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How to Roast Pumpkin ā€” Plus My Favorite Easy Pumpkin Recipes

Plant Based Recipes

Last Updated on August 10, 2023

Learning how to roast pumpkin is the best fall activity I’ve ever learned how to do. And I love all things pumpkin, so I’ve also included all of my favorite easy pumpkin recipes in addition to this roasted pumpkin recipe.

The pumpkin, the whole pumpkin, and nothing BUT the pumpkin, so help me God.

This list includes pumpkin puree recipes, pumpkin dessert recipes, and of course, my all-time favorite roast pumpkin recipe! You’ll be able to enjoy these easy pumpkin recipes all season long, no matter the occasion! Plus, there are recipes for everything from the seeds to the rind so nothing goes to waste when you’re enjoying your pumpkin treats!

photo of a stack of pumpkins with overlay text reading "how to cook a whole pumpkin + 12 pumpkin recipes" in a post about how to roast pumpkin

roasted pumpkin

I love pumpkins. I mean who doesn’t? ā 

I love carving pumpkins, decorating the house with pumpkins, and I played Cinderella ā€” so it was reliable transport for at least one enchanted evening. ā 

Major flashback to press photos from the show!

And, of course, I love eating pumpkins! Every year during the fall, my mom would make THE BEST pumpkin bread and pumpkin pie.

I have such fond memories of sneaking into the kitchen to steal bits of these pumpkin dessert recipes with my grandmother.

Iā€˜ve never had a pumpkin spice latte, but I bet it tastes delicious!

I gave up coffee last year due to the caffeine causing adverse reactions with my skin (you can read more about it in this post Why I Quit Coffee), but it just dawned on meā€¦ that I could try it with decaf!

Hereā€™s a homemade PSL recipe that I want to give a try!

a case to eat the whole pumpkin and avoid waste

Fact is, growing pumpkins is pretty intensive. Did you know it takes 4.5 months for a pumpkin to reach maturity?

Thatā€™s half the time it takes to birth a baby! And, think of all the resources that go into it from land use to water.

More than 2 billion pounds of pumpkins are grown every year for all our pumpkin needs, and according to the US Department of Energy, 1.3 billion pounds are UNEATEN and sent to the LANDFILL.

Cue the heartbreak.

Thatā€™s just devastating! With the number of pumpkins the UK throws out, the entire nation could have a piece of pie! (source)
ā 
Beyond the food waste, food in landfills can’t break down.

It’s stuck in limbo, releasing methane a greenhouse gas 30x more powerful than carbon. ā You can read more in my post on composting!
ā 
So, if you’re going to get down on some pumpkins this fall, like me, please eat them and then compost them! ā 

A bunch of people requested a full blog post on how to roast, slice, and dice these popular squash, plus recipes for using their pumpkins up in the most delicious ways ā€” and Iā€™m happy to oblige!

Top view of 2 bowls of pumpkin soup, one of the featured pumpkin puree recipes.

how to roast a pumpkin

  1. Leave the stem in place, and cut next to the stem through the base to slice the pumpkin in half.
  2. Scoop out the seeds.
  3. Brush the freshly scooped insides and edges with olive oil.
  4. Arrange the slices face down on a lined baking sheet.
  5. Bake at 350F for 45 minutes.
  6. Allow it to cool before serving!

Slice and enjoy as is or continue to make pumpkin puree!

pumpkin dessert recipes

how to make pumpkin puree:

Now, the pumpkin product most often bought in stores is pumpkin puree which is VERY simple to make.

  1. Cut your pumpkin in half.
  2. Scoop out the seeds and strings (but save the seeds!)
  3. Place the pieces cut-side down on an oiled baking sheet.
  4. Roast in the oven at 350 degrees until the flesh is soft, tender, and can be easily pierced with a fork. The roasting time will depend on the size of your pumpkin, but expect around an hour.
  5. Pull the pumpkin out of the oven and scoop out the flesh.
  6. Toss the flesh into a food processor or high powered blender.

Voila! You now have pumpkin puree.

 

 
 
 
 
 
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how to make pumpkin pie filling:

Fun fact! Most of the canned pumpkin pie filling you see on the store shelves doesnā€™t actually contain any pumpkin.

Yep. You read that right! Donā€™t believe me? You can read more.

Now, pumpkin pie filling typically has added sweetener and spices, so if youā€™re looking for pie filling, just add a bit of sugar and pumpkin pie spice.

Hereā€™s a recipe from Food Network to go from whole pumpkin to pie.

Top view of 2 slices of pumpkin pie to depict this pumpkin pie filling, one of our favorite pumpkin dessert recipes.

how to roast pumpkin seeds:

I have an entire blog post with the recipe for roasted pumpkin seeds ā€” be sure to check it out! It even has a video embedded if you’re more of a visual learner.

  1. Toss the seeds in a bowl with a little bit of olive oil and salt
  2. Spread the seeds in a single layer on a baking sheet
  3. Bake at 300 degrees for about 45 minutes or until golden brown, stirring occasionally

These are perfect for snacking as is, but I like to add them as a topping to pumpkin soup and for extra crunch in salads.

Season with cinnamon, Stevia (or pure cane sugar), and nutmeg for a delicious, nutty dessert!

 

 
 
 
 
 
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Are you saving your pumpkin seeds?

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more pumpkin puree recipes and ideas!

You can do so much with a good pumpkin puree recipe! It’s truly an underrepresented, versatile food ingredient. In order to use your entire pumpkin up, try one of these recipes on for size:

Small pumpkins being filled with soup - just 1 of these easy pumpkin recipes.

faqs

what can I do with the pumpkin rind?

There are lots of recipes you can make with the pumpkin rind! I’m dying to try this baked pumpkin slice with the rind. It also makes a wonderfully nutrient-dense addition to your compost pile!

how do i prevent my roasted pumpkin from getting soggy?

If your roast pumpkin is getting soggy while you’re baking it, your temperature is likely too low for that size of pumpkin. Aim for a higher cook temp for a shorter amount of time rather than a low and slow method. Try baking your pumpkins at 425F for 30 minutes and see how it turns out.

I hope these ideas get you so excited to turn your pumpkin into something delicious and tasty!

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