Fall is here, and you know that means cooler weather, beautiful colors and of course all the fabulous pumpkin recipes. The favorite flavor of fall is everywhere! There is just something magical about the smell of pumpkin that makes people so happy. Using pumpkin in your cooking adds unique flavors that you may not expect, but you are sure to love! If you are looking for less traditional pumpkin recipes, then this list has you covered. Some of these dishes may even turn some of those anti-pumpkin people in your life.
7 Fabulous Pumpkin Recipes that Won’t Make You Sick of Pumpkin
Chipotle Pumpkin Pasta
Who doesn’t love a good pasta dish? Taking about 30 minutes start to finish, this meal is great for a weeknight when you need something quick an delicious. The pumpkin puree adds the perfect creamy texture. It also adds a richness to the sauce that you might not expect. The chipotle pepper is just enough to give the dish a little heat. If you are worried about it being too much for you to handle, just use a little less the first time you make it, or leave it out altogether. This pumpkin recipe is a must-try if you love pasta!
Want to give this recipe your own spin? Try adding some chicken or spicy Italian sausage. If you would rather keep this a vegetarian dish, fresh spinach would add a wonderful color. If you are feeling brave, you can play around with the spice level. If you have a bit more time on your hands you could even try to make your own pumpkin puree. Pick up a small pie pumpkin cut it in half and roast it in the oven. Make sure to clean out the seeds and save them to roast!
Vegan Pumpkin Mac and Cheese
If you love mac and cheese, but can’t or don’t want the dairy, this fabulous pumpkin recipe is perfect for you! Even if you do not follow a vegan diet, you should give this a try. Just like in the first recipe, the pumpkin puree adds a rich and creamy taste and texture. An added bonus, the wonderfully cheesy looking color! It’s beautiful. While this recipe was written for an Instant Pot, you can easily modify it to use your slow cooker or oven. Just make sure to keep in mind that cooking times will vary and you may need to adjust amount of liquid. If you have an Instant Pot, this will be a quick and easy meal.
Try adding your favorite spices to this dish. Chili pepper, cayenne pepper, or garlic would add great flavors. If you want to add some color and extra nutrition, roosted broccoli or spinach would go nicely.
Pumpkin Harvest Stew
A nice hearty stew is a must when the temperatures begin to drop. This delightful dish combines all the goodness stew with a twist. Pumpkin in a stew may sound a bit strange to some, but it is actually a perfect fit. The potatoes and pumpkin are a great pair. You may even be able to convince those pumpkin haters in your life to get on board with this meal. This pumpkin recipe is made for the slow cooker, so it’s simple, there are only two steps. Brown the meat, throw all the ingredients in, and go about your day. The pumpkin gives the stew a great color and a unique flavor. Enjoy this dish over steamed white or brown rice or pair it with crunchy, French bread.
Try substituting the canola oil for coconut oil when cooking your meat, or give the pumpkin pieces a quick toss in coconut oil. There is something about cooking squash in coconut oil that gives it even more flavor. You could also add a bit of sweet potato!
Autumn Pumpkin Squash Soup
This fabulous pumpkin recipe is all the flavors of fall, in a bowl. All the flavors come together perfectly and this my top two favorite fall soup. The pumpkin puree gives this soup its perfect texture, and pairs perfectly with the butternut squash. The pumpkin flavors are not strong, so this could be a great way to get your fix if your family is not on the pumpkin bandwagon. If you prefer to use fresh pumpkin you can cut it up and roast it along with the butternut squash. Pair this dish with a nice crunchy bread for the perfect fall meal.
Need a bit of heat? Kick this dish up a notch by adding some spice! Toss in chili powder or even dice up a fresh jalapeno. Just don’t go overboard on the jalapeno unless you are certain of its spice level. Those peppers can be sneaky. You could also modify this dish to make it in your slow cooker or Instant Pot. Just skip the roasting step and don’t add the cream until the end.
Baked Pumpkin Fries
Pumpkin fries don’t immediately come to mind when thinking of pumpkin recipes. While this side dish is more work than others on this list, it really is worth it. There aren’t a lot of steps or ingredients, which is great. The real work comes from cutting up the pumpkin. You’ll want to make sure your fries are not too think or the texture will be inconsistent. Nice thin pieces worked best but took the most work to get. They are best to eat right away, while they are warm. Everyone will love this crispy take on pumpkin, especially with the chipotle lime mayo!
For a crispier fry, try making these in your air fryer. It may take a bit longer depending on the size of your fry basket. Just make sure they are in a single layer and you flip or shake them halfway through. Try switching up the spices and toppings. Chili powder, garlic, parmesan or a combination of all of these. You can also skip the mayo for the dip and use plain Greek yogurt! For more of a meal, skip the dip and top with chili! Pumpkin chili cheese fries anyone?
Pumpkin Cheesecake
What could be better than taking a traditional dish like pumpkin pie and turning it into a cheesecake! This dessert will quickly become a regular for your Thanksgiving meals. This particular pumpkin recipe uses less sugar than others. But, with the wonderful duo of pumpkin puree and cream cheese, you really don’t need the extra sugar. This dish also has a maple glaze that is tasty, but it tastes great plain as well. If you are not used to working with almond flour you may notice some flavors and textures that you are not used to. This recipe also calls for pecans, so if there are any nut allergy concerns you may want to search for a substitute crust recipe.
Want to mix up your toppings? Try adding some fresh blueberries or a blueberry syrup drizzle. If you are making this dish for Thanksgiving, it might be fun to have a topping bar where your guests can add their favorites. The glaze in the recipe, a caramel glaze, blueberries and or strawberries would make great choices!
Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal
Not much can beat a nice warm breakfast on a cool morning. If you have never experienced the crunchy magic of baked oatmeal, now is the time to try it. You can enjoy this dish right out of the oven, or wait until it’s cooled if you like more of an oat bar. It makes a wonderful weekend breakfast. You can also make it ahead of time for a great grab and go treat on busy mornings. If you prefer more traditional oatmeal, you can still get your pumpkin fix. Make your oatmeal on the stovetop and just add in pumpkin puree and spices. This pumpkin recipe will make you think you are eating dessert for breakfast!
This is written for baking in the oven, but if you are short on time your slow cooker is also a great option. Mix all the ingredients in and set it to low before you go to bed. When you wake you will be greeted with the amazing smells of this pumpkin recipe, and your slow cooker did all the work while you slept! If you are not following a Paleo diet mix up your toppings. Blueberries, a cream cheese drizzle or even chocolate chips would compliment this dish perfectly.
These fabulous pumpkin recipes are great to have in your fall rotation, even if you are not a huge fan of all things pumpkin. Using a good pumpkin puree or fresh pumpkin can be very subtle. In some of these dishes, you may not even taste the pumpkin. However, these untraditional pumpkin recipes may change your mind. If you love pumpkin, then you will be in heaven enjoying these recipes. Either way, we say embrace the pumpkin and all of its wonderful goodness!
WANT TO READ MORE?
Check out 5 Favorite Squash and Pumpkin Recipes for Fall
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Photo Credit: Budget Bytes, Pixabay, My Heart Beets, Tasty-Yummies, Live Well Bake Often, Julie’s Eats and Treats
Amazing pumpkin recipes!