Learn how to make perfect crunchy toasted pecans in the oven, on the stovetop, or in your air fryer. Toasting pecans makes them crunchier and more flavorful. Make a batch today to add to baked goods, yogurt bowls, salads, and more – ready in about 10 minutes!

whole toasted pecans on a piece of white parchment paper

As a Registered Dietitian, I try to include a variety of nuts in my diet regularly because they are so nutritious. Pecans are one of my favorite nuts to add to baked goods, oatmeal bowls, salads, and simply toasted as a quick snack.

Why toast your nuts? Toasting pecans and other nuts enhances their flavor and texture. Toasted pecans, or roasted pecans, have a richer, less bitter flavor and satisfying crunchy texture. Once you start toasting pecans, you’ll never go back to eating raw pecans again!

There are three ways to make toasted pecans: toasted in the oven on low heat, toasted in a skillet on the stovetop, or toasted in an air fryer. Each method takes about 10 minutes and requires just one ingredient: raw pecans! Toasted pecans are vegan, gluten free, and dairy free.

Learn how to toast pecans by scrolling through this post, or click on the links in the table of contents below to navigate quickly to each section:

Step-by-step video

Pecans nutrition & health benefits

A sprinkle of pecans into your oatmeal or salad has lots of nutrition benefits. One ounce of pecans (about 1/4 cup) provides:

  • 2.7 grams of dietary fiber (10% of your daily needs)
  • 2.6 grams of plant-based protein
  • 0.187 mg thiamin (16% of your daily needs)
  • 0.34 mg copper (38% of your daily needs)
  • 1.276 mg manganese (55% of your daily needs)
  • 1.28 mg zinc (12% of your daily needs)

Pecans are also rich in heart healthy monounsaturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids. Eating a balanced diet with plenty of healthy fats can help reduce inflammation, lower the risk of heart disease and lower “bad” LDL cholesterol levels.

Because pecans are a good source of fiber, healthy fats, and provide protein, they help make meals more filling and satisfying. Pecans are a delicious addition to yogurt and oatmeal bowls, salads, grain bowls, and more.

baking tray lined with white parchment paper with toasted pecans

How to make toasted pecans in the oven

When you want to make a larger batch of toasted pecans more than a cup or two, roasting them in the oven is your best bet.

  • Preheat oven to 300°F.
  • Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  • Add whole raw pecans to the baking sheet. Spread them out so none are overlapping or touching.
  • Toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes.

Toasted pecans are done when they are fragrant and about one shade deeper brown than they started. The best way to check if they are done is to take a quick nibble – if they are crisp with a fuller flavor, they are done!

whole toasted pecans in a white skillet

How to make toasted pecans on the stovetop

If you have a smaller amount of pecans to toast, like half a cup, you can toast them in a skillet on the stovetop.

  • Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat on the stovetop.
  • Add whole raw pecans.
  • Cook pecans on the stovetop for 5-7 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
Toasted pecans on an air fryer tray

How to make toasted pecans in the air fryer

If you have half a cup or a cup of pecans to toast, you can use your air fryer!

  • Add whole raw pecans to your air fryer tray or basket. Spread them out so they are not overlapping.
  • Set air fryer to 225°F.
  • Toast pecans in the air fryer for 8-10 minutes.
  • Halfway through cooking stir the pecans to prevent burning.

Note: Temperature and cook time may vary based on the air fryer model you have.

small white speckled bowl with whole toasted pecans

Recipes with toasted pecans

I love to add toasted pecans chopped up into salads, breakfast bowls, grain bowls, and baked goods. Here are some of my favorite recipes with toasted pecans:

Storage

Store toasted pecans in a glass jar or airtight container. The best place to store pecans and other nuts is in the fridge or freezer, which helps prevent the fat they contain from oxidizing.

If you don’t store nuts in the fridge, store them in your pantry or a cool, dark place. Toasted pecans should last about 3 months in the fridge or freezer, and 1 month in your pantry.

Seasoning ideas

If you want to get creative with your toasted pecans, try adding some spices and seasonings. Just add a few teaspoons of olive oil to help the seasonings stick to the pecans!

  • Sweet: maple syrup and cinnamon
  • Spicy: chili powder and cayenne
  • Herbal: dried rosemary and oregano
  • Everything bagel seasoning
  • Lemon zest and parmesan cheese

Let me know if you love this post by leaving a comment or star rating below, and check out Instagram and Pinterest for more healthy lifestyle inspiration. Thanks for stopping by!

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whole toasted pecans on a piece of white parchment paper

10-Minute Crunchy Toasted Pecans

  • Author: Alex Aldeborgh
  • Cook Time: 10 minutes
  • Total Time: 10 minutes
  • Yield: 1 cup 1x
  • Category: snack
  • Method: oven
  • Cuisine: American
  • Diet: Vegan
Print Recipe

Description

Learn how to make perfect crunchy toasted pecans in the oven, on the stovetop, or in your air fryer. Toasting pecans makes them crunchier and more flavorful. Make a batch today to add to baked goods, yogurt bowls, salads, and more – ready in about 10 minutes!

Ingredients

Scale

Instructions

Oven Method

  1. Preheat oven to 300°F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. Spread the pecans out on the parchment paper. Move them around so none are touching or overlapping.
  3. Toast in the oven for 8-10 minutes, or until they are fragrant, crunchy, and one shade darker than they started.

Stovetop Method

  1. Heat a nonstick skillet over medium heat on the stovetop.
  2. Add the pecans to the skillet.
  3. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring regularly to prevent the pecans from burning.

Air Fryer Method

  1. Arrange the pecans in your air fryer tray or basket, ensuring they are not overlapping.
  2. Put the tray or basket in your air fryer.
  3. Set the temperature to 225°F.
  4. Toast pecans for 10 minutes, checking halfway through and  giving them a stir if some are cooking faster than others.

Note: Temperature and cook time may vary based on the model of air fryer you have.

Notes

Storage

Store toasted pecans in a glass jar or airtight container. The best place to store pecans and other nuts is in the fridge or freezer, which helps prevent the fat they contain from oxidizing.

If you don’t store nuts in the fridge, store them in your pantry or a cool, dark place. Toasted pecans should last about 3 months in the fridge or freezer, and 1 month in your pantry.

Keywords: toasted pecans, toasted pecans in the oven, air fryer toasted pecans, stovetop toasted pecans