These roasted pecans are not only easy to make and delicious, but they are also a nutritious snack. You can make them in a matter of minutes and have a wonderful treat that you can feel good about feeding your family.

Roasted Pecans in the Oven

It’s so easy to make roasted pecans in the oven. In fact, you only have a few steps to get them ready, and the oven does most of the work for you.

The most difficult things you might have to do is shell them. That is, if they’re still in their shell.

You can either purchase pecans in the shell, or you can get a bag of them already shelled. I chose the latter option because I wanted to save time.

It’s slightly more expensive to get them that way. But there’s not enough of a difference in price to shell them myself.

However, if you’re picking them up off the ground, you don’t exactly have a choice. And that’s actually my preferred way to get them.

It really doesn’t matter whether they’re in the shell or not when you buy them because they have the same amount of nutrition either way.

Roasted Pecans – Perfect for the Snack Table

Pecans have such a delicious flavor when they’re roasted, so they’re perfect for snacking. In fact, they’ll probably be the first thing to disappear.

Next time you host a party or bring something to a potluck, include these easy salted roasted pecans. They’re the perfect item to sit next to this party mix or with these plantain chips.

Or try these slow cooker ranch nuts for a blend of season and nutty flavor. You’ll be amazed by how quickly they disappear.

Abundance of Pecan Trees

I remember both sets of my grandparents having pecan trees in their yards. My mother’s parents had a farm with dozens of pecan trees.

Daddy’s parents had several pecan trees in their backyard, along with figs and other things that I loved eating freshly picked.

After Daddy retired from the U.S. Air Force, my parents bought a house in Purvis, Mississippi, a small town not far from Hattiesburg.

He and I both started college at the University of Southern Mississippi at the same time.

In fact, we even had a class together, which was awkward for me but fun for him. But that’s a whole ‘nother story for a different time.

The house in Purvis had seven pecan trees in the backyard. So every school break when I went home, I got the pleasure of picking up pecans for several hours a day.

And then at night, we used the fancy pecan shelling machines to shell our bounty. As exhausted as I was at the end of each day, I have to admit the pecans were pretty wonderful.

My parents and I used to love finding new ways to prepare the pecans. We made this pecan crusted fish dish with them, put them in vegetables, and added them to desserts.

However, one of my favorite ways of eating pecans was roasted with just a little bit of seasoning. My mother liked sweets a lot, so sometimes we added sugar and cinnamon.

Benefits of Pecans

Most nuts, including pecans, are so good for you that the American Heart Association recommends adding them to your diet. They are loaded with nutrients and also contain quite a bit of fiber.

I love the fact that when I eat pecans, I get full faster. Therefore, I don’t eat as much.

According to the National Institutes of Health, pecans contain micronutrients and phytochemicals that help reduce inflammation.

Here are some of the benefits of pecans:

They have quite a few vitamins and minerals, including vitamin A, vitamin E, calcium, folic acid, some of the B vitamins, phosphorus, zinc, potassium, zinc, and more.

Pecans help decrease your LDL and increase your HDL, so you’ll see a positive result in your cholesterol numbers.

Since they’re naturally anti-inflammatory, you’ll enjoy some degree of pain relief if you suffer from swelling or arthritis.

Pecans contain the healthy type of fat that is good for your heart.

They have antioxidants that help fight many types of diseases and physical disorders.

Pecans contain manganese and other elements that are good for your brain.

Ingredients to Make Roasted Pecans

You only need a few ingredients for this easy roasted pecans recipe. In fact, all you need are pecans, butter, and salt.

You can add more, but try the basic recipe first.

How to Make Roasted Pecans

It is so easy to make these pecans you’ll wonder why you didn’t think of it yourself. First, melt the butter.

I use the microwave, but I understand that some people prefer to use the stovetop instead. It doesn’t matter as long as it gets the job done.

While the butter is melting pour the pecans into a medium-size mixing bowl.

As soon as the butter is melted, pour it over the pecans.

Stir them until all of the pecans are well coated.

Pour the pecans onto a baking sheet and spread them out into a single layer.

Salt them with seasoning salt, table salt, or sea salt.

I use either seasoned salt or table salt because I don’t often have sea salt on hand.

Bake them until they turn a dark golden brown. This brings out the rich meatiness of pecan flavor.

This only takes a few minutes so don’t get too wrapped up in another project. Or you might discover that they’ve burned.

After you remove them from the oven, allow them to cool for about 5 minutes. Trust me when I say that a pecan right out of the oven will burn your tongue something awful.

Once they’ve cooled to slightly warm, pour them into a serving bowl and set them out for everyone to enjoy. Just make sure you have enough for everyone to enjoy.

How to Use Roasted Pecans

My favorite way to eat roasted pecans is straight out of the serving bowl. However, you can use them in a variety of other ways.

For example, add them to a salad for extra flavor and texture. In fact, next time I have this tomato cucumber corn salad I’ll sprinkle a few on top.

I think they would also be good on this five bean salad. In fact, they’re good on just about any salad.

Drop a handful of roasted pecans into any vegetable dish during the last few minutes of cooking.

You can also add them to rice or mashed potatoes for extra texture.

More Great Recipes

If you enjoy discovering new recipes, check out Full Plate Thursday, Meal Plan Monday, and the Weekend Potluck.

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