Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

By Ann Fulton

A few helpful tips and an easy technique yield the crispiest, most irresistible pumpkin seeds with the simplest of ingredients. The snack-worthy recipe is reason to carve a pumpkin, even if you don't have kids! 
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A few helpful tips and an easy technique yield the crispiest, most irresistible pumpkin seeds with the simplest of ingredients. The snack-worthy recipe is reason to carve a pumpkin, even if you don’t have kids! 

 

I’d venture to say that the annual ritual of pumpkin carving is almost as much fun for a parent as it is for a child.

The part I never liked, however, was trying to separate the slimy, orange goop from the slippery seeds before roasting them.

Then it came to me. Why bother?

A few helpful tips and an easy technique yield the crispiest, most irresistible pumpkin seeds with the simplest of ingredients. The snack-worthy recipe is reason to carve a pumpkin, even if you don't have kids! 

The fibrous strands add flavor to the seeds, and once cooked, can be easily plucked away.

But you might want to it taste first. The unwanted pulp becomes crisp, well seasoned, and I like it as much as the seeds.

If you’re lucky, you might even score a little cluster of crisp seeds held together by the dried-out pumpkin!

Whether you’re sold on the orange addition or not, a simple tip or two will ensure that the seeds are cooked to crispy perfection.

Allowing the seeds to dry before they are roasted is key. There’s an added convenience here, too. The seeds can sit for hours, even overnight or for several days, so the initial focus remains on the fun task of pumpkin carving.

If the seeds are completely dry and you’re still not ready to cook, simply place them in an airtight container or zip-top bag and refrigerate for another day or two. I’ve roasted seeds up to a week after they’ve been scooped out of the pumpkin with excellent results. 

When ready to bake, I find low heat to be the most effective method of evenly crisping the seeds without burning them. I usually keep the seasonings to a minimum, adding just a sprinkle of salt, but there are many ways to add spice to the seeds if you prefer.

Of course, pumpkin season doesn’t end once the trick-or-treaters have come and gone. You can enjoy this savory, fiber-rich snack throughout autumn. We often use a few un-carved pumpkins for decoration and retrieve the seeds before the pumpkins pass their prime. 

Other varieties of winter squash (like butternut, spaghetti, or acorn) yield fewer, smaller seeds, but the following method may absolutely be adjusted for use with them, too. Consider using those seeds as a crunchy topping for a smooth butternut squash soup or on almost any salad–green or grain-based–incorporating roasted squash, apples, and/or root vegetables.

For a lightly sweet variation, you may also enjoy Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds.

So, get your pumpkins ready–and don’t miss the Halloween fun and video below the recipe. 🎃

A few helpful tips and an easy technique yield the crispiest, most irresistible pumpkin seeds with the simplest of ingredients. The snack-worthy recipe is reason to carve a pumpkin, even if you don't have kids! 

Once you’ve scooped out the seeds, spread them in an even layer on a baking sheet. If you aren’t in a hurry to cook the seeds, giving them time to dry out will allow for more even cooking and crispier texture. Discard the big pieces of pumpkin, but don’t worry about all the little strands of goop. They add flavor and can easily be picked off after roasting. And you may find you like to eat them! 

A few helpful tips and an easy technique yield the crispiest, most irresistible pumpkin seeds with the simplest of ingredients. The snack-worthy recipe is reason to carve a pumpkin, even if you don't have kids! 

Toss with the oil–a very light coating is all you need–and the salt. You may add additional spices at this point, although I usually stick with salt…sometimes salt and pepper.

A few helpful tips and an easy technique yield the crispiest, most irresistible pumpkin seeds with the simplest of ingredients. The snack-worthy recipe is reason to carve a pumpkin, even if you don't have kids! 

Before baking, spread the seeds in an even layer on a parchment-lined or lightly-greased baking sheet.

A few helpful tips and an easy technique yield the crispiest, most irresistible pumpkin seeds with the simplest of ingredients. The snack-worthy recipe is reason to carve a pumpkin, even if you don't have kids! 

The low oven temperature ensures evenly crisp, golden seeds that taste great 

A few helpful tips and an easy technique yield the crispiest, most irresistible pumpkin seeds with the simplest of ingredients. The snack-worthy recipe is reason to carve a pumpkin, even if you don't have kids! 
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Prep Time: 20 min
Cook Time: 60 min
Total Time: 80 min
Yield: 6 (¼ cup) servings
I find it easiest to thoroughly and evenly crisp the seeds when they are at least somewhat dry before baking. Below I offer several ways to accomplish this, depending on how patient you are. Sometimes, it’s hard to wait!
Ingredients
  • 1½ cups raw pumpkin seeds*
  • 2 teaspoons olive oil, melted coconut oil, or oil of choice
  • ¼ – ½ teaspoon kosher salt**
  • Optional: ¼ – ½ teaspoons spice of choice***
Instructions
  1. Prepare the seeds: Remove the big globs of pumpkin from the seeds. It’s ok to leave some of the stringy goop–it will actually add flavor. Spread the seeds out on a rimmed baking sheet.
  2. Drying the seeds: Dry the seeds, which have been spread into an even layer, uncovered, in the refrigerator (or on the counter if you don’t have room in the fridge) for several hours. Stir occasionally and spread into an even layer again. For more thorough drying or if you simply prefer to cook the seeds later, you may let the seeds dry in the refrigerator, uncovered and stirring occasionally, for up to several days. Once the seeds feel completely dry to the touch, transfer them to an airtight container and bake within the week. As another option, place the seeds in an oven preheated to 250℉ for 60 to 90 minutes to dry out, stirring occasionally. Don’t want to wait? You may bake the seeds immediately after removing them from the pumpkin; they will simply take longer to evenly crisp, but they will.
  3. When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 300℉. In a mixing bowl, toss the seeds with the oil, salt, and optional spice. Spread the pumpkin seeds in a single layer on a clean baking sheet lined with parchment paper (or spray or oil the sheet).
  4. Bake for 30 minutes, stirring after 15 minutes. After 30 minutes, stir again, reduce the heat to 250℉, and continue to cook in 10-15 minute increments, stirring in between, until the seeds are crisp and dry. Total time will depend upon how dry your seeds were when you started cooking, size of seeds, etc. The last batch I cooked was semi-dry when I started baking, and it took 60-65 minutes.
Notes

*The stated measurement of seeds is roughly the amount of seeds you will remove from one medium-large pumpkin. Feel free to adjust the recipe based on the quantity of seeds you have, spreading over an additional baking sheet to maintain a single layer, if necessary.

**If you are a salty snack lover, you may want to use ½ teaspoon of salt. For a lower sodium option or milder flavor, reduce the amount to ¼ teaspoon. If using fine table salt instead of kosher salt, reduce these amounts by a pinch.

***The seeds are delicious as is, but you may certainly add spices of choice. Cumin, chili powder, smoked paprika, curry, and cinnamon are all good options.

The scoop on the goop: Big chunks of goop will prevent the seeds from evenly drying out, but smaller pieces add flavor and are easy to remove once the seeds are cooked. That said, everyone in my house eats the seeds that have some of the crispy goop attached first!

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The boys hard at work in 2013, when Christian was 11 and John was 14.

Did you know? 

  • The word “pumpkin” appeared for the first time in the fairy tale Cinderella.
  • The average pumpkin has about 500 seeds.
  • Pumpkins were once considered a remedy for freckles and snakebites.
  • Pumpkins are grown on every continent except Antarctica.

For more Halloween food fun, you may also enjoy easy recipes for Spooky Spaghetti Stuffed Peppers, Spider Dogs (a pasta dish that kids and adults enjoy), Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds, and Clementine Jack-o’-lanterns

 

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Comments

  1. Deb

    Leaving the raw pumpkin attached to the seeds and letting it sit out overnight won’t create harmful bacteria? I’m OCD about food safety so I’d love to hear the science behind it. Save me a lot of time messing with the goop, too!

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      Hi Deb, You can absolutely let the seeds dry out in the refrigerator instead. They will likely dry out quicker that way and that will also alleviate any concerns you may have.

      Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      So happy to read this, Binita. Just be aware that purchased seeds won’t take long at all to roast in the oven. When you dig the seeds out of a pumpkin, they contain a lot of moisture that needs to be cooked off before they will become crisp.

      Reply
  2. Mary Lou Keller

    This is funny Ann, found this recipe and also my comment from 2013. .. 3 years ago! ☺ almost to the day. So once again, im feeling like being in the kitchen and I have these in the oven. Going to make the cinnamon ones after these are finished.

    It’s amazing to think we have been “friends” for four years!
    Have a wonderful Sunday Ann!

    Reply
    1. Ann Post author

      I love it! Time sure flies, and I feel lucky to have had your virtual visits for so many years. They are always a bright spot in my day!

      Reply
  3. Ingrid

    I know this may seem like a stupid question but, I have never made this. Would like to but really want to know how you eat them….
    Do you peel of the hard skin and eat the centre like with sunflower seeds or do you eat them whole?

    Reply
  4. Dan Lamson

    This also works for the seeds of just about any “winter” squash’ acorn, etc. Then try dusting them with powder mixture of the middle east “big three”, cinnamon, nutmeg, and allspice.

    Reply
    1. Ann

      Great to mention, Dan. I often do this with butternut squash seeds…your “big three” suggestion sounds wonderful!

      Reply
  5. Christie

    My boys loved these and they were so easy, we just played it safe and used cinnamon, but next time maybe I will add a little heat.

    Thank you for the tip to let them dry out before you put them in the oven, it made the process so much easier and then I didn’t feel a rush to roast them!!

    Reply
  6. Mary Lou Keller

    I need to get a nice pie pumpkin, if you recall last year I roasted mine in the oven and it came out perfect! I am getting in a pumpkin mood!

    Reply
  7. Mary Lou Keller

    I have some raw pumpkin seeds I want to roast and I am going to follow your recipe Ann! I think I will try the avocado oil when I make them.

    With change in time and evening getting dark earlier, I am in the mood for some cooking! 🙂

    Reply
    1. Ann

      I used avocado oil for one of my batches and they turned out great. I have been contemplating buying another pumpkin just for the seeds! Enjoy!!

      Reply