These pumpkin seed recipes make the most out of the undervalued seed! From roasted seeds for snacking to hearty bread for breakfast, they’re all a must-try!
You know that fall is in full swing when it comes time to carve pumpkins. If you think all those beautiful seed gems are useless, think again.
From perfectly roasted pumpkin seeds to nutritious pumpkin sandwich bread, pumpkin seeds are great for snacking or baking.
Plus, they’re a great source of magnesian, micronutrients, and antioxidants.
So before you throw your pumpkin guts in the garbage, give these pumpkin seed recipes a try!
1. Perfect Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Roasting pumpkin seeds yields the ultimate fall snack, but it requires patience to ensure they cook up golden and crispy.
The trick to perfectly crispy seeds is washing them thoroughly and giving them plenty of time to dry.
Dry your seeds thoroughly, coat with olive oil, and season. You can get creative with seasoning and opt for simple salt and pepper, pumpkin spices, or honey for a sweet treat.
2. Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies
Who says that you can’t have cookies for breakfast? Pumpkin breakfast cookies aren’t your average sweet treat.
They contain a ton of nutrition and healthy protein and are a cinch to take with you on the go.
They earn a powerful pumpkin punch with pumpkin seeds and pumpkin puree. Added flax seeds and oats add extra fiber and crunch, keeping you from snacking until lunchtime.
With dried cranberries and honey or maple syrup, they help satisfy your sweet tooth without wrecking your diet.
3. Roasted Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds
Nothing says fall like cinnamon and pumpkin!
The pumpkin seeds are delightfully toasted and golden with a sweet and mouthwatering kick from cinnamon and sugar.
This recipe is a great way to ensure that no seeds from your craving pumpkins go to waste.
Plus, it’s so simple, and you likely have all the ingredients in your pantry.
4. Ranch Pumpkin Seeds
Everything is better with ranch! Ranch-flavored pumpkin seeds are sure to be a household favorite, and you won’t go back to regular salted pumpkin seeds ever again.
They’re rich and buttery by swapping oil for melted butter and infusing ranch seasoning, mustard powder, and smoked paprika for a subtle spicy kick.
The best part is that they also incorporate grated Parmesean cheese for a flavor explosion.
5. Pumpkin and Sunflower Seed Bread
It’s time to give white bread a break in favor of something more nutritious (and delicious).
Homemade bread always makes the best sandwiches, and this one’s no exception. It’s infused with healthy pumpkin and sunflower seeds for a kick of protein and fiber and helps you stay full.
It also earns a slightly sweet kick from honey that marries so well with hearty seeds and whole wheat flour.
6. Sweet & Spicy Roasted Party Nuts
Canned party nuts are easy, but they don’t hold a candle to homemade! Before you head out to buy prepackaged party nuts, try this simple recipe instead.
Making roasted party nuts at home lets you pick and choose what nuts you like best, so you won’t be left with a bowl of unwanted peanuts.
They’re bright and flavorful with fresh herbs such as rosemary with a hint of sweetness from honey or maple syrup.
7. Pumpkin Seed Bread
This isn’t your average pumpkin bread. Traditional pumpkin bread is dense and heavy, but this recipe is surprisingly light and delicate.
The best part of this light and delicious pumpkin seed bread is that every bite contains an added crunch from rich pumpkin seeds.
Adding pumpkin puree to your bread dough infuses massive pumpkin flavors while keeping it light, moist, and addictive.
8. Spicy Chili Lime Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Do you need a little extra spice in your life? Look no further if you’re on the hunt for a spicy snack with a spicy flavor punch!
These roasted pumpkin seeds earn their spicy 1-2 punch from cayenne pepper and chili powder. Tame the robust seasoning of the seeds with fresh lime juice for a touch of tart acidity.
They’re the perfect mid-afternoon snack or used in salads for a bright pop of flavors.
9. Seed Bars
Seed bars are the ultimate breakfast when you’re on the go. With so much nutrition packed into small little bars, you’ll never look at prepackaged energy bars the same way.
These seed bars are light, healthy, and have subtle sweetness from the honey. Plus, they’re nut-free and completely vegan.
A generous serving of honey (or maple syrup) helps hold the pumpkin, sunflower, chia, flax, and sesame seeds together.
10. Creamy Roasted Pumpkin Soup
Those baking pumpkins at the grocery store are for more than just pie!
This pumpkin soup infuses rich fall-inspired ingredients to warm your bones after a long day of raking leaves.
It gets its richness from a sugar pie pumpkin with ingredients such as cinnamon, nutmeg, garlic, onion, and heavy cream.
Set aside the seed from your pumpkin, toast on the stove, and serve as a garnish for added crunch.
11. Smoky BBQ Spiced Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
They’re like BBQ potato chips, only better (and healthier)!
They cook up like average pumpkin seeds with a smokey and spicy kick from cayenne pepper, garlic powder, smoked paprika, and ground mustard.
To tame the heat, infuse with a little bit of brown sugar for a robust pairing of rich summer BBQ flavors.
12. Pumpkin Maple Cornbread
The classic summertime staple of cornbread gets a rich fall makeover with this pumpkin male bread.
It’s so easy to whip together and boasts a crispy crust with a moist and tender center ready for a big bowl of chili.
Infused with pumpkin puree for moisture and flavors and then topped with hearty pumpkin seeds, it’s pretty hard to resist.
13. Mexican Pepita Salsa
Throw away your store-bought salsa. This Mexican pepita salsa is excellent with tortillas or drizzled over fajitas to elevate taco Tuesday.
It’s packed with spicy pepper flavors from guajillo chiles, ancho peppers, and chiles de Arbol.
To tame the heat, throw in roasted pepitas (Spanish for pumpkin seed) and a dash of apple cider vinegar.
14. Salted Caramel Pumpkin Seeds
The great thing about pumpkin seeds is that they also work as a sweet treat.
Salted caramel pumpkin seeds walk that fine line between sweet and salty.
Butter and brown sugar deliver caramel notes that work well with warm spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and ginger.
15. Pumpkin Seed Brittle
Brittle is one tasty treat on the no-fly list if you have a nut allergy. However, this pumpkin seed brittle delivers all of the sweet and crunchy goodness of brittle, sans the nuts.
Replacing nuts with crunchy pumpkin seeds still offers that classic nutty crunch with a subtle hint of pumpkin flavors.
The great thing about brittle is that it’s so easy to make and only requires a few pantry staples.
16. Pumpkin Flax Granola
Are you on the hunt for a healthy breakfast alternative? If you can’t look at one more bowl of boxed cereal, this pumpkin flax granola is worth checking out!
Pumpkin seeds, flax seeds, and oats pair perfectly with rich fall flavors of cinnamon and maple syrup.
Eat your granola by the bowl full, or toss it into Greek yogurt for an insanely healthy breakfast option.
17. Honey Roasted Pumpkin Seeds with Cinnamon
Opt for something sweeter if you’ve grown tired of salted roasted pumpkin seeds.
These honey-roasted pumpkin seeds are the perfect fall-inspired treat. They’re a great way to use Jack-o-lantern seeds, too.
As an added bonus, this snack is easy to prepare.
18. Pumpkin Seed Enchiladas
Pumpkins aren’t just for American dishes! Jazz up Mexican night with these flavorful enchiladas.
It all starts with a special sauce.
The sauce combines pumpkin seeds, peppers, and garlic roasted in the oven. Once pureed, it works as a killer sauce to top over simple enchiladas.
This sauce is so flavorful, you can make it vegetarian by stuffing tortilla shells with queso fresco.
19. Vegan Pumpkin Seed Pesto with Parsley and Basil
Pesto is the ultimate pasta pair, but those pine nuts pack calories. Swapping pumpkin seeds for pine nuts still delivers fresh pesto flavors as a waistline-friendly alternative.
The best part is that it’s quick and easy to whip together. Pair pumpkin seeds with fresh herbs such as parsley, basil, garlic, and a hint of lemon juice.
It goes great with hot or cold pasta dishes and is slightly healthier than pine nut pesto.
20. Pumpkin Seed Chocolate Candy
Pumpkin candy is an excellent option if you have a sweet tooth but don’t want to wreck your diet.
Chocolate and pumpkin pair perfectly together, making it the perfect guilt-free snack.
Adding dates into your pumpkin mixture adds natural sweetness and chewiness, and dark chocolate provides heart-healthy antioxidants.
21. Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Tart
If the desserts at your Thanksgiving meal are calorie bombs, this chocolate pumpkin seed tart is a great option.
While it looks rich and indulgent, it’s deceptively healthy with natural sweetness from Medjool dates and dark maple syrup.
It’s lighter on the calories but packs massive chocolate and pumpkin flavors!
22. Candied Pumpkin Seeds
If you’re on the hunt for a candied recipe that’s a little on the healthy side, candied pumpkin seeds are a great choice.
It infuses brown sugar, butter, and cinnamon for a punch of sweetness, and the pumpkin seed vehicles are healthier than your average candied nut.
They come together in 45 minutes and are a fantastic way to take a break from overly sweet Halloween candy!
23. Sweet and Salty Roasted Brown Sugar Pumpkin Seeds
Step aside, roasted nuts.
If you want the sweet and salty flavors of roasted nuts without the added calories of nuts, this recipe is worth a try!
Using melted butter and brown sugar gives your pumpkin seeds a caramel-like flavor, and a dash of sea salt amplifies those flavors.
24. Chocolate Pumpkin Seed Butter Cups
Is it even Halloween without peanut butter cups? This vegan and nut-free alternative to the classic peanut butter cup is just as rich and flavorful but a little healthier.
Opting for 70% dark chocolate chips cuts the calories in half and lends robust chocolatey flavors that are hard to resist.
Fill peanut butter cups with a homemade pumpkin seed butter, or select a store-bought brand to save on time.
25. Pumpkin Pesto Pasta
Pumpkin pesto pasta is the ultimate vegetarian dinner dish. It’s light and fragrant and earns a protein kick from pumpkin seeds.
The pumpkin pesto infuses pureed roasted pumpkin seeds with rich leafy greens such as kale and basil.
Pair with freshly cooked pasta, and don’t forget a generous sprinkling of Parmesan cheese!