Southern pecan pie is near and dear to my heart. It’s one of my dad’s favorites (along with apple and strawberry rhubarb) and every time I make it he and I are the ones in our family who cannot resist the lure of the buttery, caramel, toffee-like filling that is packed with whole (or chopped, if you prefer) pecan pieces in the most incredible flaky, homemade pie crust. You do not have to be Southern to appreciate the glory of a slice of pecan pie. But it’s celebrated across the South from Texas to Georgia to Alabama, so I for sure had to include it in my American Eats series, where I’m sharing some of the most beloved dishes for each state in the U.S.A. We love pecans at our house! They are in some of our favorite recipes like Butter Pecan Ice Cream, Southern Pecan Pralines, and Caramel Pecan Sticky Buns!
Why This Recipe Works
My pecan pie has just the right amount of sweetness so that it doesn’t become so sweet that you lose the actual hero of the pie, which is the pecan flavor. This is an old-fashioned pecan pie recipe with a homemade filling that takes just 5 minutes to whip up! The combination of sweet & salty is dessert perfection, especially if you pair it with a scoop of vanilla ice cream! This is just a good, old-fashioned pecan pie recipe like your grandma would make every Thanksgiving!
And oh heavens, the way this pie makes your kitchen smell is just amazing. All the pecans and butter and sugar baking together create the most unbelievable aroma you can imagine and your whole house will smell so good! It’s why I have a super hard time waiting for the pie to cool completely before cutting into it. I don’t care whether you pronounce it peh-cahn or pee-can, either way this pie is delicious and definitely a worthy offering for your Pi Day party or Thanksgiving table. And being a traditionally Southern dish, it is the perfect thing to serve with BBQ. We love pecan pie so much that we even have a chocolate version and these pecan pie cheesecake bars as well!
Recipe Ingredients
Corn syrup: You can use light or dark corn syrup for this recipe, but I almost always use light because it has a milder flavor to let the pecans really shine, and because that’s what I typically have on hand anyway. Pie crust: I have nothing against taking shortcuts when life gets busy so if you want to use a storebought pie crust, you go right ahead. But when you are ready to learn to make a homemade pie crust, come back here because I have the BEST pie crust recipe for you and it’s easier than you might think to make one from scratch! It makes two crusts so you can freeze one or use it for your pumpkin pie, and I even have a video tutorial to show you how to make it! Pecans: I have made this pie with chopped pecans, whole pecans, and a combination of both. Whole pecans are my personal preference because it’s just so easy!
How to Make a Pecan Pie
Recipe Tips
You might want to use a pie shield or wrap a piece of aluminum foil around the edges of the pie crust to prevent them from browning too quickly before the pie is done baking. Check it when there are still 20 minutes to go to see if you need to add one. This pie is fantastic warm, cold, or room temperature. We like it best with ice cream, but whipped cream would also be delicious! If you ever have troubles with your filling leaking, try brushing the inside of the pie crust with egg wash first before filling it. This seals it and can help prevent leaking. Here’s how to tell if your pie has baked long enough: Give it a little jiggle. The pie should be set around the edges, but the very center might have a slight wobble to it still. Easy-peasy!
More of Our Favorite Pie Recipes
Old-Fashioned Banana Cream Pie Homemade Blackberry Pie Best Homemade Cherry Pie Recipe Chocolate Cream Pie Apricot Pie
This post was originally published in March, 2017. The photos and content were updated in October, 2021.
The Best Coconut Cream Pie Recipe
Easy Homemade Pumpkin Pie
Easy Cranberry Apple Pie
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More States I Have Visited in my American Eats Series
Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • New Jersey • New York • Oregon • Puerto Rico • South Carolina • South Dakota • Texas • Utah • Wisconsin
