17 Savory Pumpkin Recipes to Spice Up the Season (2024)

With fall finally upon us and Halloween costume ideas abounding left and right, it’s time for those official icons of fall to reappear on our doorsteps. But pumpkins aren’t just meant to be carved into jack-o’-lanterns — they’re also a perfect base for plenty of delicious recipes. And if you think they’re only good for sweet things like breads and PSLs, think again. There’s a whole world of savory delights out there just waiting for you to dig into and enjoy.

1. Gluten-Free Pumpkin Ricotta Gnocchi: A big plate of gnocchi is a perfect indulgence all on its own, but the addition of pumpkin, pancetta and seared radicchio takes this recipe right over the top (and onto our forks). (via The Bojon Gourmet)

2. Simple Pumpkin Soup: This seasonal classic gets a healthy update with the addition of a yummy garlic-sesame-kale topping. Mmm hmm. (via Minimalist Baker)

3. Classic Roasted Pumpkin Seeds: Who doesn’t love the scent of pumpkin seeds roasting in the oven? This three-ingredient recipe is easy as pie — no pun intended — and brings back sweet childhood memories with every crunch. (via A Beautiful Mess)

5. Pumpkin Mashed Potatoes: The ultimate comfort food gets even more comfy when you add a seasonal ingredient like pumpkin with hints of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves. We’ll take an extra scoop, thanks. (via Steamy Kitchen)

6. Pumpkin Grilled Cheese: You haven’t truly enjoyed the ultimate remedy for the cold-weather blues until you’ve built it with gruyere and fresh pumpkin. Just try to deny its ooey-gooey goodness. We dare you. (via Macheesmo)

7. Savory Pumpkin & Sage Muffins: Imagine waking up to the perfect breakfast bite in the form of a warm, fresh muffin with an herbal twist. Now you can, thanks to this sage-topped recipe filled with whole wheat goodness that will help you start the day off right. (via Love Food Eat)

8. Pumpkin Quinoa Patties: Pack an extra protein punch in your breakfast patties or dinner sides by pairing pumpkin and quinoa with accents like goat cheese and cayenne pepper. The seasoning pulls it all together with a zesty finish. (via Wendy Polisi)

9. Chickpea + Coconut Korma Curry With Pumpkin: Few things are more soothing on a cold, wet day than a big pot of curry. This recipe marries that coconut milk flavor with bright lime and savory spices, bringing out some serious roasted pumpkin deliciousness. (via Cook Republic)

10. Pumpkin Fritters With Rosemary and Cheese: Rule #1 of living with culinary abandon: Never turn down a fritter. Add the elegance of rosemary, the seasonal delight of pumpkin and some salty Grana Padano or Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese and you’ve got yourself a little fried piece of heaven. (via What About Second Breakfast?)

11. Pumpkin Feta Tart: Whoever said tarts have to contain berries obviously never tried this crumbly beautiful mess of textures and tastes. If you happen to give it a whirl, save us an extra slice. (via My Kitchen Affair)

12. Golden Trio Chipotle Soup: Pumpkin, sweet potato and butternut squash are basically the holy trinity of fall, so why not combine them into a heavenly vegan soup with tofu to boot? (via Healthy Happy Life)

13. Savory Pumpkin Cornbread Waffles: Cornbread waffles are intriguing enough to start off with, but add pumpkin into the mix and toss a fried egg on top and you’ve got yourself a dish that defies a breakfast, lunch or dinner classification. Eat it whenever you want, no maple syrup necessary. (via Minimalist Baker)

14. Pumpkin Ravioli With Hazelnut Brown Butter Sauce: It’s a known fact that brown butter sauce can make anything taste amazing. Put it together with a flavorful fall pasta and delectable hazelnuts and it’s bound to make you say “mmm.” (via Will Cook for Friends)

15. Creamy Maple Bacon Pumpkin Risotto: Just look at those four ingredients: maple, bacon, pumpkin and risotto. If that’s not a party in your mouth, we don’t know what is. (via Pineapple & Coconut)

16. Pumpkin Pasta With Parmesan and Sage: This easy-to-fix pasta dish is perfect for busy autumn nights when the sun goes down early and you’re still finishing up work. As a bonus, you can make it vegan just by skipping the parmesan. Easy peasy! (via Bake Your Day)

17. Pumpkin Mac and Cheese: We can’t talk about cold-weather recipes without mentioning good old-fashioned mac and cheese. It’s made with pumpkin, onions, spices and breadcrumbs,…aaaand, we’ve officially reached comfort-food nirvana. (via Well Plated)

Which of these are you trying out first? Dish in the comments below!

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Amy Lynch

Amy is a freelance writer and editor, telling the stories of progressive people and projects that move the world forward. Her work has appeared on The Hairpin, Refinery29, Citygram and more, and she's developed content for the likes of Alternative Apparel, Milkshake and Silvercar. She lives, works and plays with her fiancé and their dog, Bogey, in the weird, wild heart of Austin, Texas.

17 Savory Pumpkin Recipes to Spice Up the Season (2024)

FAQs

What savory flavors go well 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 enhances pumpkin flavor? ›

Pumpkin Spice Mix Recipe
  • ⅓ cup ground cinnamon.
  • 1½ tablespoons ground ginger.
  • 1 tablespoon ground nutmeg.
  • 1½ teaspoons ground cloves.
  • 1½ teaspoons ground allspice.
Oct 13, 2020

What spices compliment 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 does pumpkin spice pair well with? ›

You'll see that pumpkin spice is actually quite nice when paired with almost every other fall flavor. A few of our favorite concoctions even cozy it up to chocolate, caramel-swirled icing, and candied pecans for unexpected matches made in heaven.

What spice adds a savory flavor? ›

Thyme – Thyme is one of the most popular spices in the world. Its taste is also the closest to that of savory, with the same minty flavor. To add, you can even substitute it in a 1:1 ratio. You can use either dried or fresh thyme for your cooking.

How do you add savory flavor? ›

How to Add Umami to Meatless Dishes
  1. Nutritional Yeast. ...
  2. MSG. ...
  3. Dried Mushrooms and Mushroom Powder. ...
  4. Smoked Sun Dried Tomatoes. ...
  5. Soy sauce or liquid aminos. ...
  6. Toasted walnuts. ...
  7. Miso Paste. ...
  8. Maggi Seasoning.
Dec 7, 2020

What to do with tasteless pumpkin? ›

  1. slice it up thinly and put it on pizza.
  2. dice it up and add it to couscous, rice, or pasta sauce (a cream-based sauce with paprika and garlic is nice, maybe sauteed sliced onions, spinach, bacon, chicken)
  3. make some pumpkin pie spice and use it and the pumpkin for baking: cupcakes, brownies, whatever.
Dec 4, 2014

Why does my pumpkin pie taste bland? ›

Now if your pie tends to come out bland, you may not be letting your spices hit their full potential. Joy Wilson of Joy the Baker suggests, "To get the most festive flavor out of the spices in your pumpkin pie, bloom the spices with the pumpkin puree in a small saucepan before incorporating into the filling.

What main two chemicals gives pumpkin spice its flavor? ›

The major and common ingredient in pumpkin spice lattes include: cinnamic aldehydes for cinnamon, eugenol for clove or allspice, terpenes such as sabinene for nutmeg, and zingiberene for ginger. They may also contain vanillin and cyclotene for the burnt butter or maple notes to round off the flavor.

Is there a difference between pumpkin spice and pumpkin pie spice? ›

Pumpkin pie spice is the same as pumpkin spice, just under different labeling. These two are interchangeable and feature the same base ingredients. The ratio of the ingredients may vary slightly from brand to brand.

What meat is good with pumpkin? ›

Pumpkin will go well with any roast fowl, so turkey, chicken, cornish hens and the like are all good choices. I've had spicy pumpkin puree with lamb and pork, both a good combo. And you can make pumpkin soup as a main course or as an appetizer.

Is allspice the same as pumpkin spice? ›

Allspice is a warm and cozy spice that tastes like a combination of cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, but pumpkin pie spice is a bit more robust and flavorful with all those spices plus ginger. Allspice alone, while delicious, won't give you that signature pumpkin spice flavor that you're looking for.

What does pumpkin spice do to your body? ›

Pumpkin spice can be good for you, too!

Fortunately, the ingredients in pumpkin spice also can be good for your health: Cinnamon can help lower blood pressure and blood sugar. Allspice can support digestive health, help reduce inflammation, and keep your immune system functioning well.

Is vanilla good with pumpkin spice? ›

The warmth and spiciness of the pumpkin spice blend beautifully with the rich, creamy aroma of sweet vanilla, creating a fragrance that is both comforting and uplifting.

What spice is in Starbucks pumpkin spice? ›

It's a blend of cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg and cloves that contributes to the delicious spiced pumpkin aroma. When you look at other “pumpkin spice” foods (like these Cheerios), they all have that fall flavor in common.

What meat tastes good with pumpkin? ›

Pumpkin will go well with any roast fowl, so turkey, chicken, cornish hens and the like are all good choices. I've had spicy pumpkin puree with lamb and pork, both a good combo. And you can make pumpkin soup as a main course or as an appetizer.

What compliments pumpkin pie? ›

What to pair with pumpkin pie? Well, coffee, duh! Coffee and pumpkin pie, and a tiny slice of apple, and an even teeny-tinier slice of French silk. That's what goes with pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving.

What are examples of savoury Flavours? ›

  • Potato.
  • Rosemary & Potato.
  • Sage & Onion.
  • Sweetcorn.
  • Teriyaki.
  • Tomato & Basil.
  • Umami.
  • Beetroot.

What is the most savory flavor? ›

Umami is described by Marcia Pelchat, a sensory psychologist at Monell Chemical Senses Center in a San Francisco Chronicle article as “that meaty, mouthfilling, savory sensation.” As with the other four tastes, it is difficult to describe umami without identifying representative umami foods.

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