53 Amazing Pumpkin Recipes to Make All Fall Long
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.
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1. Whole Roasted Pumpkin Stuffed with Wild Mushrooms and Gruyère
Benito Martin/Always Add Lemon
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 20 minutes
Why We 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.
2. Pumpkin Soup in Mini Pumpkin Bowls
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We 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.
3. Creamy Pumpkin Eton Mess
Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 20 minutes
Why We 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.
4. Biscuit Dough Pumpkin Hand Pies
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We Love It: beginner-friendly, kid-friendly, crowd-pleaser
Serve these portable pies for Thanksgiving dessert, then enjoy the leftovers at breakfast the next morning.
5. Roasted Pumpkin and Brussels Sprouts with Poached Eggs
Cook Beautiful
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We 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.
6. Pumpkin Cream Cheese Bread
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 45 minutes
Why We 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.
7. Pumpkin Pizza Crust with Arugula and Prosciutto
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 2 hours
Why We 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).
8. Pumpkin Spice Pecan Rolls
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 5 minutes
Why We Love It: special occasion–worthy, crowd-pleaser
Bonus points if you make your own pumpkin spice mix for this decadent breakfast.
9. Pumpkin Angel Food Cake with Cream Cheese Glaze
Photo: Matt Dutile/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 5 minutes
Why We 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.
10. Pumpkin Brioche
Photo: Christine Han/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 50 minutes
Why We 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.
11. Pumpkin Cheesecake Cookies
Photo: Nico Schinco/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We 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.
12. Pumpkin Polenta
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We Love It: vegetarian, gluten free, <10 ingredients
This gluten-free recipe is rich, creamy and everything we ever wanted in a Thanksgiving side dish.
13. Pumpkin Spice Icebox Cake
Photo: Liz Andrew/Styling: Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 12 hours, 40 minutes
Why We 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.
14. Pumpkin Flatbread with Gruyère and Crispy Sage
The Bojon Gourmet
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We 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.
15. Pumpkin Zucchini Bread
Spend With Pennies
Time Commitment: 48 minutes
Why We 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.
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16. Whipped Ricotta with Roasted Pumpkin
I Am a Food Blog
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We 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.
17. Pumpkin Pecan Baked Brie
Damn Delicious
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We Love It: <10 ingredients, crowd-pleaser
The most delicious way to warm up on a cool fall night? With this cheesy pumpkin appetizer.
18. Pumpkin Pie with Cinnamon Roll Crust
Erin McDowell
Time Commitment: 3 hours, 30 minutes
Why We 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).
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19. Pumpkin Fettuccine Alfredo
Cookie and Kate
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We 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.
20. The Softest Pumpkin Dinner Rolls
Oh, Sweet Basil
Time Commitment: 6 hours, 15 minutes
Why We 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.
21. Turkey Pumpkin Chili
The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We 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.
22. Pumpkin Pancakes
Cookie and Kate
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We 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.
23. Cheesy Parmesan Pumpkin French Breads
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We 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.
24. Pumpkin, Mushroom and Spinach Tater Tot Casserole
Oh My Veggies
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We 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.
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25. Pumpkin Pie Parfaits
Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 1 hour
Why We 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.)
26. Savory Pumpkin Dip
Gimme Some Oven
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, no cook
Make this no-cook appetizer on Halloween, Thanksgiving and every day in between.
27. Chicken Bacon Pumpkin Pasta Bake
Pinch of Yum
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We 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.
28. Pumpkin Stuffed Shells
Damn Delicious
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We 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.
29. Roasted Pumpkin Hummus
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 25 minutes
Why We 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.
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30. Slow Cooker Chicken Pumpkin Curry
The Modern Proper
Time Commitment: 4 hours
Why We 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.
31. Pumpkin Gnocchi with Sage Butter Sauce
Pinch of Yum
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We 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.
32. Easy 30-Minute Stovetop Pumpkin Macaroni and Cheese
Averie Cooks
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We 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.
33. Pumpkin Spice Truffles
Sally’s Baking Addiction
Time Commitment: 2 hours, 35 minutes
Why We 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.
34. Nutella Stuffed Pumpkin French Toast
I Am a Food Blog
Time Commitment: 20 minutes
Why We 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.
35. Pumpkin Beer Broccoli Cheddar Soup
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We 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.)
36. Roasted Pumpkin and Sage Grilled Cheese
I Am a Food Blog
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We 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.
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37. Cider Pumpkin Waffles with Salted Maple Butter
Half Baked Harvest
Time Commitment: 25 minutes
Why We 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.
38. Baked Pumpkin Doughnuts
Sally's Baking Addiction
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We 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.
39. Pumpkin Risotto with Seared Scallops
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 8 minutes
Why We 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.
40. Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars
What's Gaby Cooking
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We 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.
41. Salted Caramel Pumpkin Pie Bars
So Much Food
Time Commitment: 40 minutes
Why We Love It: crowd-pleaser, special occasion–worthy
Remember when salted caramel was the biggest thing in desserts? Yeah, let’s go back to that.
42. Vegan Pumpkin Sugar Cookies
Minimalist Baker
Time Commitment: 57 minutes
Why We 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.
43. Pumpkin Rigatoni with Rosemary Walnut Crispies
Pinch of Yum
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We 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.
44. Pumpkin Cheesecake with Gingersnap Crust
Plays Well with Butter
Time Commitment: 12 hours
Why We 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.
45. Spicy Black Bean Chicken Enchiladas with Pumpkin Sour Cream Sauce
Ambitious Kitchen
Time Commitment: 50 minutes
Why We 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.
46. Pumpkin Pierogi with Brown Butter and Crispy Sage
How Sweet Eats
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 10 minutes
Why We 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.
47. Roast Pumpkin, Spinach and Feta Salad
RecipeTin Eats
Time Commitment: 35 minutes
Why We 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.
48. 10-Minute Spicy Pumpkin Curry Chowder in a Mug
Healthy Nibbles and Bits
Time Commitment: 10 minutes
Why We Love It: ready in <15 minutes, vegan, gluten free
No one will believe you made their dinner in the microwave.
49. Healthy Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins
All the Healthy Things
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We 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.
50. Vegan Baked Spaghetti Squash with Pumpkin and Green Onion Alfredo
Spoon Fork Bacon
Time Commitment: 1 hour, 30 minutes
Why We 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.
51. No-Cook Pumpkin Spice Tiramisu
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 6 hours, 30 minutes
Why We 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.)
52. Pumpkin Cookies with Cream Cheese Frosting
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 30 minutes
Why We 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.
53. Pumpkin Black and White Cookies
Katherine Gillen
Time Commitment: 45 minutes
Why We 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.
