Thebest pecan pie recipeis made with a secret ingredient that creates an unbelievable flavor — browned butter! Whether you’re celebrating a holiday or just want a delicious treat to snack on this week, this pecan pie is the perfect classic pie recipe.

This Pecan Pie is the best.I’ve made a lot of different pecan pie recipes in my day, and I love this one. You brown the butter a little on your stovetop before adding it to the egg and sugar mixture, and it makes the pie extra-rich and caramel-y. It is delicious and the only pecan pie recipe you’ll need.

After writing a huge postall about pie crust, I wanted to share a few classic, simple, perfect-for-every-holiday pie recipes to go with it. You need something delicious to fill your favorite pie crust and this post is just that – all things pie! This really is the best pecan pie recipe, and I hope you love it.You can find this recipe plus SEVEN otherpie recipes in one postif you are still looking around for something that looks perfect for your Thanksgiving table.

An overhead shot of a pecan pie in a clear dish on top of a folded blue and white striped dish towel. On the lower left hand side of the pie is a silver pie cutter. To the right of the pie are varying sizes of silver forks. Under the forks is a slice of the pecan pie that is on a fancy white plate. Under that plate are varying sizes of plain white dishes. On the right side of the slice of pie is a silver butter knife. These are all resting on a turquoise painted table that has wood showing through in spots.

Why You’ll Love This Best Pecan Pie Recipe

Browned Butter for Extra Flavor: The browned butter adds a deep, nutty flavor that makes the pie even richer and more delicious.
Classic and Comforting: Pecan pie is a timeless classic dessert.
Perfect Texture: The pie has a slightly crisp top with a gooey, rich filling and crunchy pecans.

Recipe Ingredients

9-inch Pie Crust
Granulated Sugar
Light Corn Syrup
Vanilla Extract
Salt
Ground Cinnamon
Eggs
Salted Butter
Pecans

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

How to Make Pecan Pie

Step 1:Place the crust into the pie plate. Store it in the fridge while you prepare the filling.

Step 2:In a small bowl, combine the sugar, corn syrup, salt, vanilla, and cinnamon. Add the eggs and whisk well.

Step 3:In a small saucepan, carefully brown the butter over medium heat. Slowly whisk the browned butter into the sugar mixture. Stir in the nuts then pour into the pie crust.

Step 4:Bake 50-60 minutes until the middle is jiggly but not sloshy. Remove from the oven and let cool completely before serving.

Recipe FAQs

How do you know pecan pie is done?

The top of a pecan pie will look golden and a bit caramelized when it’s done. It should shift a bit in the middle, but if it’s really jiggly, it’s probably not done.

How long should a pecan pie cool?

I like to let pecan pie cool for at least two hours before cutting and serving it. It finishes cooking and sets as it cools, which allows pie slices to stay together better once they’ve cooled for a while.

Should I refrigerate pecan pie?

You can refrigerate pecan pie for up to 3 to 4 days after baking it. Cover it loosely with foil or plastic wrap before storing it in the fridge.

Can pecan pie sit out overnight?

Yes, you can leave this out overnight for a day or two! Just be sure to cover it. It makes a great Thanksgiving dessert option when you want to work ahead and keep oven and kitchen space open for the day of.

text reads "pecan pie" and shows the classic dessert with one slice taken out and on a white plate.

Expert Tips

The secret to this amazing pecan pie is the browned butter.Have no fear — it’s SO simple. You are really just heating up the butter on the stove until it’s browned. Just keep an eye on it so you don’t scorch it. You’ll be making browned butter for everything you do after this.
I have great luck buyingreasonably priced pecans at Costco.The bag is large (because Costco…), but I can use them in pie, date bites, granola bars, oatmeal energy bites, this lovely fall salad, or simply candied for a snack (that recipe uses maple syrup to candy them so it’s pretty healthy!).
This recipe can be made a day or two ahead of time and left at room temperature until serving.That makes it a great option to prep ahead of time the week of Thanksgiving, leaving your oven and fridge open!
It’s best to use a deep pie plate for this recipe.I recommend this one.
I love pie recipes that only use a single crust.Make a double crust and then make two pies (like apumpkin piethat also only needs a single crust). Two pies for the effort of one, SIGN ME UP!