Roasted Pecans in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to roast pecans. Perfect as healthy pecan snacks, baked in pies or cakes, or sprinkle on salads and ice cream. Don't miss the options for honey roasted pecans and salted rosemary pecans.
Thank you to my friends at Whaley Pecan Company for sponsoring this post.
One of the best reasons to toast pecans in an air fryer is you don't have to heat up your kitchen with the oven. The top reason to roast these nuts in the air fryer is it takes less than 10 minutes from start to finish!
Here in the South, we love our pecans. Sweet, savory, spicy or right out of the shell, pecans are delicious. There's no shortage of things to make with pecans.
Probably the most common recipe using pecans is pecan pie like my Cast Iron Skillet Pecan Pie and Maple Pecan Tassies (Mini Pecan Pies).
Since pecan nuts are so versatile, I thought I'd share the easiest and best way to toast pecans in my opinion-in the air fryer.
Although this is an air fryer recipe, don't worry, I share instructions below for roasted pecans in the oven, too.
Shortcuts
- The air fryer is a shortcut cooking method. It's basically a mini convection oven using super heated air that circulates around food, therefore, cooking the pecans faster and evenly roasting them.
Pecans also add a rich nutty flavor sprinkled on Apple and Roasted Butternut Squash Salad and Blackberry Crisp with Pecan Streusel.
Ingredients for roasting pecans in air fryer
What you will need for this easy air fryer recipe:
Scroll down to printable recipe for exact ingredient quantities.
For simple and easy roasted pecans with no added seasonings, all you need is ... well, pecans.
- Pecan halves or pieces (Pieces will take less time to roast.)
Tip: This recipe easily doubles and triples if you have a large air fryer.
How to roast pecans in air fryer
An air fryer is just a small version of a convection oven. It cooks with super heated air that circulates above and below food for even browning.
Scroll down to the bottom for the printable recipe with detailed instructions.
- Arrange pecans on the air fryer rack inside the air fryer basket or oven-style air fryer.
Pro tip: Use dry measuring cups to measure pecans, especially when an exact amount of chopped pecans is needed.
- Air fry pecans at 300 degrees F for 3 to 9 minutes. (See list of times for desired amount of roasting below or in printable recipe.
- Let roasted pecans cool until slightly warm before eating.
See a list of flavor variations below.
How long do you roast pecans?
How long to roast pecans in the air fryer depends on how you're using them. Here is a list of suggested roasting times for pecans at 300F degrees:
Note: No need to preheat air fryer. No need to stir or shake basket.
- Lightly roasted pecans: 3 minutes - When you want slightly crisp pecans and a hint of roasted flavor to recipes that are already going to bake in the oven such as cookies, banana bread and muffins.
- Medium roasted pecans: 6 minutes - Perfect for adding to caramel corn, sprinkle on salads or oatmeal or coarsely chop to stir into pancake batter.
- Fully roasted pecans: 8 to 9 minutes - When the pecan halves are the star! Deep roasted flavor and perfectly crisp. Chocolate-covered pecans, salted roasted pecans for snacking or added to trail mix.
Pro Tip: If roasting frozen pecans, add about 2 additional minutes roasting time. If roasting chopped nuts, reduce the roasting time.
Roasted Pecans Variations
Add extra flavor to this air fried pecans recipe.
- Salted Pecans Recipe - For every 1 cup of pecan halves stir in 2 teaspoons oil ( vegetable, olive oil or canola oil )and 1/4 teaspoon table salt or fine sea salt and almost 1/2 teaspoon Koser salt. Roast at 300F according to times in list above.
- Roasted Butter Pecans - For every 1 cup of pecan halves, stir in 1 tablespoon melted salted or unsalted butter. Stir pecans or shake air fryer basket every 2 minutes.
- Rosemary Roasted Pecans - Roast pecans according to the above salted pecans or butter pecans recipe and stir in 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary or 1 teaspoon dried rosemary leaves or sprigs.
- Honey Roasted Pecans in air fryer- For every 1 cup of pecan halves, stir in 1 to 1 1/2 tablespoons of warmed honey. (microwave 15 seconds) Place a piece of parchment paper on the air fryer rack, then spread honey glazed pecans out in a single layer. Air fry at 300F for 8 to 9 minutes, stirring every 2 to 3 minutes.
For Honey Cinnamon Roasted Pecans, add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon with the honey for honey roasted pecans.
Pro Tip: The added oil or butter not only adds flavor, it helps salt and seasonings to stick to the pecans.
Helpful Information
Preheat oven to 325F degrees. Spread one to two cups of shelled pecan halves on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 13 to 15, stirring or shaking after 8 minutes or until desired amount of toasting. For pieces or chopped pecans, toast for 10 minutes.
How to toast pecans in air fryer is different than roasting pecans in the air fryer. To toast pecans, cook them at a higher temperature (375F degrees degrees) for a shorter period of time (3 to 5 minutes) just long enough to warm the oils inside to make them fragrant and lightly brown the edges. Roasting pecans is cooking them at a lower temperature (300F) for longer to intensify the deep rich flavor of the nuts.
Where to buy pecans
For fresh pecans, you can order online from Whaley Pecan Company or purchase them in their gift shop in Troy, Alabama. They are sold in one pound or two pound bags or some in bulk: mammoth halves, large halves and large, medium, and small pieces.
I can vouch for how fresh the pecans are at Whaley Pecan Company. I've actually toured the plant and watched the process as well as visited one of the local pecan farmers that sell their pecans to Whaley's.
One of my favorite products from Whaley Pecan Company is their Pecan Meal. It's ground fine enough to be used as a gluten-free flour in some recipes, but still has enough texture to make pecan butter in my Hasselback Sweet Potatoes with Maple Syrup and Pecans.
How to store air fryer roasted pecans
- Room temperature: Raw pecans can be stored at room temperature longer than roasted pecans.
- Refrigerator: According to Whaley Pecan Company, raw pecans can be stored in the refrigerator for several months in an air tight container. Store roasted pecans in the refrigerator in air tight containers if you are going to eat them within a month.
- Freezer: Raw pecans can be stored in the freezer up to 2 years in air tight containers to avoid absorbing other flavors in the freezer. Roasted pecans may keep as long as a year in the freezer.
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Roasted Pecans in Air Fryer
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 cup pecan halves or pieces (3 ounces halves)
Instructions
- Arrange pecans in the air fryer rack inside the air fryer basket or oven-style air fryer.
- Air fry at 300 degrees F for 3 to 9 minutes, depending on desired degree of roasting. (See notes for list of times.)
Notes
- Lightly roasted pecans: 3 minutes - When you want slightly crisp pecans and a hint of roasted flavor to recipes that are already going to bake in the oven such as cookies, banana bread and muffins.
- Medium roasted pecans: 6 minutes - Perfect for adding to caramel corn, sprinkle on salads or oatmeal or coarsely chop to stir into pancake batter.
- Fully roasted pecans: 8 to 9 minutes - When the pecan halves are the star! Deep roasted flavor and perfectly crisp. Chocolate-covered pecans, salted roasted pecans for snacking or added to trail mix.
Nutrition
Nutrition analysis on GritsAndGouda.com recipes are mostly calculated on an online nutrition calculator. I am not a dietitian and nutritional information is an estimate and can vary based on products used.
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