75+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall - HealthyGreenSavvy (2024)

Last Updated on February 15, 2024

Need some new ways to enjoypumpkin this fall? These savvyfood bloggers have you covered with some terrific healthy pumpkin recipes!

75+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall - HealthyGreenSavvy (1)

Check out these inspiring and healthy pumpkin recipes!

It’s that time of year — everywhere you look someone is tempting you with pumpkin-flavored drinks, breads, and other goodies. Ready for some more temptation?Here are 75mouth-watering healthy pumpkin recipes from bloggers whodo some amazing things with pumpkin.

These folks know pumpkin is great for waaaaay more than breads — check out their inventive recipes for everything from fries to cheese to fudge! (Yes, fudge! You have to read all the way to the bottom for that one.)

Pumpkin is a delicious and nutritious ingredient that adds nutrient-filled veggies to your baked goods, soups, and mains. Pumpkin’s a great source of potassium, fiber, and beta carotene, a potent antioxidant that protects your skin, eyes, and heart, and plays a role in immune system function.

Here’s lots more on celebrating delicious seasonal foods and some top superfoods to consider eating more often.

And don’t worry if you don’t have pumpkin pie spice on hand — The Prairie Homestead has instructions for making your own pumpkin pie spice.

If you’re up for a little extra prep,making your own pumpkin pureeis a great choice, as it lets you bypass the BPA and “regrettable substitutes” in canned pumpkin. (Read this post about why you should avoid canned food when possible.)

And if you have a surplus of winter squash in your garden or CSA share, try baking it and adding it in place of pumpkin. We always get far more butternut squash than we can eat from our share, and a bunch winds up in “pumpkin” breads and muffins. Everblossom also has a great how-to on turning pumpkins into flour!

75+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall - HealthyGreenSavvy (2)

Don’t forget to save the seeds! Roasting pumpkin and squash seeds is one of the joys of fall, and these nutritious little gems belong in your oven, not the compost or trash! Get a hefty dose of magnesiumchomping on these satisfying snacks. (More root to stem recipes here.)

Pumpkin seeds are a great food to improve sleep quality because of their magnesium content. Soaking them first, as with other seeds, nuts, and grains, makes the nutrients more available to your body. Here are instructions for making soaked and roasted pumpkin seed 3 ways from This is so good.

Making Pumpkin Recipes as Healthy as Possible

As you know, I generally shoot for the healthiest versions of foods possible, but everyone’s definition of healthy is a little bit different. Here are some principles I use to evaluate and adjust recipes:

  1. I recommend either whole grain flour, or unrefined gluten-free options. Some of the recipes in this collection use white flour or other refined flours. You can try to substitute whole grain, or eat the dish in moderation. (I mostly use organic white whole wheat flour andcoconut flour.Almond flouris another good gluten-free choice that adds a little extra protein.
  2. Avoid cans when possible! If you’re making a pumpkin chili with beans, I think it’s best to make them from dried, soaking them beforehand — you get to avoid whatever seeps into food from can linings, just like with pumpkin.
  3. Pick healthy fats, like coconut oil or organic/pastured butter over refined oils like canola or “vegetable” oil, which have been shown to cause inflammation.
  4. Go organic wherever you can. There’s nothing healthy about eating chemicals meant to kill insects. Organic and grassfed meat are also preferable to CAFO-raised.
  5. Skip the sugar and artificial sweeteners, and use “natural” sweeteners like honey and maple syrup as sparingly as possible. While better than those made with refined sugar, these sweet treats are still treatsso eat accordingly. Here’s how much sugar per day is considered OK by most nutritionists.

Here’s more on a simplified approach to healthy eating.

Including treats in your diet is also a key part of making your choice to eat healthy sustainable, so go ahead and indulge, just make sure it’s only occasionally. If you can get the chemicals and processed food out of your diet, you’re doing a great job! Here are plenty more options for healthy treats to satisfy your sweet tooth without wrecking your diet.

OK, now what you’ve been waiting for— onto the healthy pumpkin recipes!

Healthy Pumpkin Recipes:Savory

Stuffed Pumpkin from Raising Generation Nourished

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Healthy Homemade Chilifrom Kara Carrero

SavoryPumpkin Curry from MyPALeos

SavoryPumpkin Soup from The Organic Kitchen

Roasted Garlic Rosemary Pumpkin Hummus from Pinch of Yum

Pumpkin WhiteBean and QuinoaVeggie Burgersfrom avocado pesto

Pumpkin Burger from Peas and Crayons75+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall - HealthyGreenSavvy (4)

Baked Pumpkin Fries from Oh, the things we’ll make

Roasted Pumpkin Soup from Raising Generation Nourished

Spicy Thai Curry Pumpkin Noodle Soup from My Food Story

Quinoa Black Bean Pumpkin Soup from avocado pesto

Pumpkin Risottofrom Caroline’s Cooking

Cannelini Bean Pumpkin Risotto from Avocado a Day Nutrition

Pumpkin and Kale Pasta Bake from MJ and Hungryman

Pumpkin Raviolifrom Alexandra Cooks

Pumpkin Pizza Crust from Sweet as Honey

Savory Pumpkin Bread Pudding from the Wholesome Dish

Vegan Pumpkin Raviolifrom Veganosity

Pumpkin Ricotta Gnocchifrom The Bojon Gourmet

Pumpkin Seed Cilantro Pesto from Seeking Joyful Simplicity

Vegan Pumpkin Cheese from Oh, the things we’ll make

Healthy Pumpkin Recipes: Drinks75+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall - HealthyGreenSavvy (5)

Pumpkin Spice Vegan Milkshake from Creative Green Living

Pumpkin Spice SmoothiefromThe Pistachio Project

Pumpkin Hot Cocoafrom GAPS diet journey

Pumpkin Spice Latte from Against All Grain

Pumpkin Harvest Smoothiefrom A New Day

>>>> Need more smoothie ideas? Here are 50 delicious and creative healthy smoothie recipes!

Healthy Pumpkin Recipes:Breakfast and Baked Goods

Overnight Pumpkin Pie Oatmeal from Creative Green Living

Pumpkin Pancakes from Studio Botanica

Pumpkin French ToastfromHungry Hobby

Pumpkin Pancakes with Ginger Honey Butter from Recipes to Nourish

Grain Free Sugar Free Pumpkin Pancakes from Sugar Free Mom

Pumpkin Spiced Baked Oatmeal Cups from Raising Generation Nourished

Breakfast Pumpkin Cookies from Natural Paleo Family are sweetened with bananas!

Baked Pumpkin Donuts from Real Food Real Deals

Pumpkin Chia Seed pudding from This is so good

Pumpkin Pie Leather from This West Coast Mommy

Pumpkin Cheddar Biscuits from This is so good

Pumpkin Breakfast Cookies from LeeLalicious

Pumpkin Banana Bread from Hip Foodie Mom

Whole Wheat Applesauce Bread from Family Food on the Table

Healthy Pumpkin Parfait from The Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine

Pumpkin Bread(gluten, grain and dairy free) fromGAPS DietJourney

Pumpkin Cranberry Oat Bars from Real Food Real Deals

Pumpkin Cookie Kisses from GAPS Diet Journey

Grain Free Pumpkin Spice Biscotti from Oh, the things we’ll make!

Pumpkin Granola BarsfromA Virtual Vegan

75+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall - HealthyGreenSavvy (6)

Pumpkin Spice Dip with Apple Fries from Oh, the things we’ll make!

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins from A Modern Homestead

Pumpkin Poppers fromGAPS diet journey

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Blondies from A Big Man’s World

Pumpkin SconesfromThe Homesteading Hippy

Pumpkin Nut Sourdough Muffins from Reformation Acres

Pumpkin Peanut Butter Oatmeal Bars from Well Plated by Erin

Healthy Pumpkin PieThe Pistachio Project

Whole Grain Pumpkin-Filled Cookies from Reformation Acres

Coconut Milk Pumpkin Pie Custardfrom GAPS diet journey

Healthy Pumpkin Soft Serve from Make the Best of Everything

Maple Pumpkin Spiced Popcorn from The Organic Kitchen

Pumpkin Pudding with Snickerdoodle Crumb Topping from This is So Good

Clean Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls from Amy’s Healthy Baking

Chocolate Pumpkin Muffins from The Dinner Mom

Pumpkin Brownies from Real Food Real Deals

Paleo Pumpkin Bars from Hummusapien

Pumpkin Butter Cups from Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine

75+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall - HealthyGreenSavvy (7)

Pumpkin Spice Donut Holes from Whole and Heavenly Oven

No Bake Pumpkin Spice Latte Bites from The Big Man’s World

Chocolate Truffle Pumpkin Muffins Amy’s Healthy Baking

And check out theseinventive 3-ingredient pumpkin treats fromThe Big Man’s World! (The last one’s the fudge I promised you.)

3-Ingredient Pumpkin Brownies

3-Ingredient Pumpkin Cookies

3-Ingredient Pumpkin Fudge

Love desserts with hidden veggies? Check out this recipe for homemade fruit leather made from rhubarb and easy and delicious rhubarb crisp. Or peruse some of these collections of veggie-focused recipes featuring super-healthy ingredients:

  • 50+ Delicious Zucchini Recipes
  • Sweet Potato Recipes
  • Healthy Kale Recipes
  • 50+ Healthy and Delicious Bean Recipes

What are your favorite healthy pumpkin recipes? Which of these healthy pumpkin recipes will you try next? Share in the comments!

Pin to save these healthy pumpkin recipes for later!

75+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall - HealthyGreenSavvy (8)

Photo Credits: Everblossom, Raising Generation Nourished, Oh, The Things We’ll Make, Creative Green Living, Natural Paleo Family, A Virtual Vegan, Reformation Acres, Food Hunter’s Guide to Cuisine, CongerDesign

Cover photo: Roxiller Pin: Virtual Vegan, Ewgenija_s, Mykola Lunov, laperla_foto

75+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall - HealthyGreenSavvy (9)

Susannah

Susannah is a proud garden geek and energy nerd who loves healthy food and natural remedies. Her work has appeared in Mother Earth Living, Ensia, Northern Gardener, Sierra, and on numerous websites. Her first book, Everything Elderberry, released in September 2020 and has been a #1 new release in holistic medicine, naturopathy, herb gardening, and other categories. Find out more and grab your copy here.

75+ Healthy Pumpkin Recipes to Celebrate Fall - HealthyGreenSavvy (2024)

FAQs

What is the healthiest way to eat pumpkin? ›

Pureed, baked or roasted pumpkin is a nutrient-dense food that is low in calories and fat while being high in fiber, helping you feel full for longer.

What is the best way to cook pumpkin? ›

Place pumpkin cubes on a large baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Drizzle with olive oil and season with salt and pepper (add any other spices you'd like!) Roast at 375 degrees F for 30-35 minutes or until pumpkin cubes are fork-tender, flipping halfway through.

What goes together with pumpkin? ›

To complement pumpkin with sweet flavor pairings, consider using spices like nutmeg, cinnamon, allspice and vanilla, or sweet ingredients like chocolate, maple, honey, cranberries or brown sugar. Create savory dishes by pairing pumpkin with spices like chilies, cajun, cayenne or pepper.

What does pumpkin do to your gut? ›

Pumpkin is rich in fiber and contains prebiotics, which can help improve digestive system health and bowel movement. It may help relieve constipation and diarrhea in some people.

How to eat pumpkin for weight loss? ›

They are baked into pies and cakes, added to smoothies and lattes, and even boiled, mashed and eaten as is for a quick, healthy snack. Moreover, the vegetable may also curb appetite as it is. There are a number of health benefits of pumpkins that make them great for weight loss.

Do you need to peel pumpkin before cooking? ›

Depending on what type of squash you are using you might not need to peel it, with thinner skinned squash such as butternut squash you can eat the skin. For thicker skinned squash it is often easier to cut the squash into large wedges, roast, and then peel the skin off after it's cooked when it's softer and easier.

Is pumpkin puree the same as canned pumpkin? ›

Canned pumpkin (labeled as "100% pure pumpkin") is a purée of pumpkin that is sometimes mixed with other kinds of winter squash. It is unsweetened and does not contain any added spices. Canned pumpkin and pumpkin puree are the same thing, and you'll often see the terms used interchangeably in recipes and cookbooks.

How to make pumpkin taste good? ›

There are abundant ways to hack canned pumpkin purée so it tastes better.
  1. Roasting isn't just for whole veggies. ...
  2. Cook it on the stove. ...
  3. Strain it for a smoother texture. ...
  4. Change up your spices. ...
  5. Make a pumpkin purée infusion. ...
  6. Include a green apple. ...
  7. Incorporate some fat. ...
  8. Make other ingredients as fresh as possible.
Sep 21, 2023

Why should you not throw away pumpkins? ›

Pumpkins that end up in landfills have a hard time breaking down because landfills function to store material and don't have much oxygen to allow organics to decompose properly. When organic materials don't have enough oxygen to break down, they release methane gas, a greenhouse gas that is harmful to the environment.

What is the difference between Cinderella and fairytale pumpkins? ›

Cinderella pumpkins, also known as Rouge Vif d'Étampes, are a similar shape to fairytale pumpkins, but they have a bright red-orange color as opposed to the orange-brown of a fairytale. Additionally, Cinderella are less flavorful and more watery, making them less suited for baking.

Can you eat the skin of a green pumpkin? ›

You may eat the skin of green pumpkin.

What spices go good with pumpkin? ›

Pumpkin is notorious for pairing well with warm winter spices – as found in a variety of Moroccan-inspired cuisines. Try incorporating cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, cumin and chilli with your pumpkin dishes for flavour-packed feasts.

What meat goes best with pumpkin? ›

Fresh or canned pumpkin would taste good with meat proteins.
  1. Beef.
  2. Shrimp.
  3. Pork chops.
  4. Lobster.
  5. Crab.
  6. Chicken breast.
  7. Rabbit.
  8. Turkey (turkey legs)
Jun 17, 2022

What cheese goes well with pumpkin? ›

Blue cheeses like gorgonzola team up well with the notes of dried fruit typical of pumpkin. Another excellent pairing is with a nice fresh goat's cheese since its acidulous notes offset the sweetness of pumpkin.

Is pumpkin healthier raw or cooked? ›

Yes, you can eat pumpkin raw. Furthermore, eating raw pumpkin and raw pumpkin seeds provides significantly more nutritional and health benefits than eating it cooked. Cooking minimizes water-soluble nutrients like vitamins B and C, and also reduces the vitamin A, potassium and copper content.

Is canned pumpkin as healthy as fresh? ›

Canned pumpkin offers the same health benefits as fresh pumpkin, making it quick and easy to add pumpkin to recipes year-round. Pumpkin seeds are typically roasted and sold separately as a snack or topping.

Is canned pumpkin healthier than fresh pumpkin? ›

Answer Section. Not necessarily. Fresh foods generally have a higher nutrient content than do cooked or canned foods. But in this case, both fresh pumpkin and canned pumpkin are packed with nutrients, such as potassium, vitamin A and iron.

Why is canned pumpkin better than fresh? ›

Even so, nutritionally, you might be better off with canned pumpkin than with fresh cooked: One cup of canned has more carotenoids and fiber (7 grams), plus about a fifth of your daily iron needs.

References

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