26 Savory Pumpkin Recipes to Try This Fall

August 27, 2019
Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Pumpkin may be inherently sweet, but in savory situations, the autumnal squash truly shines. Branch out beyond the pumpkin bread and pumpkin pancakes, and explore our best recipes for savory pumpkin soups, roasted pumpkin, pumpkin pasta, and even pumpkin chili to enjoy the season's favorite gourd in a whole new light. 
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Roasted Pumpkin-and-Baby Kale Salad

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling; Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Roasted Pumpkin-and-Baby Kale Salad Recipe

This beautiful fall salad makes a tasty meal on its own or a nice addition to any menu. The tangy Dijon mustard-apple cider vinaigrette is a great match for the sweet roasted pumpkin and sharp baby kale leaves.

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Curried Pumpkin Soup

Photo: Tina Evans; Styling: Leslie Byars Simpson
Curried Pumpkin Soup Recipe

A warm bowl of this creamy pumpkin curry soup is the perfect start to any fall meal. Buttery sautéed mushrooms and onions create a delicious savory balance to the toasty curry powder and sweet pumpkin. In addition to the pumpkin puree, basic all-purpose flour and evaporated milk lend rich body to this aromatic curry-kissed soup without adding a ton of extra fat. While it certainly makes a great opening course, you could also ladle out dishes of our pumpkin curry soup alongside a tossed salad and crusty baguette for a light autumn lunch. 

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Pumpkin-and-Turnip Green Lasagna

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Pumpkin-and-Turnip Green Lasagna Recipe

TIP: Use no-boil lasagna noodles (we like Barilla brand), which will soak up moisture from the sauce and pumpkin.

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Pumpkin-Buttermilk Biscuits with Crispy Ham and Honey Butter

Photo: Victor Protasio; Propr Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Pumpkin-Buttermilk Biscuits with Crispy Ham and Honey Butter Recipe

Pumpkin gives these light and flaky biscuits a pretty orange hue and an earthy flavor that pairs well with honey butter and salty country ham. Be sure to use pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling, which is sweetened and spiced.

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Slow-Cooker Chicken Stew with Pumpkin and Wild Rice

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Slow-Cooker Chicken Stew with Pumpkin and Wild Rice Recipe

This savory fall stew is filled with tender cubes of pumpkin, shredded chicken, and nutty wild rice in a creamy sauce. When choosing a pumpkin, look for a sugar or cheese pumpkin. Field pumpkins, which are larger in size, have watery, stringy flesh and are best used for decoration. Or substitute a butternut squash.

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Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Brown Butter Recipe

Homemade ravioli doesn’t always require a pasta maker. Wonton wrappers are a quick and easy stand-in for pasta dough and taste great when filled with pureed pumpkin, brown butter, and sage.

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Smoky Pumpkin Hummus

E. Spencer Toy
Smoky Pumpkin Hummus Recipe

Though pumpkin-flavored dishes are usually sweet, this recipe combines pumpkin purée and chickpeas for a smoky, savory hummus that's perfect for fall entertaining. Serve it in a wide bowl so there's plenty of room for the generous toppings.

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Pumpkin Beer-Cheese Soup

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Pumpkin Beer-Cheese Soup Recipe

Made with pureed pumpkin and pumpkin ale beer, this indulgent, velvety soup is perfect for fall. A combination of processed cheese and extra-sharp Cheddar gives this soup a smooth texture and just the right amount of tanginess.

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Pumpkin-Poblano Casserole

Photo: Iain Bagwell  
Pumpkin-Poblano Casserole Recipe

Pumpkin-Poblano Casserole

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Roasted Pumpkin and Brussels Sprouts with Poached Eggs

Photo by Johnny Miller
Roasted Pumpkin and Brussels Sprouts with Poached Eggs Recipe
A rustic, roasted breakfast from Athena Calderone's Cook Beautiful

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Roasted Pumpkin Grits

Photo by Johnny Autry
Roasted Pumpkin Grits Recipe
Grits for PSL addicts

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Roasted Pumpkin Soup

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Claire Spollen  
Roasted Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Pumpkins, carrots, onions--this is as close as you'll get to serving fall in a bowl. Roasting the pumpkin gives it a deep caramelized flavor that's delicious.

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Pumpkin-Shiitake Risotto with Pancetta and Pine Nuts

Photo: Johnny Autry/Randy Mayor; Styling: Cindy Barr/Lindsey Lower
Pumpkin-Shiitake Risotto with Pancetta and Pine Nuts Recipe

For winter comfort, turn to this one-pot meal of Pumpkin-Shiitake Risotto with Pancetta and Pine Nuts. Pancetta, or Italian-cured pork belly, adds a meaty note to this smooth pumpkin risotto blend. Mascarpone cheese adds a creamy and slightly sweet flavor that balances the salty flavor of the pancetta and pine nuts. To toast your pine nuts, stir them constantly in a skillet over low heat until they are golden brown and there's a warm, nutty smell. Keep a close eye, as they can burn quickly.

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Turkey Pumpkin Chili

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps
Turkey Pumpkin Chili Recipe

Donna Dickinson, 63, Rutherford, N.J. (mom of Julia Warren, All You associate food editor) "I thought of this recipe as an unexpected way to use pumpkin."

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Pumpkin, Sausage and Spinach Calzone

Photo: Kate Sears; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps 
Pumpkin, Sausage and Spinach Calzone Recipe

For a new twist to calzones, try Pumpkin, Sausage and Spinach Calzone. The pumpkin puree adds unique flavor to this classic dish.

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Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Avocado Cream

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Spicy Pumpkin Soup with Avocado Cream Recipe

TIP: If you don't have any buttermilk on hand for the avocado cream sauce, substitute plain yogurt and just a little water.

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Muffin-Tin Pumpkin-and-Pear Stratas

Photography: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Cindy Barr.
Muffin-Tin Pumpkin-and-Pear Stratas Recipe

Bosc or Anjou pears will also work here, as long as they're ripe. Your bare hands do the best job of mixing the bread into the egg.

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Pumpkin-Coconut Curry

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Pumpkin-Coconut Curry Recipe

Pumpkin and coconut milk pair wonderfully together, as you’ll discover in this aromatic curry. Served over hot jasmine rice and topped with yogurt and cilantro, this filling vegetarian supper will become one of your favorite meals.

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Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin

Photo: Victor Protasio; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine; Food Styling: Torie Cox
Pumpkin-and-Winter Squash Gratin Recipe

Layers of pumpkin, butternut squash, and potatoes are baked in a rich, cheesy sauce until meltingly tender. Serve as a side dish with roasted chicken or pork, or as a vegetarian main dish alongside a green salad.

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Chipotle-Spiced Pumpkin Soup

Photo: Iain Bagwell
Chipotle-Spiced Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Even without added cream, pumpkin soup takes on a velvety texture after it's simmered and pureed. Make sure all the ingredients are very tender so they'll blend together smoothly. Simple toppings like chorizo make them a little more special. For a fun, no-fuss garnish, top with 2 tablespoons popped popcorn. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper, if desired.

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Thai Coconut-Pumpkin Soup

Photo: Iain Bagwell  
Thai Coconut-Pumpkin Soup Recipe

Even without added cream, pumpkin soup takes on a velvety texture after it's simmered and pureed. Make sure all the ingredients are very tender so they'll blend together smoothly. Simple toppings like salty-sweet pepitas make them a little more special. For a fun, no-fuss garnish, top with 2 tablespoons popped popcorn. Sprinkle with freshly ground black pepper, if desired.

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Pumpkin Spice Cornbread

Pumpkin Spice Cornbread Recipe

Put a little something extra in that cornbread with this pumpkin spice variation that celebrates autumn's most famous flavor. Less than ten ingredients are all you need for this easy and classic cornbread recipe that includes seasonal ingredients like pumpkin puree and pumpkin pie spice. If you want an added dose of sweetness, simply top with fresh honey butter. 

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Pumpkin Soup with Almonds and Sage

Photo: Romulo Yanes; Food Styling: Torie Cox; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen
Pumpkin Soup with Almonds and Sage Recipe

This fast recipe delivers slow-cooked flavor. Pumpkin is one of the few vegetables whose canned version is quite good, saving you lots of time and effort. Just be sure you don't accidentally grab pumpkin pie filling, which contains added sugar and spices.

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Baked Brie with Pumpkin Maple Sauce 

Sara Tane
Baked Brie with Pumpkin Maple Sauce  Recipe

Your friends will be astonished at the ease and delight that baked brie brings to the table before dinner is served. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and salty with benefit of a warm, gooey inside and a crispy, flaky crust on the outside. Store-bought puff pastry wraps around the entire wheel of brie, and it’s finished with a drizzle of the pumpkin-spiced maple sauce that’s decadent and sweetened with maple syrup. With a sprinkle of a few sliced almonds for a crunchy texture and a rich, nutty flavor, this starter is ideal menu item to any fall themed meal.

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Curried Coconut-Pumpkin Soup

Jennifer Causey
Curried Coconut-Pumpkin Soup Recipe

This fall-flavored soup tastes lush and creamy, but has no heavy cream whatsoever. Want to make it in your Instant Pot? Click here for the recipe.

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Whole Stuffed Roasted Pumpkin

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Chelsea Zimmer
Whole Stuffed Roasted Pumpkin Recipe

In this recipe, pumpkin plays a triple role: cooking vessel, serving bowl, and part of the meal itself. Choose a Long Island Cheese pumpkin for its creamy flesh or a Cinderella pumpkin. The hearty stew simmers inside the pumpkin while the flesh cooks and softens. Berbere, a peppery Ethiopian spice blend, richly seasons the pumpkin and stew. Find it at specialty markets or online at penzeys.com.

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