April 14th is National Pecan Day and we’re going nuts! We’re celebrating all things pecan – from sweet treats like Southern pecan bread and Kentucky bourbon balls to savory delights like pecan-crusted chicken and pecan and sausage-stuffed butternut squash. Whether you like your pecans in decadent desserts or prefer them in savory meals, you’re sure to find a recipe here that will give you good reason to celebrate National Pecan Day all year long! Let’s get crackin’!
Sausage and Pecan Stuffed Butternut Squash
This pecan-packed recipe from Paleo Running Mama is full of good-for-you ingredients like butternut squash, apples, cranberries, kale, pecans and more. The sausage boosts the protein level in this magnificent meal, which is paleo, gluten-free and Whole 30 compliant to boot! This sweet and savory dish is a whole meal. No sides needed!
Praline Pecan French Toast Casserole
You can’t go wrong with a French toast casserole and one that has a praline pecan topping is even better. This easy overnight casserole from Melissa’s Southern Style Kitchen is a perfect brunch dish, whether it’s brunch for two or brunch for 12. The pecan praline topping is a heavenly mix of pecans, brown sugar, corn syrup, butter, and cinnamon. This dish is so good by itself, you won’t even need the maple syrup!
Pecan Chicken Salad
Pecans are a great crunchy addition to just about any salad, but this salad from Two Healthy Kitchens includes apples, cranberries, and goat cheese that takes this salad from average to extraordinary. You can use raw pecans, toast them, or even candy them to customize this salad to your tastes. The secret ingredient in this salad is the maple balsamic dressing. Don’t skip it.
Nana’s 3-Ingredient Pecan Log
Pecan logs are a staple around holidays, but this version from Southern Bite is so easy, you can whip it up any time of the year no matter how busy you are! You’ll only need three ingredients – vanilla wafers, sweetened condensed milk, and 3½ heaping cups of pecans! You don’t even have to turn on an oven for this no-bake recipe. Just refrigerate for a couple hours, slice it up, and enjoy!
Honey Mustard Pecan-Crusted Chicken
This savory recipe from Cooking Classy has us thinking about pecans in a whole new way. Chicken enveloped in a crispy mixture of panko and pecans is a surefire way to make sure there are no leftovers! The honey mustard glaze drizzled on top is the icing on the cake. Dig in!
Candied Pecans
Candied pecans are a favorite snack during the holidays but who says we have to wait until the holidays to get our candied pecan fix? These candied pecans from Sugar Spun Run include oh-so-important allspice, which adds a depth to candied pecans that you won’t find in recipes that omit the allspice (or cloves). This recipe says the allspice is optional but trust us when we advise you to include it! The best part? Candied pecans can be stored in an airtight container on the shelf for up to two weeks so you don’t even need to eat the whole batch in one sitting – as tempting as that might be!
Pecan Pineapple Cheese Ball
This elegant cheese ball from The Recipe Critic serves up an explosion of texture and flavor with just a handful of ingredients. First, mix up some cream cheese, crushed pineapple, red bell pepper, green onion, and salt. Form that magical mix into a ball and roll it in a generous portion of chopped pecans. It’s that easy – and it’s so good!
Kentucky Bourbon Balls
These sweet confections from Feast + West look like they take all afternoon to make, but don’t be fooled! These are simple as pie. Did I mention they’re no-bake? Made with real bourbon, these Kentucky bourbon balls are for adults only. These boozy sugar bombs contain 1½ cups of pecans, plus a ½ cup of bourbon. It really doesn’t get any more southern than this!
Southern Pecan Bread
If you love pecans, you’ll love this buttery, sweet bread from Cookies & Cups. This nutty bread is chock full of 1½ cups of pecans. It’s sweet enough for dessert, but don’t be shy about serving this bread as a side during any celebratory meal. Your guests will love it!
Secret Ingredient Stuffed Eggs
You think you know deviled eggs … but you don’t know these deviled eggs. These delicious two-bite appetizers from Taste of Home are full of surprises like goat cheese, mango chutney, and yep, you guessed it: chopped pecans. You may never look at deviled eggs the same way again. Yum!
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