6 Delicious Pumpkin Seed Recipes for Autumn

Crispy, flavorful, and packed with health benefits, pumpkin seeds (also known as pepitas) are fall's ultimate snack. Not only are they nutritious, but they're also incredibly versatile, perfect for both sweet and savory dishes. Check out these six delicious pumpkin seed recipes to enjoy this autumn!

How to Remove Pumpkin Seeds

Before diving into the recipes, here's a simple guide on how to extract pumpkin seeds from a pumpkin:

1. Cut a Hole: Make a hole at the top of the pumpkin, large enough for your hand to fit through.
2. Scoop Out Seeds: Use a metal spoon or ice cream scoop to scrape the seeds and pulp from the pumpkin. Start from the bottom and scrape upwards.
3. Rinse Seeds: Place the seeds and pulp in a large bowl and rinse under running water, removing large pulp pieces.
4. Separate and Dry: Skim the seeds (they should float) and place them in a colander. Rinse again to remove any residue. Spread the seeds on parchment paper to dry, either air-drying for a day or placing them in the oven at 325°F for one hour.

6 Tasty Pumpkin Seed Recipes

1. Parmesan Herb Pumpkin Seeds

Bring a taste of Italy to your kitchen! This recipe combines savory parmesan with flavorful thyme for a cheesy, herby medley that's perfect as a salad topping.

Ingredients:

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

Method:

• Preheat oven to 350°F and line a baking sheet with foil.
• Toss pumpkin seeds with olive oil, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, ¼ teaspoon thyme, and salt.
• Roast for 15-20 minutes, tossing halfway through and adding remaining Parmesan and thyme.

2. Buffalo Ranch Pumpkin Seeds

Add a spicy kick to your snacks! These buffalo ranch pepitas are perfect for game day.

Ingredients:

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

Method:

• Preheat oven to 275°F and roast pumpkin seeds for 20 minutes.
• Melt butter, mix with buffalo sauce, and toss with cooled seeds.
• Sprinkle with ranch seasoning and roast for an additional 5-6 minutes.

3. Smoky BBQ Pumpkin Seeds

Bring the taste of BBQ to your kitchen with these smoky pumpkin seeds, made with a homemade dry BBQ seasoning.

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:

• Combine spices in a small bowl. Toss pumpkin seeds with olive oil and ¾ of the spice mix.
• Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 20-30 minutes, tossing halfway. Drizzle with more olive oil and add remaining spice mix before serving.

4. Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds

For a sweet treat, these cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds are delightful and perfect for Thanksgiving snacks.

Ingredients:

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

Method:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter and toss pumpkin seeds in it.
• Coat with cinnamon and sugar, then spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes until golden.

5. Pumpkin Pie Seeds

Satisfy your pumpkin pie cravings with these lighter, tasty pumpkin pie seeds!

Ingredients:

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

Method:

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Melt butter and toss pumpkin seeds to coat.
• Mix in brown sugar and pumpkin pie spice, then spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes.

6. Spiced Honey Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Sweet and savory, these honey-roasted pumpkin seeds are sure to impress!

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:

• Preheat oven to 325°F. Warm oil in an oven-safe skillet, sauté seeds with spices until golden.
• Stir in honey, then transfer to the oven and roast for 30 minutes, stirring halfway. Sprinkle with salt before serving.

Try These Pumpkin Seed Recipes This Fall!

With these pumpkin seed recipes, you can create a variety of delicious snacks to enjoy throughout the season. Don't keep this tasty information to yourself—share it with fellow foodies and discover your new favorite pumpkin seed treat!

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