How To Toast Pecans

Four easy ways to make pecans extra flavorful.

By
Katie Morford, MS, RD
Katie Morford
Katie Morford, MS, RD
Katie is a culinary dietitian with a master's degree in clinical nutrition. She has 25 years of experience as a recipe developer, writer, and teacher.
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Updated February 09, 2025
Katie Morford
Toasted Pecans on a Tray

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Fun fact: Pecans are the only commercially grown tree nut native to North America. Another fun fact? Toasting them is an excellent way to elevate their buttery flavor and give them a captivating crunch. It takes less than 10 minutes of your time and is worth every second of effort. 

Four Ways to Toast Pecans

You can toast pecans using one of four methods. All deliver terrific results. 

  1. Oven: Spread them on a baking sheet and roast them in a 350°F oven.
  2. Stovetop: Toast them in a skillet over medium-high heat. 
  3. Microwave: Microwave on HIGH for 30 to 60 seconds.
  4. Air fry: Pop them in your air fryer at 320°F.

The first approach is good if you’re doing a larger batch. It also requires a bit less babysitting than on the stovetop.

The skillet method means you don’t have to turn on your oven and works well for smaller batches. Same goes for the microwave or air fryer.

Make More than You Need

If you’re going through the effort to toast a batch of pecans, it’s easy to double or triple the amounts. What’s key is that you don’t crowd the baking sheet or skillet, since the nuts need plenty of room to toast evenly. Once you’ve got your pecans nice and toasted, let them cool and store in a covered container, either in the fridge for about 9 months or in the freezer for about 1 year. 

Toasted Pecans on a Tray

Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

How To Use Toasted Pecans

Here are a handful of tasty ways to enjoy toasted pecans:

Toasting Nuts in the Microwave

Yes, you can toast nuts in the microwave! It's super fast and the most energy efficient of all methods. Spread them out in a single layer on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave in 30-second increments until fragrant. The total time will depend on the wattage of your microwave. Be careful not to burn them!

Toasting Pecans in the Air Fryer

Using an air fryer is a fast way to toast pecans without heating up your oven. Put them in a single layer in a baking pan or tray and air-fry at 320°F until fragrant, about 5 to 8 minutes.

From the Editors Of Simply Recipes

How To Toast Pecans

Prep Time 1 mins
Cook Time 7 mins
Total Time 8 mins
Servings 4
Yield 1 cup

Cook time ranges from 6 to 7 minutes.

Cook Mode (Keep screen awake)

Ingredients

  • 1 cup whole raw pecans

Method

Toasting Pecans in the Oven

  1. Preheat the oven to 350°F.
  2. Bake the pecans:

    Spread the pecans on a large baking sheet. Bake until the nuts are fragrant and a deeper shade of brown, 6 to 7 minutes. Use a spatula to flip the nuts halfway through. Keep a close eye on them, since they can easily burn.

  3. Fully cool the pecans on the baking sheet.
    Toasted Pecans on a Tray

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Toasting Pecans on the Stove Top

  1. Toast on a skillet:

    Set a medium or large skillet on the stove over medium-high heat. When the skillet is hot, add the pecans. After 1 minute,stir the pecans occasionally until they are fragrant and mottled with golden brown spots, 6 to 7 minutes. Don’t walk away from the stove, since they can quickly burn.

  2. Transfer the pecans onto a plate to fully cool.
    Toasted Pecans in a Skillet

    Simply Recipes / Alison Bickel

Store the Pecans:

  1. Transfer to a container:

    Transfer the cooled pecans into a jar or lidded other container with a tight seal and store in the fridge for up to 9 months or freezer for around 1 year.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
180 Calories
19g Fat
4g Carbs
2g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 4
Amount per serving
Calories 180
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 19g 24%
Saturated Fat 2g 8%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 0mg 0%
Total Carbohydrate 4g 1%
Dietary Fiber 2g 9%
Total Sugars 1g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg 1%
Calcium 18mg 1%
Iron 1mg 4%
Potassium 107mg 2%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate. In cases where multiple ingredient alternatives are given, the first listed is calculated for nutrition. Garnishes and optional ingredients are not included.