How To Roast A Pumpkin Easily

How do you cook a pumpkin? I’m sharing how to roast a pumpkin, and some ideas on what to do with it and how we store it.

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What pumpkin is good for roasting?  When you buy it at the store it's called a pie pumpkin.  When you grow it from seed there are a few different varieties.  Look on the label and it will tell you if it's a pumpkin for cooking or eating.

Ingredients needed:

  • Pie Pumpkin
  • Squash – don’t like pumpkin you can use this same technique with butternut squash, kabocha or any other squash.

How To Roast A Pumpkin Easily Video

What pumpkin is good for roasting? When you buy it at the store it’s called a pie pumpkin. When you grow it from seed there are a few different varieties. Look on the label and it will tell you if it’s a pumpkin for cooking or eating.

Start by cutting the top off of each pumpkin.  You don't need to worry about how straight or how low your cut is.

HERE ARE THE INSTRUCTIONS

Start by using a sharp knife to cut the top off of each pumpkin. You don’t need to worry about how straight or how low your cut is.

Scoop out the the middle section of the pumpkin and lid of the pumpkin.

Use a spoon to scoop out the the middle section of the pumpkin and lid of the pumpkin.

You can reserve the pumpkin seeds for baking and eating. You can also dry them out and save them for planting next year.

Here's what they should look like after scooping them out.  They don't need to be perfect, and don't forget to clean out the lid of the pumpkin as well.

Here’s what they should look like after scooping them out. They don’t need to be perfect, and don’t forget to clean out the lid of the pumpkin as well.

Place the lids back on the pumpkin, and place the pumpkin on a foil lined baking sheet.

Place the lids back on the pumpkin, and place the pumpkin on an aluminum foil lined baking sheet.

Place in an oven preheated at 350 degrees. Bake the pumpkins for 45 minutes to 1 hour.

When the pumpkins are done, remove them from the oven and place on a cooling rack.

When the pumpkins are done, remove them from the oven and place on a cooling rack.

Remove the lid of the pumpkin and let cook.  As you can see in the photo, sometimes the lid flesh pops right out of the pumpkin shell.

Remove the lid of the pumpkin and let cook. As you can see in the photo, sometimes the lid flesh pops right out of the pumpkin shell.

To test that the pumpkin is done cooking, stab it with a fork.  It should go in really easy.  If it doesn't, cook the pumpkin longer.

The pumpkin should be fork tender. To test that the pumpkin is done cooking, stab it with a fork. It should go in really easy. If it doesn’t, cook the pumpkin longer.

Scoop out the pumpkin flesh.  It should come off the shell nice and easy.

Scoop out the pumpkin flesh. It should come off the shell nice and easy.

You can eat it as you would other squash like acorn, spaghetti, butternut, etc.  I like to place some in baggies and freeze it for use later.

You can eat it as you would other squash like acorn, spaghetti, butternut, etc. I like to place some in freezer bags and freeze it for use later.

We eat it with a little butter and salt. Add it to soups or chilis Add it to casseroles or hotdishes Make a pumpkin pie Make pumpkin soup Make pumpkin pasta, or dumplings Bake with it - add it to cakes, muffins, cookies

What can you do with cooked or roasted pumpkin?

  • We eat it with a little melted butter and salt or cinnamon
  • Blend it in with soups or chilis
  • Add it to casseroles or hot dish
  • Make a pumpkin pie
  • Make pumpkin soup
  • Make pumpkin pasta, or dumplings
  • Bake with it – add it to cakes, muffins, cookies
  • Make homemade pumpkin puree

This pumpkin recipe can be used with a sugar pumpkin, pie pumpkin or winter squash. It tastes way better than canned pumpkin. Save the seeds and make my pumpkin seed recipe.

Pumpkin purée is really easy to make, once the pumpkin is cooked put the pumpkin chunks in a bowl and use an emersion blender to create that smooth silky texture.

How do you cook a pumpkin?  I'm sharing how to roast a pumpkin, and some ideas on what to do with it and how we store it.

How To Roast A Pumpkin Easily Video

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How To Roast A Pumpkin Easily

How do you cook a pumpkin? I'm sharing how to roast a pumpkin, and some ideas on what to do with it and how we store it.
Course Cook: Tips and Recipes
Cuisine American
Keyword Roast A Pumpkin
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes
Servings 32 oz
Calories 81kcal
Author Chas

Ingredients

  • Pie Pumpkin
  • Squash – if you don’t like pumpkin you can do this with squash

Instructions

  • Start by cutting the top off of each pumpkin.
  • Scoop out the the middle section of the pumpkin and lid of the pumpkin.
  • Place the lids back on the pumpkin, and place the pumpkin on a foil lined baking sheet.
  • Place in an oven preheated at 350 degrees. Bake the pumpkins for 45 minutes to 1 hour.
  • When the pumpkins are done, remove them from the oven and place on a cooling rack.
  • Remove the lid of the pumpkin and let cook.
  • To test that the pumpkin is done cooking, stab it with a fork. It should go in really easy. If it doesn’t, cook the pumpkin longer.
  • Scoop out the pumpkin flesh.

Video

Notes

You can eat it as you would other squash like acorn, spaghetti, butternut, etc. I like to place some in baggies and freeze it for use later.
What can you do with cooked or roasted pumpkin?
  • We eat it with a little butter and salt.
  • Add it to soups or chilis
  • Add it to casseroles or hotdishes
  • Make a pumpkin pie
  • Make pumpkin soup
  • Make pumpkin pasta, or dumplings
  • Bake with it – add it to cakes, muffins, cookies

Check out some of my other pumpkin recipes!

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10 Comments

  1. Looks so cute! No I haven’t ever tried roasting my own pumpkin. I will have to give it a try. Thanks!

    1. Thanks Andrea, and it’s so much better than canned pumpkin. In fact sometimes we just eat it like we would an acorn squash… just a little butter and salt. So yummy and good for you!

    2. the only thing i roast are the seeds i never eaten anything else from a fresh pumpkin before

      1. If you like acorn or butternut squash, then you might like this too

    1. Thank you so much Barbara, it’s great for so many recipes.

  2. ********************************************************
    Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
    ********************************************************

    1. Thank you so much Marilyn, I hope you’re having a great weekend.

  3. Naomie Moore says:

    This popped into my feed on Foodtalk! I knew it had to be you! Love love love pumpkin or any type of squash. And I do just as you explained. The directions are spot on. Last year at this time I made pumpkin ravioli and served it up with a brown butter sage sauce. For nine people. That’s a lot of ravioli! Should have made it the appetizer and not the main course. Anyway, love pie pumpkins thanks for sharing to entice others to try this magnificent fall vegetable!

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