Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Place the unbaked pie crust into your 9-inch pie dish, gently pressing it against the sides and bottom. Crimp or flute the edges for a decorative touch. For a crispier crust, prick the bottom lightly with a fork and chill it in the fridge for 10 minutes.
In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, granulated sugar, melted butter, vanilla extract, and salt until smooth and well incorporated. Slowly add the maple syrup while continuing to whisk, ensuring the mixture is uniform.
Stir in the pecan halves, distributing them evenly throughout the filling. This ensures every slice of your Maple Pecan Pie has that perfect balance of crunchy nuts and sweet, silky filling.
Pour the filling mixture into the prepared pie crust, spreading it out evenly. If desired, brush the crust edges with a little melted butter for a golden finish.
Place the pie dish on the middle rack of your preheated oven. Bake for 50-60 minutes, or until the filling is set but still slightly jiggly in the center. To prevent over-browning of the crust edges, cover them with foil halfway through baking if needed.
Allow the pie to cool completely on a wire rack before slicing. This cooling time helps the filling to firm up for clean slices. Serve plain or with your favorite accompaniments like whipped cream or ice cream.