Pumpkins are synonymous with fall, and as soon as the air turns crisp, all we want to do is indulge in orange foods. Good news: The gourd is as versatile as it is popular, and whether you’re hosting an autumnal dinner party or planning a cozy baking sesh, there’s a pumpkin-laced dish with your name on it. From hearty dinners (like turkey pumpkin chili) to indulgent desserts (pumpkin cheesecake, anyone?), here are the 53 best pumpkin recipes using the season’s star produce.
53 Amazing Pumpkin Recipes to Make All Fall Long
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Published Sep 13, 2022
Benito Martin/Always Add Lemon
1. Whole Roasted Pumpkin Stuffed with Wild Mushrooms and Gruyère
- Time Commitment: 3 hours, 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
If you’re not eating straight out of a gourd at least once during the season, is it really fall? This one features a luxurious mix of mushrooms and cheese.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
2. Pumpkin Soup in Mini Pumpkin Bowls
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, vegetarian
Kick off soup season in the cutest way possible. Don’t toss those pumpkin seeds; they make a delicious crunchy topping.
Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, gluten free
It’s like eating a bite of pumpkin pie laden with whipped cream, but with meringue instead of pie crust. In a word, yum.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
4. Biscuit Dough Pumpkin Hand Pies
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Serve these portable pies for Thanksgiving dessert, then enjoy the leftovers at breakfast the next morning.
Cook Beautiful
5. Roasted Pumpkin and Brussels Sprouts with Poached Eggs
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, high protein, <500 calories
Behold, the healthy-yet-satisfying fall dinner you’ve been dreaming of. It’s as easy to make as tossing everything on a sheet pan.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly
This pumpkin quick bread just so happens to have a swirly cream-cheese filling and cinnamon streusel on top. Serve it for dessert or breakfast—we won’t judge.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
7. Pumpkin Pizza Crust with Arugula and Prosciutto
- Time Commitment: 2 hours
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, special occasion–worthy, low sugar
Move over, plain pizza crust. There’s a new dough in town (and it happens to be the tastiest way to use up a can of pumpkin).
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
- Time Commitment: 3 hours, 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Bonus points if you make your own pumpkin spice mix for this decadent breakfast.
Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell
9. Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, <500 calories
It tastes like a pumpkin cloud, and it’s good enough to replace your usual holiday pumpkin pie.
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
10. Pumpkin Brioche
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Introducing the be-all, end-all autumnal carb. The crunchy sugar garnish makes it fit for breakfast (or dessert), but since the bread is only lightly sweet, you could also skip the topping and serve it at your Thanksgiving spread.
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
11. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
If pie is too much work and gingersnaps are old news, these pumpkin cheesecake cookies are the best of both worlds. They’re fab for holiday parties or just snacking after dinner.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
12. Pumpkin Polenta
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, <10 ingredients
This gluten-free recipe is rich, creamy and everything we ever wanted in a Thanksgiving side dish.
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
- Time Commitment: 12 hours, 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, no cook, crowd-pleaser
No baking is necessary for this nostalgic pumpkin dessert. The cookies and filling meld as it chills, so it’s actually better when you make it ahead.
The Bojon Gourmet
14. Pumpkin Flatbread with Gruyère and Crispy Sage
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy, gluten free
Oooh, did someone say fancy pizza dinner? We’re suckers for the combination of winter squash and sage.
Spend With Pennies
- Time Commitment: 48 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
This quick bread is full of warm fall spices and bakes up supremely moist, thanks to all those veggies.
I Am a Food Blog
16. Whipped Ricotta with Roasted Pumpkin
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
We found the ultimate pre-dinner autumnal snack. Serve it at your next cocktail party and watch it disappear.
Damn Delicious
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
The most delicious way to warm up on a cool fall night? With this cheesy pumpkin appetizer.
Erin McDowell
18. Pumpkin Pie with Cinnamon Roll Crust
- Time Commitment: 3 hours, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
This is what happens when pumpkin meets our other favorite fall flavor, cinnamon. The crust looks impressive but is surprisingly easy to pull off (it starts with store-bought).
Cookie and Kate
19. Pumpkin Fettuccine Alfredo
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, vegetarian
Swap the usual butter and Parmesan with pumpkin and goat cheese, and the result is this creamy twist on a classic pasta dish.
Oh, Sweet Basil
20. The Softest Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
- Time Commitment: 6 hours, 15 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <10 ingredients
You’re going to need something carb-y to sop up all that soup. Pro move: Make them ahead of time and refrigerate overnight, so the rolls are hot and fresh when dinner comes around.
The Modern Proper
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pot, gluten free, dairy free
Make a batch of this spicy, fall-inspired chili, then serve it on Halloween night post–trick-or-treat. Use canned pumpkin to eliminate a few steps.
Cookie and Kate
22. Pumpkin Pancakes
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, kid-friendly, vegetarian, ready in <30 minutes
A stack of these and a hot cup of coffee are our ideal Saturday morning plans. Bonus, they’re made with whole wheat flour for #health.
How Sweet Eats
23. Cheesy Parmesan Pumpkin French Breads
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Imagine: Garlic bread combined with grilled cheese, all smothered in pumpkin. Depending on how small you slice it, it works as an appetizer or main.
Oh My Veggies
24. Pumpkin, Mushroom and Spinach Tater Tot Casserole
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: one pan, <500 calories, vegetarian
Forget mashed potatoes; this Midwestern casserole is the side dish every Thanksgiving table needs. If you don’t have an oven-safe skillet, just cook the base on the stove and transfer everything to a baking dish.
Minimalist Baker
- Time Commitment: 1 hour
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, make ahead, vegan, gluten free
They’re vegan and gluten free, and everyone gets their own. Who even needs crust? (Psst: Use store-bought pumpkin butter for a shortcut.)
Gimme Some Oven
- Time Commitment: 5 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, no cook
Make this no-cook appetizer on Halloween, Thanksgiving and every day in between.
Pinch of Yum
27. Chicken Bacon Pumpkin Pasta Bake
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, <500 calories
Once the weather gets chilly, our dinnertime mantra becomes “the cheesier, the better.” To make this vegetarian, you could just leave out the chicken and bacon.
Damn Delicious
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: make ahead, ccrowd-pleaser
Next-level comfort food, right this way. These squash-stuffed shells are freezer friendly, so you might want to make a double batch.
Spoon Fork Bacon
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
It’s almost too pretty to eat, but then you set out crudités and we can’t help ourself. While this recipe calls for roasting and pureeing a sugar pumpkin, you can go the semi-homemade route with canned puree.
The Modern Proper
30. Slow Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry
- Time Commitment: 4 hours
- Why I Love It: slow cooker recipe, <500 calories, dairy free, gluten free
Let your slow cooker do the hard work on this sneakily dairy-free number while you cozy up with a spooky Netflix show.
Pinch of Yum
31. Pumpkin Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion–worthy, <10 ingredients
This pillowy pasta is buttery, rich and comforting—basically, everything we love about fall foods. Make it for date night…or don’t share; the choice is yours.
Averie Cooks
32. Easy 30-Minute Stovetop Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, beginner-friendly
Just when we thought it couldn’t get any better, this 30-minute dinner showed up in our kitchen. The pumpkin flavor is just enough to taste autumnal, without being overwhelming.
Sally’s Baking Addiction
- Time Commitment: 2 hours, 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: no cook, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
Chocolate lovers, we’ve found your new favorite fall dessert. These bites are a great make-ahead treat for dinner parties and holiday gifting alike.
I Am a Food Blog
34. Nutella Stuffed Pumpkin French Toast
- Time Commitment: 20 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients
Sunday brunch has never tasted better, and luckily, this recipe isn’t much more difficult than making a piece of toast. Pass the maple syrup, please.
Half Baked Harvest
35. Pumpkin Beer Broccoli Cheddar Soup
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: <500 calories, crowd-pleaser
This one warms you through and through. (It calls for pumpkin-flavored beer, but you can use another ale if that’s what you have.)
I Am a Food Blog
36. Roasted Pumpkin and Sage Grilled Cheese
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, vegetarian, <10 ingredients
The fried egg is optional, but highly recommended. Feel free to make these for lunch every day of the week.
Half Baked Harvest
37. Cider Pumpkin Waffles with Salted Maple Butter
- Time Commitment: 25 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
Crisp fall mornings were made for these light and airy waffles…but we’d also make them for brinner, just saying.
Sally's Baking Addiction
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
You don’t need a deep fryer to make fluffy, spiced doughnuts at home. Don’t even get us started on that brown sugar icing.
Spoon Fork Bacon
39. Pumpkin Risotto with Seared Scallops
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 8 minutes
- Why I Love It: special occasion-worthy, gluten free
The savory risotto and caramelized scallops are the obvious stars, but don’t overlook the candied pancetta garnish.
What's Gaby Cooking
40. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, beginner-friendly
A cookie, a brownie and a pumpkin pie walk into a bar. (Heh.) Jokes aside, these bars make an excellent hosting gift or party treat. Feel free to play around with different mix-ins, substituting half the chocolate chips for, say, M&M’s or chopped nuts.
So Much Food
41. Salted Caramel Pumpkin Pie Bars
- Time Commitment: 40 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Remember when salted caramel was the biggest thing in desserts? Yeah, let’s go back to that.
Minimalist Baker
42. Vegan Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
- Time Commitment: 57 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, vegetarian, gluten free
It turns out pumpkin puree makes a mighty fine substitute for eggs and milk, holding this cookie dough together and keeping it soft.
Pinch of Yum
43. Pumpkin Rigatoni with Rosemary Walnut Crispies
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
The contrast between the silky sauce and those walnut crispies is everything. Rosemary, black pepper and brown sugar are the key ingredients to giving the topping its sweet-yet-savory flavor.
Plays Well with Butter
44. Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
- Time Commitment: 12 hours
- Why I Love It: make ahead, crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
For those who think pumpkin pie isn’t quite rich enough, there’s this decadent dessert. To save some time, you can use store-bought gingersnap cookies for the crust.
Ambitious Kitchen
45. Spicy Black Bean Chicken Enchiladas with Pumpkin Sour Cream Sauce
- Time Commitment: 50 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian
When you’re craving comfort food but also want to keep things healthy, make this protein-packed (and vegetarian!) dinner.
How Sweet Eats
46. Pumpkin Pierogi with Brown Butter and Crispy Sage
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, vegetarian, make ahead
Are they authentically Polish? Nope, but you had us at brown butter. Do your future self a favor and freeze a batch for lightning-fast meals.
RecipeTin Eats
47. Roast Pumpkin, Spinach and Feta Salad
- Time Commitment: 35 minutes
- Why I Love It: <10 ingredients, gluten free, vegetarian
Fall salads are totally a thing. (You know, when you’re not enjoying all the cozy carbs and cheese.) This one can be served warm or at room temperature.
Healthy Nibbles and Bits
48. 10-Minute Spicy Pumpkin Curry Chowder in a Mug
- Time Commitment: 10 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <15 minutes, vegan, gluten free
No one will believe you made their dinner in the microwave.
All the Healthy Things
49. Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, <10 ingredients, <500 calories
They’re made with oat flour and Greek yogurt, although you wouldn’t know it at first bite.
Spoon Fork Bacon
50. Vegan Baked Spaghetti Squash with Pumpkin and Green Onion Alfredo
- Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: vegan, dairy free, <10 ingredients
Wait, this is vegan? You had us fooled. (Pumpkin is talented like that.) Just be sure to budget in time to soak the cashews for an hour before you get cooking.
Katherine Gillen
51. No-Cook Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu
- Time Commitment: 6 hours, 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: no cook, make ahead, crowd-pleaser
This pumpkin spice tiramisu is creamy, just sweet enough and laced with fall baking spices, plus it requires no fussing with a cooked custard. (Read: It’s kinda foolproof.)
Katherine Gillen
52. Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
- Time Commitment: 30 minutes
- Why I Love It: ready in <30 minutes, beginner-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Like spaghetti and meatballs or grilled cheese and tomato soup, pumpkin and cream cheese are a match made in heaven. Even better, these soft cookies take half an hour, start to finish.
Katherine Gillen
53. Pumpkin Black and White Cookies
- Time Commitment: 45 minutes
- Why I Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Want to know a secret? The base of these cookies is the same as our cream cheese frosted batch (see no. 52), which means there’s no stand mixer involved and they’re impossibly easy to make.
