Top 20 pumpkin recipes | Good Food

This classic Thanksgiving dessert is well-deserving of a place in our top 20. With a sweet pastry and warming spiced filling, this simple recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser. Alternatively, try our vegan pumpkin pie for a luxurious dairy-free treat.

Try more of our pumpkin pie recipes.

2. Pumpkin curry with chickpeas

Warm up on autumn nights with a fragrant pumpkin and chickpea curry. This vegan dish is low in calories but super-satisfying, with flavours of Thai yellow curry paste, lemongrass and creamy coconut milk. Serve it as a main or flavourful side.

More like this

We’ve got plenty more vegan pumpkin recipes.

3. Halloween pumpkin cake

Pumpkin cake with frosting, cut into squares

Put pumpkin leftovers to great use in a moist and moreish Halloween traybake. Like carrot cake, it combines grated squash with subtle spices and citrus, topped with a fluffy soft cheese frosting. It’s sure to become a family favourite.

Check out our impressive pumpkin and caramel layer cake.

4. Pumpkin soup

One of our most popular pumpkin recipes, this silky soup makes a sensational starter or comforting dinner. Serve with a scattering of crunchy croutons and pumpkin seeds.

Looking for a touch of heat? Try our spicy pumpkin soup instead, flavoured with warming garam masala, cumin and a touch of chilli. Or, try our healthy vegan pumpkin soup for a lighter, dairy-free alternative.

Discover more of the best-ever pumpkin soup recipes.

5. Stuffed pumpkin

A plate of pumpkin with pomegranates, wild rice and sauce

Need a vegan centrepiece to impress? Bake a pumpkin with a gorgeous stuffing of rice, fennel, apple, pomegranate seeds and pecans. Finish with a zingy tahini dressing for the perfect plant-based dinner party dish.

Make the most of your leftover pumpkin seeds by roasting them in tamari, maple syrup and chilli flakes for a savoury snack. Or, check out more ideas for how to roast pumpkin seeds.

6. Pumpkin pie s’mores

A pile of S'mores filled with pumpkin puree and cream

We’ve combined two classic American sweets to bring you the ultimate Bonfire Night snack. Sandwich a melty marshmallow and pumpkin purée filling between ginger biscuits to create an oozing stack of s’mores. Use our recipe for homemade pumpkin purée, or if you’re short of time, try shop-bought canned purée.

We’ve got lots more sweet and savoury s’mores recipes to try.

7. Pumpkin & pecan cheesecake pie

Pumpkin cheesecake pie topped with pecans

Indulge in our cheesecake pie with homemade pastry, a pumpkin filling and pecan topping. It’s a brilliant finish to a decadent Autumn meal, and while it is more effort, it is worth it.

8. Roast pumpkin & spinach lasagne

Roast pumpkin and spinach lasagne in a baking dish

Bake a comforting veggie lasagne and freeze portions for busy nights. It features alternating layers of roasted pumpkin with cherry tomato sauce, nutmeg-spiced spinach and creamy béchamel. It’s well worth the effort for the irresistible combination of sweet, earthy flavours and crisp parmesan topping.

9. Pumpkin pickle

Get ahead on Christmas by making your own hamper, including this seasonal pumpkin pickle. It can be served with cold meats, cheese or a slice of pork pie.

10. Pumpkin risotto

This hearty dinner is great for teaching older kids how to cook. Follow our step-by-step instructions for preparing and roasting the squash, then making the risotto. You’ll have a budding chef in no time!

11. Pumpkin spice latte

Two glasses of pumpkin spiced lattes topped with cinnamon

The pumpkin spice latte has become an autumnal café favourite, but it’s not hard to recreate at home. Just combine smooth pumpkin purée, espresso coffee, fragrant spices and frothy steamed milk.

Warm up with more of our autumn drinks recipes.

12. Prawn, pumpkin & coconut stew

Prawn, spinach and pumpkin stew in a cooking pot

It doesn’t get more comforting than this aromatic one-pot. The prawns balance well with a creamy coconut sauce and the mild-flavoured pumpkin. Add a touch of heat with red chillies and serve with rice for a simple, impressive dinner.

13. Pumpkin cupcakes

Four pumpkin cupcakes with frosting and pecan nut topping

These pretty cinnamon-spiced cupcakes are not to be ignored. Similar to carrot cake, you grate the pumpkin to make a moist sponge, dotted with juicy sultanas. If the grated pumpkin flesh is quite wet, give it a good squeeze before using. Finish with a simple soft cheese frosting and chopped pecans.

14. Baked pumpkin fondue

Calling all cheese lovers! This gorgeously gooey showstopper is perfect for Bonfire Night or Halloween celebrations. Fill a whole roast pumpkin with a creamy three-cheese fondue, then serve with crusty bread and potatoes for everyone to dunk in.

15. Pumpkin cheesecake

Looking for a dessert that will wow guests? This stunning pumpkin cheesecake pulls out all the stops, and is well worth the effort. The luxuriously creamy, spiced filling is on a crunchy ginger biscuit base, and is topped with fluffy whipped cream and caramel sauce.

If you’re short on time, try our frozen pumpkin cheesecake instead. The filling and base can be made ahead of time using just five ingredients, then frozen – just add maple cream and ginger biscuits before serving.

16. Creamy pumpkin pasta

Bowl of pumpkin pasta topped with parmesan

Transform your pumpkin leftovers into a silky smooth pasta sauce, along with mascarpone, tomato purée and parmesan. Chunky, short pasta such as rigatoni or penne work especially well with this thick sauce as they are easily coated.

17. Pumpkin pancakes with salted pecan butterscotch

Pumpkin pancakes with salted pecan butterscotch on a plate

Get your weekend off to a sweet start with this indulgent brunch. We’ve taken pancakes to the next level by adding pumpkin purée and cinnamon to the batter. The fluffy, American-style stack is then drizzled with a rich salted pecan butterscotch sauce. Add a dollop of ice cream if that still isn’t sweet enough.

18. Pumpkin, fennel & taleggio galette

This stunning tart makes a wonderful lunch or dinner with buttery, flaky pastry, creamy Italian cheese, and autumnal vegetables. Leftovers taste great the next day, too.

19. Mini pumpkin & feta pies

Mini pumpkin & feta pies on a cooling rack

Throw a Halloween party and serve these fearsome pumpkin & feta pies. Perfect for little hands, kids will enjoy helping make them, too.

20. Pumpkin cornbread with whipped jalapeño butter

This moist cornbread combines mild pumpkin with punchy chillies, as well as a fiery whipped jalapeño butter. The perfect accompaniment to soups, chillis and roasts. Got more leftover squash on your hands? Use it to make our punchy pumpkin pickle – it’s equally delicious served dolloped on this cornbread.