Sweet and Savory Pumpkin Seed Recipes

Crispy, flavorful, and full of health benefits, pumpkin seeds are fall's greatest snack. Also known as pepitas, the seeds of pumpkins are tasty and nutritious. They are also versatile, with many ways to make them shine. We've come up with six sweet and savory pumpkin seed recipes to enjoy this autumn. Try them out and find your favorite!

How to Remove Pumpkin Seeds

Before we dive into pumpkin seed recipes, we need to cover how to get them out of the pumpkin. The process is simple:

1. Cut a hole at the top of the pumpkin, at least big enough for your arm to fit through.
2. Use a metal spoon or ice cream scoop to scrape the seeds and pulp out of the pumpkin. Start from the bottom and scrape up the sides.
3. Place the seeds and attached pulp in a large bowl and rinse under running water, removing large pieces of pulp as you go.
4. Once most of the pulp is removed, skim the seeds (they should float) and place them in a colander. Rinse them again to remove any remaining residue.
5. Spread the seeds on parchment paper to dry. They can air dry for a day or two, or place them in the oven at 325 degrees F for one hour to thoroughly dry them.

6 Pumpkin Seed Recipes for Fall

1. Parmesan Herb Pumpkin Seeds

Bring a little taste of Italy to the kitchen. This pumpkin seed recipe combines savory parmesan and flavorful thyme for a cheesy, herby medley. Try tossing these in an autumn salad for a crunchy addition. Recipe borrowed from Good Housekeeping.

Ingredients

• 1 cup pumpkin seeds
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 4 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
• ½ teaspoon thyme
• Salt, to taste

Method

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil.
2. Toss pumpkin seeds with olive oil, two tablespoons Parmesan, ¼ teaspoon thyme, and salt.
3. Roast for 15 to 20 minutes until browned, tossing the seeds halfway through with the remaining Parmesan and thyme.

2. Buffalo Ranch Pumpkin Seeds

Bring a spicy kick to your pumpkin seeds! These buffalo ranch pepitas feature zesty buffalo sauce paired with cool ranch seasoning. This a great recipe to keep on hand for football season. Recipe borrowed from Delish.

Ingredients

• 2 cups pumpkin seeds
• 1 tablespoon butter
• 1 tablespoon buffalo sauce
• 1 ½ tablespoons dry ranch seasoning mix

Method

1. Preheat oven to 275 degrees F. Place the pumpkin seeds in an even layer on a baking sheet and roast for 20 minutes. Let cool briefly after cooking but keep the oven on.
2. As the seeds cool, melt the butter and mix in the buffalo sauce.
3. Toss the cooled seeds first with the buffalo-butter mixture, then with the dry ranch seasoning. Spread the seeds on the baking sheet and roast for an additional 5-6 minutes, or until the sauce has dried.

3. Smoky BBQ Pumpkin Seeds

The taste of BBQ country can come to your kitchen with this smoky pumpkin seed recipe. You can whip up your own dry BBQ seasoning using ingredients you likely already have in your cupboard. It's easy, delicious, and less salt-laden than store-bought seasonings. Recipe borrowed from SkinnyTaste.

Ingredients

• 1 ½ cups pumpkin seeds
• 1 ¼ teaspoons onion powder
• 1 ¼ teaspoons garlic powder
• ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
• ½ teaspoon kosher salt
• ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground mustard
• ¼ teaspoon brown sugar
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Method

1. In a small bowl, combine the onion powder, garlic powder, smoked paprika, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, ground mustard, and brown sugar.
2. In a medium bowl, toss the pumpkin seeds with the olive oil. Then, add ¾ of the spice mixture and toss to evenly coat.
3. Spread the seeds on a baking sheet covered with foil or parchment paper and roast for 20-30 minutes, tossing halfway through.
4. Immediately drizzle a bit more olive oil on the seeds and toss with the remaining spice mix.

4. Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

We've thoroughly covered savory pumpkin seed recipes, so now we're onto the sweet treats! Cinnamon and sugar create a delightful combo that works well for many things, including pepitas. Try these for a pre-dinner snack on Thanksgiving. Recipe borrowed from Delish.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups pumpkin seeds
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons sugar

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. While the oven heats, melt the butter.
2. Toss pumpkin seeds in melted butter to coat, then toss with cinnamon and sugar.
3. Spread the pumpkin seeds evenly on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper and roast for 25-30 minutes, until lightly golden.

5. Pumpkin Pie Seeds

Who doesn't love pumpkin pie? The Thanksgiving dessert is a favorite, but it's a bit heavy for everyday eating. To satisfy your pumpkin pie craving, try these lighter pumpkin pie seeds! Recipe borrowed from Delish.

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoons butter
• 2 cups pumpkin seeds
• 3 tablespoons brown sugar
• 1 ½ teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

Method

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. While the oven heats, melt the butter.
2. Toss pumpkin seeds in melted butter to coat, then toss with brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice.
3. Spread the pumpkin seeds evenly on a baking sheet lined with foil or parchment paper and roast for 25-30 minutes, until lightly golden.

6. Spiced, Honey Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Rounding out our list of pumpkin seed recipes is one that blends sweet and savory. Zesty spices join sweet honey for these honey roasted pepitas. This is a snack that will surprise and delight your guests! Recipe borrowed from The Chunky Chef.

Ingredients

• 2 cups pumpkin seeds
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• 1 teaspoon chili powder
• ¼ teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 2 ½ tablespoons honey
• Kosher salt, to taste

Method

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
2. In an oven-safe skillet, such as cast iron, warm the oil over medium heat. Sauté the pumpkin seeds and spices (except salt) until lightly golden, about three minutes. Add the honey and stir with a rubber spatula.
3. Transfer the skillet to the oven. Roast for about 30 minutes, stirring halfway through.
4. When finished, lay the seeds on a cutting board or parchment-lined baking sheet and sprinkle with salt. Allow seeds to cool before eating.

With pumpkin seeds, you can make so many delicious snacks. Try out these pumpkin seed recipes and find your favorite. And don't let others miss out on the deliciousness! Give this post a share before you go.  

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