15 best pumpkin recipes – perfect for Autumn

When it comes to pumpkin recipes, most people will think of pumpkin pie and pumpkin soup. But cooking with pumpkin doesn’t have to be that basic. Pumpkins are everywhere at this time of year and while most people only ever think of carving them for Halloween, they’re actually a great ingredient to use in a lot of dishes. Pumpkins are rich in vitamin A which is good for growth and development and fantastic for your immune system. So when you’re at the pumpkin patch or the supermarket getting your pumpkins for Halloween, consider adding a few extra and whip up these amazing pumpkin recipes.

If cooking with pumpkin really isn’t your thing then why not check out these recipe posts instead?
15 autumn recipes that you’ll fall in love with
15 frighteningly fun Halloween recipes that you need to make

Pumpkin Tiramisu

Tiramisu is a deliciously creamy, boozy dessert that I love. This pumpkin version gives a wonderfully autumnal twist on a classic. Rich pumpkin mousse and spiced whipped cream go alongside the classic espresso soaked sponge to create this amazing layered dessert. The beauty about this is if you’re having guests over, it’s the perfect dish to make the evening before and just let it chill!

Find the full recipe over on Cooked by Julie

Pumpkin and chocolate marble loaf

A moist marble loaf with two amazing flavours swirled together and topped with a maple glaze. Hello autumnal eating! The addition of the pumpkin pie spices makes this a deliciously warming dish. This loaf will last 3-4 days in an air tight container but a full loaf (without the glaze) can be frozen too! So you could always double up on the ingredients and freeze one for another day.

Find the full recipe over on Baked

One-pot pasta with pumpkin sauce

Everyone loves a hearty bowl of pasta and when it’s a recipe that can be made it one pot with minimal ingredients then that’s even better. This recipe uses pumpkin puree, milk and parmesan to create a deliciously creamy but healthy pasta sauce that everyone’s sure to love. The fact it’s all made up in one pan means you can quickly whip up a batch of this for a deliciously easy but tasty lunch too. Oh and the recipe reheats really well too so you can make up extra and store it in an air tight container to eat the next day.

Find the full recipe over on Marley’s Menu

Instant pot pumpkin turkey chili

There’s nothing better than a hearty, warming chili on a cold evening and this pumpkin and turkey version is sure to fill you up. This recipe uses and instant pot but there’s also instructions for cooking on the stove top and a slow cooker too. While the pumpkin flavour is almost undetectable it does add a slight sweetness to the dish as well as a thick, creamy texture. Perfect for hiding extra goodness in a dish! This is a great recipe for batch cooking as it freezes well too.

Find the full recipe over on The Recipe Well

Pumpkin pie overnight oats

Overnight oats are an amazing breakfast option for those in a rush because they can be made the night before and then in the morning you just grab and go! This pumpkin pie recipe is a wonderful autumnal way to shake up your overnight oats. Just layer the oats up with pumpkin puree and yogurt and top with nuts. It looks great, tastes amazing and is a quick and healthy breakfast that will set you up for the day.

Find the full recipe over on Marathons & Motivation

Easy pumpkin pancakes

Healthy pumpkin pancakes with whole-wheat and gluten free options but that actually have the texture of a proper American pancake? Count me in! These pancakes have an unusual ingredient that a lot of people might pull a face at, cottage cheese, but the flavour is promised to be undetectable and eliminates the bready texture. Oh and it packs a whole lot of protein in there too! These pancakes reheat well too so you can whip up a big batch and enjoy them over a couple of mornings.

Find the full recipe over on Texanerin Baking

Roast pumpkin and caramelised onion quiche

Quiche is such a good lunch option, it can be eaten hot or cold and served with a salad or some veggies. However it’s the same old quiches you tend to see, cheese and onion, quiche Lorraine etc so that’s why thus recipe stood out to me. Roast pumpkin and caramelised onion quiche sounds a wonderfully autumnal take on a classic recipe doesn’t it? A delicious filling encased in homemade short, buttery pastry. Lovely!

Find the full recipe over on Emily Leary

Thai red pumpkin curry

A wonderfully fragrant, colourful curry is packed with pumpkin, chickpeas, spinach, peppers and delicious Thai flavours. This a a one-pot curry that’s ready in 30 minutes making it the perfect weekday meal. The recipe is already gluten and dairy free and with a few small adjustments it can be suitable for vegans too. It does freeze but a few adjustments need to be made so this is a dish best eaten within 1-2 days of it being made.

Find the full recipe over on The Yummy Bowl

Pumpkin swirl cheesecake bars

Who doesn’t love a good cheesecake?! This one has been made into bars for an indulgent bitesize treat and is packed with warmly spiced flavours and and a smooth and creamy cheesecake filling. The best thing about this delicious dessert? It last up to a week in the fridge (though I doubt it will be around that long) and it can be frozen meaning you have dessert available whenever you want it! As the is an American recipe it uses graham crackers but over here in the U.K, you’ll want to use digestive biscuits.

Find the full recipe over on Whisking Wolf

Pumpkin truffles

Creamy pumpkin puree and a white chocolate coating is the perfect match to make delicious autumnal truffles. You can grab one as a quick treat, though I doubt you’ll want to stop at just one! This recipe provides the instructions a single serving and for a larger batch which gives you the option of limiting the amount of sweet treats in the house of making a larger batch and sharing with others. I find truffles make for a wonderful homemade gift too!

Find the full recipe over on Joy Filled Eats

Pumpkin risotto

Pumpkin risotto is a great dish if you can’t really be bothered with cooking after a long day at work or if you don’t think you’re good at cooking. Everything goes in one pan and you just constantly stir. What could be easier?! It’s also a good option if you have guests over as it’s packed with flavour and you don’t have to stress out too much about cooking. Oh and this is a super healthy dish too and if you don’t like any of the vegetable ingredients included you can just substitute for ones you do like.

Find the full recipe over on Plant-Based on a Budget

Vegan pumpkin cinnamon rolls

A pumpkin twist on delicious, warming cinnamon rolls. The perfect autumn comfort food, these are wonderful for enjoying with a cup of tea or coffee and will quite literally melt in your mouth. The dough for these contains pumpkin puree and the filling has pumpkin spice in it so you’re in for a delicious pumpkin treat. Topped with a cream cheese frosting for that original cinnamon roll touch.

Find the full recipe over on Rainbow Nourishments

Baked pumpkin doughnuts

These pumpkin doughnuts have a lovely, light texture and just the right amount of pumpkin spice and the delicious sweetness of an original doughnut. However these little treats are baked rather than deep-fried making them much healthier. They’re rolled in cinnamon sugar so you don’t feel like you’re missing out on that great doughnut texture or appearance either. These will last up to three days stored in an airtight container but they’ll probably get snapped up straight away!

Find the full recipe over on It’s Not Complicated

Instant pot pumpkin chicken curry

A slightly milder curry for those who don’t fancy the spice of the Thai curry further up (or that just want a curry with more Indian flavours than Thai). This chicken and pumpkin curry uses coconut milk and korma spices to create a wonderfully creamy and flavourful. What I like about this recipe is the spice mix is homemade too which adds much more depth and flavour to your curry rather than using a store bought sauce or paste.

Find the full recipe over on I Heart Umami

Double chocolate pumpkin tart

We had to end on something sweet and this double chocolate pumpkin tart is a great rival for a pumpkin pie I think. This is packed with chocolate as the tart crust is actually made with Oreos then there’s chocolate swirled on top and then packed with pumpkin in the middle! Not only does this taste amazing but that black crust contrasted with the pumpkin and the chocolate swirls is super effective too. This is another dessert that can be frozen too!

Find the full recipe over on Whisking Wolf

A note of cooking with pumpkin

You’ll notice than a lot of these recipes use pumpkin puree, pumpkin spice or even both. Over in American both of these ingredients are super easy to get hold of however in the U.K. they’re not. Don’t worry though making your own pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice is super easy.

For pumpkin puree all your need to do is chop up your pumpkin into even cubes, steam it over a pan of simmering water then puree it. Fresh pumpkin puree will have a higher water content than canned puree though so just remember to squeeze fresh pumpkin puree in-between paper towels to reduce the water content.

For pumpkin spice all you need to do is combine ground cinnamon, ginger, cloves, allspice and nutmeg together to create your own pumpkin spice mix.

Do you like cooking with pumpkin? Which of these recipes will you be trying out? Let me know in the comments!