Smoked Pecans

Smoked Pecans are the perfect snack recipe or addition to a charcuterie board. They are easy to make, flavorful, & delicious! With just one easy ingredient, you can make this smoked pecans recipe to grab and eat throughout the day or use as a simple and healthy addition to side dishes and desserts.

A lot of people like to bake pecans or roast pecans and add other simple ingredients to them. Sometimes you'll see them with cinnamon, sometimes brown sugar, and sometimes people will cook them with honey or maple syrup. I think that this simple smoker recipe for pecans is delicious as is, which is why I make them without any sort of seasoning.

I've found that smoking pecans and storing them in an airtight container are a great way to have a healthy snack or a great flavor enhancer for other foods. Just because I don't add a sugar mixture to them doesn't mean that you can't. There are so many ways that you can easily change the taste.

Speaking of simple recipes, be sure to check out my Smoked Pecan Pie. This is just one way that you can use these smoked pecans once they're cooked and ready.

Ingredients

Pecans - Be sure that they're shelled and cleaned well so that you don't have any small pieces of pecan shell in the cracks. You can also buy raw pecans at the store, where they're all prepped and prepared.

How to make Smoked Pecans

Step One: Preheat the smoker to 225 degrees.

Step Two: Add the pecans to a baking sheet, and spread them out in a single layer.

Step Three: Put the pan into the smoker and smoke for about an hour. Remove once the pecans are fragrant and brown. Let your nose and eyes be the guide.

Variations

Add seasonings - The simple thing about flavoring these smoked nuts is that you can easily and quickly change the taste. Adding seasonings like garlic powder, sea salt or kosher salt, or even some bourbon smoked paprika turns these smoked pecans into a savory dish that everyone will love.

Coat them before smoking them - You can also drizzle the pecans with a little bit of olive oil or melted butter before adding them to the smoker. This will require you to likely keep an eye on them and even potentially flip them as needed. If you want to add seasonings it is helpful to add oil for the seasoning to stick.

Common Questions

How do you serve pecans that have a smoky flavor?

There are so many ways that you can use these smoked pecans. Adding them to the top of a smoked pecan pie is an excellent way to use them. (perfect for the holidays!)

You can also pour them into a bowl and have them on cheese trays, and snack boards, or even chop them into pieces and have them as a salad topping suggestion.

Or mix them into smoked chocolate! 

Could I turn this into a smoked candied pecans recipe?

Using a bit of unsalted butter and topping the pecans is a simple way to add some richness to them. You can then toss them in cinnamon sugar or even drizzle them with maple syrup or honey.

The great thing about smoking pecans is that you have options on how to make them taste. They can be spicy by adding some cayenne pepper, sweet by adding some sugar or a mixture of both for sweet and savory.

One other really great thing about this pecan recipe is that it's unique and fun to share. People love getting food gifts - especially ones that they might not do themself. You could easily gift someone your favorite pecan pie recipe and then add a container of smoked pecans for them to put right on top.

Not only is this thoughtful, but it's a delicious gift idea as well. Share the love of food fun - it's super simple to do.

How do I store smoked pecans?

Once the pecans are done in the smoker, you will want to store them the right way so that they last as long as possible. The easiest way to store smoked pecans is to let them cool down all the way first. Then, once they are cooled, store them in an airtight container or a sealable bag.

They do not have to be stored in the fridge, but it's fine if you do. You can also store them on a shelf or pantry that is not too hot.

While there "technically" isn't an expiration date on these smoked nuts, it's a good idea to plan to eat them sooner rather than later. I like to use them on pies, in salads, or even chopped up to sprinkle on various meals throughout the week.