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!
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!
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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
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 Crayons
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: Drinks
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
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
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.)
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!
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
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.