10 Pumpkin Seed Recipes | Swanky Recipes - Simple tasty food recipes (2024)

The BEST 10 Pumpkin Seeds Recipes. You’ll want this ultimate pumpkin seed list for all your Halloween and fall plans. Includes traditional roasted pumpkin seeds, plus a guide on how to pick the perfect pumpkin, carve it, and roast the seeds. Other recipes include ranch, honey roasted, chocolate, pumpkin spice, everything spice, vanilla nutmeg, maple chili, maple bacon, honey sriracha, and spicy jalapeno.

10 Pumpkin Seed Recipes | Swanky Recipes - Simple tasty food recipes (1)

Fall is in full swing here and now is the perfect time to purchase pumpkins. This last weekend was very nice and sunny outside. I set out on Sunday to visit a few local farms and pick up my seasonal fall favorites. I just love fresh apple cider this time of year. Also, I can’t resist picking out a fresh apple pie or two.

When I went out on the field to pick the best pumpkins from the crop, I discovered from a local that in order to make fresh pumpkin pie, you need a “pumpkin pie” pumpkin. So begun my journey searching for the best pumpkins. Here are my picks for the season.

10 Pumpkin Seed Recipes | Swanky Recipes - Simple tasty food recipes (2)

** Note that there are three different sizes. The only medium pumpkin {front, left} in the picture is the pumpkin that is needed for pumpkin pie.

I picked up 8 pumpkins from the pumpkin patch. Also, a few gourds, squash, small pumpkins, pumpkin pie pumpkins and corn. The pumpkins were taken to a friend’s house where we carved them. We used cookie cutter shapes and applied pressure to the hammer to make designs once they were gutted. The seeds were washed and oven dried. We made about 12 batches of pumpkin seeds.

The pumpkins are on the porch. At night I light tea candles inside the pumpkins. Also, to preserve the pumpkins from rotting faster, I use a mixture of 2 parts water and 1 part bleach. The pumpkins are sprayed daily with the mixture to ensure that they last as long as possible outside.

10 Pumpkin Seed Recipes | Swanky Recipes - Simple tasty food recipes (3)

Preparing Pumpkin Seeds from Scratch Using a Fresh Pumpkin

Choosing a pumpkin

  1. You can use the seeds from either a carving pumpkin or a pie pumpkin, but avoid seeds from decorative white pumpkins. For 1 cup of seeds, purchase a 10- to 14-pound pumpkin. Smaller seeds work best; larger seeds tend to pop in the oven and get tough.

Removing the Seeds

  1. After you have the pumpkin picked out, lay news paper down for a work area. Then, cut a hole in the top of the pumpkin. For smaller pumpkins the pumpkin can be sliced in half. Use the pumpkin stem as the handle to finish removing the top. Next, use a long handle spoon to scoop the gut and seeds out or your hands.
    Rise the seeds under running water until all the guts and strings are washed off. Drain and pat with a paper towel until dry.

Drying the Seeds

  1. Use a baking sheet that is lined with parchment paper or foil. Heat the oven to 350 degrees F. Allow the seeds to dry out in the oven for 1 hour. The seeds can be dried at room temperature for 24-48 hours instead of oven drying. **This step needs to be completed before continuing to the below recipes**

Pumpkin seeds are so versatile you can eat them for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner.

10 Pumpkin Seed Recipes | Swanky Recipes - Simple tasty food recipes (4)

Cinnamon Maple Pumpkin Seeds

  • 1 c of roasted, unsalted pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tbsp cinnamon
  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg
  • 1 pinch of allspice
  • 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
  • 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp pure maple syrup

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat your oven to 300-350 degrees and line a baking pan with foil. Spray the foil with non-stick spray.
  2. In a bowl, combine the pumpkin seeds, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, vanilla, salt and maple syrup and toss to coat. Spread the nuts onto the baking pan and bake at 350degrees for 10 minutes or until lightly browned. Watch to make sure they don’t burn because every oven is different.
  3. Let the seeds cool before removing from pan and store in an air-tight container.

Traditional Pumpkin Seeds

  • 2 cups pumpkin seeds, washed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1/2 tsp salt, more or less to taste
  • 1/2 freshly ground pepper – peppercorn is also great to use

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 300*F.
  2. Line cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper.
  3. Combine all ingredients and spread in a single layer on prepared sheet pan.
  4. Bake for 20 minutes, mixing seed mixture after 10 minutes.
  5. Seeds should be golden and crunchy. Bake longer if needed
    **Store in an air tight container for up to 3 months.

RANCH PUMPKIN SEEDS

If you love ranch seasoning, try these seasoned ranch pumpkin seeds – Click here to get the recipe!

  • Ranch powder
  • Melted butter
  • pumpkin seeds
  • mustard powder
  • Paprika
  • Parmesan cheese

DIRECTIONS – Get the full directions to make Ranch Pumpkin Seeds here.

10 Pumpkin Seed Recipes | Swanky Recipes - Simple tasty food recipes (6)

Pumpkin Pie Spice Seeds

  • 2 cups pumpkin seeds
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 ½ Tbsp brown sugar
  • 2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
  • 1/2 tsp fine salt

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 300*F. Line cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper.
  2. Combine all ingredients and mix. Spread in a single layer on prepared sheet pan.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes, mixing mixture after 10 minutes.
  4. Seeds should be golden and crunchy. Bake longer if needed.
    **Seeds can be stored for up to 3 months in an air tight container.

Pumpkin Pie Spice

Chocolate Pumpkin Seeds

  • 2 cups pumpkin seeds
  • 2 Tbsp honey
  • 1 Tbsp natural unsweetened cocoa
  • 2 tsp cinnamon
  • 1 tsp sea salt or table salt
  • 2 Tbsp olive oil

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
  2. Spread out the pumpkin seeds on a parchment lined baking sheet, and toast them in the oven for 3-4 minutes.
  3. In a small mixing bowl, combine the honey, cocoa, cinnamon, sea salt, and oil.
  4. Add the toasted pumpkin seeds to the bowl, and stir to coat them.
  5. Spread the pumpkin seeds out on a parchment lined baking sheet, and bake for 12-13 minutes.

Honey Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

  • 2 1/2 cups pumpkin seeds 1 tablespoon butter, melted
  • 1 1/2 tablespoons honey
  • 1 teaspoon brown sugar
  • 1/2 teaspoon smoked salt
  • kosher salt for sprinkling

DIRECTIONS

  1. In a large mixing bowl, mix butter, honey, brown sugar and smoked salt until well combined,
    Add pumpkin seeds to mixing bowl and mix well until all of the seeds are thoroughly coated.
  2. Grease cookie sheet with butter and spread pumpkin seeds in a single layer. Sprinkle with a little more salt.
    Bake pumpkin seeds until brown and crispy, stirring every 10 minutes or so. (Confession: it said online this would take anywhere from 20 to 60 minutes. I got impatient after 40 and turned the heat up to 275 (with the pumpkin seeds still in the oven) and they were done in 10 after that)
  3. Remove from oven, sprinkle with a teensy bit more salt, stir, cool on the pan and enjoy.
    Store in an airtight container up to a week, but I bet they won’t last too long.
  4. The salt and sweetness can be to taste. These were mild flavored, but I liked them that way. For more flavor, up the honey before the brown sugar and add in a little more smoked salt.

MAPLE BACON PUMPKIN SEEDS

Sweet and salty roasted pumpkin seeds. A candied, crunchy version with bacon, bacon salt and real maple syrup.

Maple Bacon Pumpkin Seeds RECIPE

  • Bacon
  • Bacon grease
  • maple syrup
  • pumpkin seeds
  • salt

DIRECTIONS – Get the directions and full ingredients list here.

10 Pumpkin Seed Recipes | Swanky Recipes - Simple tasty food recipes (9)

Vanilla Nutmeg Pumpkin Seeds

  • 1 ½ cups dried pumpkin seeds
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • ½ tsp vanilla extract
  • 1 ½ tsp white sugar
  • 1 ½ tsp light brown sugar
  • ¼ tsp nutmeg
  • 1/8 – ½ tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Melt the butter in a dish. Mix in the vanilla.
  3. Pour the butter and vanilla into a bowl containing the seeds and mix well.
  4. Add in 1 teaspoon white sugar, 1 teaspoon brown sugar, the nutmeg, & the salt.
  5. Spread seeds onto a foil covered cookie sheet.
  6. Bake for 10 minutes, remove seeds, stir, & place back in oven.
  7. Mix the remaining 1/2 teaspoon of each sugar together in a bowl.
  8. After the seeds have baked for 20 minutes, remove from the oven, stir, and sprinkle the extra sugar over the seeds.
  9. Bake for 10 more minutes or untilseeds are brown and crispy (about 30 minutes total).
    **Second batch will cook faster due to the sugar mixture left over

Honey Sriracha Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

  • 1 cup pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon sriracha
  • 1 tablespoon honey
  • 1/4 teaspoon pimenton (smoked paprika)
  • 1/4 teaspoon ginger powder
  • 1/8 teaspoon cumin
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • a couple of drops of apple cider vinegar
  • 1/4 teaspoon olive oil

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven 300°F
  2. Spread out seeds on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden.
  3. Meanwhile, whisk together the remaining ingredients in a medium bowl. Pour the hot seeds into the sriracha mixture and stir to coat well.
  4. Return the seeds to the baking sheet, spreading them out as best you can – they’ll be sticky. Bake for 5-10 additional minutes to caramelize the sauce on the seeds.
  5. Remove from the oven and cool.
  6. If not consuming immediately, spread out the seeds on a cooled baking sheet and allow to set up a bit before packaging. (Otherwise, they’ll tend to stick together in all of their caramelized goodness.)
10 Pumpkin Seed Recipes | Swanky Recipes - Simple tasty food recipes (11)

Everything Pumpkin Seeds

  • 1 ½ cups dried pumpkin seeds
  • 1 Tbsp butter
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • ½ tsp salt
  • 1/4 tsp garlic powder
  • ¼ tsp onion powder
  • ½ tsp fresh cracked pepper

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.
  2. Melt the butter in a dish. Mix in the olive oil.
  3. Pour the butter and oil into a bowl containing the seeds and mix well.
  4. Add in the salt, pepper, onion & garlic powder.
  5. Spread seeds onto a foil covered cookie sheet.
  6. Bake for 10 minutes, remove seeds, stir, & place back in oven.
  7. Repeat this until the seeds are brown and crispy (about 40 minutes).

Jalapeno Pumpkin Seeds

  • 1 ½ cups pumpkin seeds, cleaned & dried
  • 3 jalapeño peppers, sliced
  • 3 Tbsp olive oil
  • Saltandpaprika to taste

DIRECTIONS

  1. If pumpkin seeds are rinsed and have dried over night, skip to the next step. If pumpkin seeds were bought from the store, skip to the next step. Rinse pumpkin seeds under cold water, pat the seeds dry with a paper towel and transfer to a baking sheet to dry overnight. The seeds should be somewhat dry to begin the next day.
  2. Preheat the oven to 350°F
    If you haven’t already, spread pumpkin seeds out on a rimmed baking sheet.
  3. Add olive oil and sea salt and stir pumpkin seeds with your hands to combine.
  4. Lay slices of jalapeno peppers on top of seeds.
  5. Sprinkle paprika over the top of everything, generously.
  6. Bake for 10 minutes.
  7. Use a spatula to mix mixture of seeds. Bake for another 5 minutes.
  8. Move mixture around some more and bake for a final 5 minutes.
  9. Remove tray from oven and let everything rest for 15-30 minutes
    **pumpkin seeds can be stored in an air tight container for up to 3 months.

Maple Chili Powder Pumpkin Seeds

  • 2 cups pumpkin seeds
  • 1 Tbsp olive oil
  • 2 Tbsp pure maple syrup
  • ½ tsp chili powder
  • ½ tsp ground cumin
  • ½ tsp salt

DIRECTIONS

  1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Line a cookie sheet with foil or parchment paper.
  2. Combine all ingredients and spread in a single layer on prepared sheet pan.
  3. Bake for 20 minutes, mixing mixture after 10 minutes. Seeds should be golden and crunchy.
10 Pumpkin Seed Recipes | Swanky Recipes - Simple tasty food recipes (13)

Notes

For other great recipes and to view the above images with the recipes visit these bloggers below:

Image Credits: By me andHeathlyvoyage Rachelcooks.com Paleop*rn Cherryteacakes Ohsheglows Wholefoodsmarket

10 Pumpkin Seed Recipes | Swanky Recipes - Simple tasty food recipes (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest way to eat pumpkin seeds? ›

A common practice is to add light spices and roast the seeds on a cookie sheet on the top rack of the oven for 15 to 20 minutes at 350 degrees. Eating the shells only adds to the seeds' high fiber content, which has been associated with a reduced risk of heart disease and obesity.

What to do with pumpkin seeds so you can eat them? ›

Your roasted seeds will taste great sprinkled over salads or vegetable side dishes, served as a snack with drinks as a healthier alternative to nuts, or mixed with dried fruit and nuts to create a trail mix for packed lunches.

What is the best way to cook pumpkin? ›

Cooking the Pumpkin

If you're roasting, roast at 400 F for 35 to 45 minutes or until the flesh is soft. If you're steaming, fill your steamer pot with a few inches of water, bring it to a boil.

How much pumpkin seeds should I eat daily? ›

The American Heart Association recommends a quarter cup of daily intake of pumpkin seeds as part of an overall healthy diet, which is approximately 30 g. This amount will provide you with a good amount of protein, healthy fats, fiber, zinc, selenium, magnesium, and other effective nutrients.

Is it better to eat pumpkin seeds or take pumpkin seed oil? ›

Pumpkin seeds are high in antioxidants that help your body fight off disease. Their anti-inflammatory properties are also being studied. Modern science supports many claims about pumpkin seed oil's benefits and offers several reasons why you should incorporate pumpkin seed oil into your diet.

Which is healthier raw or roasted pumpkin seeds? ›

Pumpkin seeds can be raw or roasted. In addition to bringing to life the flavors, aroma and texture, roasting also increases the amounts of antioxidants available. It also makes them easier to digest! Raise your hand if you're all-in on healthy fats!

Are you supposed to crack pumpkin seeds before you eat them? ›

Pumpkin seeds are quite good for you with or without the shell. They're extremely rich in fiber (which can support good digestion and heart health), as well as other beneficial vitamins and nutrients (like zinc, magnesium, and iron). With that said, whole pumpkin seeds offer about double the fiber of shelled ones.

Is it safe to eat raw pumpkin seeds? ›

Pumpkins seeds are perfectly safe to enjoy raw. Now, if you do choose to eat raw pumpkin seeds, you'll need to decide if you want to eat them with or without the shell. While shelled pumpkin seeds contain more fiber than unshelled ones, the shell is chewy and may take a bit more work to break down.

Is it OK to eat the whole pumpkin seed? ›

Yes, you can eat the shell of a pumpkin seed. The shells add a nice crunch to this nutritious snack. They're also loaded with fiber. Pumpkin seeds with shells pack twice the fiber content of those that have already been shelled.

How to make pumpkin taste good? ›

Cook It on the Stove

Briefly cooking your canned pumpkin purée on the stove can help improve both the flavor and texture. This method helps reduce excess moisture, which gives the pumpkin a superior texture. It also releases the natural pumpkin flavor and helps reduce the metallic taste from the can.

How do you roast pumpkin seeds to eat? ›

Arrange dried pumpkin seeds on baking sheet and drizzle with oil (~1 Tbsp / 15 ml per 1 cup / 64 g seeds). Add salt and any other desired seasonings (such as Shawarma or Curry), and toss to thoroughly coat. Bake for 20-30 minutes (this will depend on how big your seeds are), or until crisp and light golden brown.

How to prepare and cook pumpkin? ›

Place 1/2 butternut pumpkin (cubed) in a large saucepan and fill with enough water to cover by 2.5cm. Bring to a simmer over high heat, then reduce heat to medium and simmer for 20-25 mins or until the pumpkin is very tender. Strain in a colander and set colander over the hot saucepan to allow pumpkin to steam dry.

What does pumpkin seed do for the female body? ›

Pumpkin seeds health benefits for women are diverse as they are a rich source of essential nutrients, including magnesium, which plays a vital role in muscle and nerve function. Magnesium can help alleviate common issues such as menstrual cramps and PMS symptoms.

How many times a week should I eat pumpkin seeds? ›

The small oval-shaped pumpkin seeds also referred to as pepitas are a powerhouse of nutrients. Rich in magnesium, iron and fibre, the seeds make for a healthy and crunchy snack. The American Heart Association recommends having a quarter cup (30 grams) of pumpkin seeds every day as a part of a healthy diet.

Do pumpkin seeds help hair growth? ›

Hair Growth Benefits of Pumpkin Seed Extract

It naturally targets the hair growth cycle - initially targeting the catagen and telogen phases, working to minimise excess shedding. It also boosts the growth of new follicles, leaving the telogen phase and entering into a new cycle of the anagen phase.

Are pumpkin seeds healthier with or without the shell? ›

The bottom line

Pumpkin seed shells are safe to eat and provide more fiber than green, shelled pumpkin seeds. However, people with digestive conditions may want to avoid whole seeds, as their high fiber content can trigger symptoms like pain and diarrhea.

Does roasting pumpkin seeds destroy nutrients? ›

Though the difference in nutritional value is minimal, the nutrients in roasted vs. raw pumpkin seeds differ slightly. For example, cooking pumpkin seeds can decrease the potency of water-soluble vitamins like B vitamins, riboflavin and thiamine.

Should I chew or swallow pumpkin seeds? ›

Yes, you can, they are delicious this way as well. Do green pumpkin seeds need to be chewed? Green seeds are already shelled (no shell, just the inner seed). You should always chew seeds.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Delena Feil

Last Updated:

Views: 5750

Rating: 4.4 / 5 (45 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Delena Feil

Birthday: 1998-08-29

Address: 747 Lubowitz Run, Sidmouth, HI 90646-5543

Phone: +99513241752844

Job: Design Supervisor

Hobby: Digital arts, Lacemaking, Air sports, Running, Scouting, Shooting, Puzzles

Introduction: My name is Delena Feil, I am a clean, splendid, calm, fancy, jolly, bright, faithful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.