar, and pecans.

These rolls take about 40 minutes from start to finish. They are so simple to make, but no one will guess you used a pre-made cinnamon roll dough!

25. Butter Pecan Cookies

These butter pecan cookies are divine, yet don’t call for eggs or gluten! Butter is combined with salmon and coconut flour, gelatin, vanilla, pecans, and the sweetener of your choice.

These would be the perfect cookie to gift to someone who eats gluten-free, is looking for an allergy-friendly treat, or is watching their health.

And these only take a little over half an hour to whip up, so you will make them over and over again!

26. Salted Caramel Pecan Log

If you are looking for a unique and tasty gift, this salted caramel pecan log is just the recipe! Nougat dough is rolled into logs and then rolled in a sweet caramel sauce and coated with pecans.

These logs are stored in the fridge until ready to serve and then are sliced into rounds.

Each bite has the creamy taste of marshmallows, the salty sweetness of caramel, and the crunch of pecans. They’re addictive!

27. Cranberry Pecan Sweet Potato Wild Rice Pilaf

This side dish is perfect for autumn, and it looks stunning on any table! As a bonus, it is also very healthy for you.

Wild rice is cooked in broth, seasoned with herbs and spices, and combined with sweet potato, onion, cranberries, and pecans.

Each bite is heart, nutty, tangy, sweet, and crunchy. This would be a perfect addition to the holiday table or serve at any dinner party during the autumn.

28. Chicken Cranberry Pecan Salad Wraps

Are you looking for the perfect picnic food for the pumpkin patch or apple picking?

Try these chicken pecan and cranberry salad wraps. Shredded chicken is combined with dried cranberries, pecans, celery, mayonnaise, and seasonings and then spread onto a large tortilla or wrap.

Then is then rolled up and can be sliced into pinwheels or served cut in half.

It’s such a simple recipe, but it is so satisfying and has all the fall flavors!

29. Pecan Pie Cheesecake Bars

It’s pecan pie, cheesecake, and a dessert bar all rolled into one! The layers on this bar recipe are amazing! A graham cracker crust is topped with cheesecake, and then a pecan pie layer is spooned on top.

The best part is that you don’t have to worry about your cheesecake cracking or using a water bath for baking this simple and stunning dessert.

These can be frozen as well, so you can make them ahead.

30. Apple Pecan Salad with Creamy Lemon Dressing

If you are looking for a salad to make for Thanksgiving or any fall dinner party, this apple pecan salad is perfect.

Crisp Romaine lettuce is combined with crisp honey apples, candied pecans, and aged white cheddar.

Then a creamy lemon dressing is drizzled on top. It marries all of the sweet, crunchy, spicy, savory, and tart flavors together well, and it is such a welcome addition to the heavier dishes that are so often served.