23 Savory Pumpkin Recipes for Dinner

While pumpkin makes for an excellent pie, it doesn’t have to be reserved for desserts – it also provides a versatile ingredient for your main dish! You might think – what can I make for dinner with pumpkin?

Well, these savory pumpkin recipes will transform the iconic orange gourd into something more than a sweet treat.

With these 23 pumpkin recipes for dinner, you’ll have a variety of ways to use up those cans of pumpkin sitting under your counter from last fall.

From soup to enchiladas to pizza, there’s bound to be a unique pumpkin dish you’ll love to serve – even beyond autumn!

1. Pumpkin Soup – Classic and Easy

If you’re looking for an easy, creamy soup that tastes as rich as it looks, then you’ve hit (liquid) gold with this soup!
Simple and straightforward, this recipe doesn’t require very many ingredients which makes it a convenient dish, even for those new in the kitchen.

If making it from scratch, you’ll just need to consider the time to cook down the pumpkin, but if using canned then it’s even faster.

Want a little variety? This savory pumpkin dinner lends itself to numerous options for spices – curry, ginger, paprika, and turmeric are just a few options to complement the dish.

2. The BEST Pumpkin Pasta

Craving pasta, but want something a little different than your usual tomato sauce? Pumpkin dishes like this allow you to take a creative twist on dinners the whole family will love.

With the ability to swap out the type of pasta you use, it’s a versatile recipe that will give you that comforting meal you crave at the end of the day.

The added ingredient of sage really establishes a different flavor profile than most pasta dishes, while the pumpkin puree creates a creamy texture to coat each and every noodle.

3. Pumpkin Chili

The beauty of chilli is that there are 1000 ways to make it, and each version can be just as delicious as another. Pumpkin chilli is no different if you’re looking for one of the best pumpkin recipes!

Along with the usual ingredients of beans, tomatoes, and peppers, this chilli uses a few non-traditional ingredients.

By adding pumpkin, this chilli gets some extra fibre and vitamins that can be helpful for your body, and the twist of including a little cinnamon really makes the chilli taste unique –

don’t knock it off before you try it.

4. Easy Vegan Pumpkin Lentil Curry

Vegan recipes are becoming more popular, and pumpkin doesn’t escape from that category.

Pumpkin dinner recipes like this Pumpkin Lentil Curry are an excellent way to fit dietary preferences across the board for gatherings with friends and family.

Because it is free of both meat and dairy and can be made nut-free as well, it’s the perfect dish!

A good source of vitamins and nutrients with a low-calorie count per serving, this Vegan Pumpkin Lentil Curry will satisfy the crowd and keep them on track for their health goals.

5. Pumpkin Lasagna

If you love lasagna, and you love pumpkin, then look no further for the ideal recipe: Pumpkin Lasagna.

Pairing pumpkin with rich ingredients such as cheese and cream creates an ultimate indulgence for dinner.

It’s satisfying, indulgent, and sure to be a hit with the family.

The bonus is that you can freeze unbaked lasagna ahead of time to pull out and heat when you’re ready.

If you’re making this recipe, go ahead and double it to make a second batch to freeze – it’ll be a lifesaver the next time you need to make dinner and don’t have time to prep!

6. Easy Pumpkin Hummus

Maybe you have leftover pumpkin after making pies, and you’re asking yourself: “What can I make for dinner with pumpkin puree?”

Pumpkin hummus is the answer to your dreams – easy to use as a dip for appetizers or charcuterie, it can also go on meats, sandwiches, or crackers! It could easily be stored to use on food all week.

Even with the small amount of maple syrup, this recipe is surprisingly savory and will become a staple in your refrigerator – perfect for a quick snack or layering onto a sandwich.

7. Savory Pumpkin Casserole Recipe with Herbs

Northerners live and die by casseroles – it’s an entire category of recipes embraced by the Mid-West. Pumpkin isn’t a common casserole ingredient, but that doesn’t mean it can’t make an excellent one.

Combining pureed pumpkin with eggs, cream, and cheese might not sound like a hit, but trust us on this one.

The result creates a sort of herbed pumpkin frittata that is warm and satisfying.

The Savory Pumpkin Casserole is flexible enough to be used for dinner, breakfast, or both!

8. Best-Ever Pumpkin Ravioli

Ravioli is a work of art, and like good art; it takes a little extra time to make. This pumpkin dinner recipe would be a great way to impress on a date – just make sure, to clean as you go.

One tip is to read the recipe entirely before getting started – by knowing what to anticipate in the different steps, you’ll be better prepared for the process.

The technique takes time to develop, so use the first few kinds of ravioli you make as practice, but don’t get discouraged if they aren’t perfect. They don’t have to be pretty as long as they’re tasty.

9. Pumpkin Quesadillas with Black Beans and Green Chile

Simple pumpkin recipes for dinner include ones like this Pumpkin Quesadilla, which put a vegetarian twist on a long-time favorite.

Pumpkin is an excellent way to balance against the more powerful spices in the dish such as cumin, garlic, and chiles. The crispiness of the outer tortilla also contrasts with the soft pumpkin.

This quick dinner recipe is easy to toss together when you don’t feel like putting a lot of time into cooking, but still want the feel of a cooked meal.

10. Pumpkin Butter Chicken

What can I make for dinner with pumpkin puree? What can I make that’s Whole30 compliant? These are questions many have asked, and the answer is Pumpkin Butter Chicken.

The hearty dish is fragrant, delicious, and packed with nutrients while remaining healthy.

By switching out what it’s served with, such as naan, rice, or cauliflower rice, it can be customized to your preferences.

The chicken should be marinated for at least 30 minutes, if not up to a full day, so you might want to plan ahead if you’re cooking this for dinner.

11. Pumpkin Stuffed Shells

There’s a reason pasta and pumpkin keep getting paired together in these recipes! Stuffed shells are like little pockets of deliciousness – each bite full of rich flavor.

When finishing them off in the oven, you get a dinner that smells amazing and has an enticing brown and bubbly finish that will beg to be eaten.

The best part of stuffed shells is that it makes serving and portioning easy! All you must do is decide how many pieces you want, grab them, and dive in.

12. Pumpkin Stew

Looking to make fresh pumpkin recipes savory and filling? Pumpkin stew will certainly hit the mark.

Making the stew takes several hours due to cooking times, but it’s the baking of it IN the pumpkin that really makes this worth the effort involved.

As you serve it, be sure to scoop out some of the pumpkins at the same time.

It’s a fun and festive way to celebrate Halloween, fall, or just your love of autumn produce.

13. Baked Pumpkin Quinoa

Are you searching for a savory fresh pumpkin recipe that’s creative with a combination of fresh and acidic notes? Baked Pumpkin Quinoa might be exactly what you’re looking for.

By adding pomegranate seeds, Calabrian chilli paste, and lemon juice, this pumpkin recipe is a big deviate from most.

It creates a balance with the smooth and creamy notes provided by the pumpkin and Burrata cheese.

By roasting the pumpkin seeds and adding them to the quinoa, nothing from your pumpkin will go to waste.

14. Slow-Cooker Pumpkin Risotto

Slow cooker recipes are a great way to make savory pumpkin recipes for a meal.

You’ll have to sauté the spices and onions first, along with adding the rice for a few minutes, but then you’re able to transfer everything to the slow cooker.

Set it for 1.5 hours and head off to do whatever else while the aromatic meal comes together without much work!

This recipe can be done with either pureed or fresh pumpkin and includes directions at the bottom for preparing fresh pumpkin if that’s your preference.

15. Creamy Pumpkin Spaghetti

Between the acid of the tomatoes and the creaminess of the pumpkin, this recipe is one you’ll keep on repeat for your dinner menu. It brings images of comfort food and cosy dinners by the fire!

A key point for this pumpkin dinner recipe is the smooth texture of the pasta sauce created by using a blender just after simmering.

While it calls for ground turkey, substitution with ground beef or chicken would work too.

You could also swap out pasta types or use non-grain noodles, just consider how ingredients like zoodles will alter the water content of the dish.

16. Savory Pumpkin Pie

Like a quiche, this savory pie uses an egg and pumpkin filling in a flaky crust to achieve greatness for dinner. No one’s going to judge you for using a pre-made shortcrust pastry shell instead of making it from scratch.

Easy pumpkin recipes for dinner should all be this straightforward: Sauté, mix, pour, bake, devour!

This would make an excellent dish to bring to a brunch – no doubt it would be a hit. Better yet, make for yourself and eat leftovers for days to come.

17. Savory Pumpkin Quiche with Caramelized Bacon and Onions

You bought a bunch of pumpkins to carve but never got around to it. You don’t want to waste them, so you wonder, “What can I make out of a pumpkin?”

The answer is this Savory Pumpkin Quiche with Caramelized Bacon and Onions, aka culinary genius.

Considering bacon and pumpkin are two of the biggest cult favorites when talking about recipe ingredients, it’s no surprise there’s a recipe that combines the two.

What is surprising is just how well they work together.

18. Spicy Black Bean Chicken Enchiladas 

With pumpkin tied throughout the dish in the enchilada sauce and in the sour cream topping, pumpkin truly is a star ingredient here.

Make them ahead of time so that you can stick them in the oven for a quick dinner after work, and use leftovers for breakfast – just add a fried egg on top

A few tips for making successful enchiladas: warm your tortillas first, don’t overfill them, and put them in the pan seamed side down. This helps keep them from turning into a casserole instead.

19. Pumpkin Mac and Cheese 

If you’re looking for a sneaky way to add nutrients to a picky eater’s diet, try making Pumpkin Mac and Cheese. Because pumpkin is rich in Vitamin A, it’s an excellent ingredient for almost any dish.

The pumpkin is camouflaged well under since it matches the cheddar, and it’s just as creamy as the fairy ingredients.

If you prefer a thicker sauce, let it sit and cool, or make the dish a day in advance – this gives time for some of the sauce to soak into the noodle too.

20. Beef Stew with Pumpkin

What can I make with fresh pumpkin? More like what CAN’T you make, but one of the best uses is in this Beef Stew with Pumpkin!

The winter squash balances out the hearty flavors of the beef, creating a meal that’s perfect after a cold day skiing or shoveling snow.

Making it in a slow cooker allows you to start it in the morning and cook throughout the day for 8 hours, but if you want to make it more quickly try an Instant Pot – it only takes 35 minutes to cook that way.

21. Roasted Pumpkin Nachos

A game day meal with your favorite fall ingredient: nachos with pumpkin! This might sound like a stretch, but it really does add a twist to the traditional.

This is a recipe that could easily be doubled or tripled if you have a big group of people coming over to watch the game.

If you want a little more spice, try adding a salsa with some heat or even jalapenos on top.

A bit of hot sauce isn’t a bad idea either.

22. Pumpkin Spice Tacos

Whether it’s Taco Tuesday or any other day of the week, Pumpkin Spice Tacos are a spectacular choice for dinner.

There is an actual pumpkin pie spice blend in here but married with the other ingredients you’d never realize it.

If you don’t happen to have any, you can make your own since the blend includes common spices found in most homes.

Plus, if you’re not a fan of corn tortillas, these tacos would still work great with flour or cassava tortillas.

23. The Best Pumpkin Pizza

Pizza is a universally loved meal, but adding pumpkin and apple is a great way to elevate the traditional dish to a new level while putting a fall twist on it.

For the perfect finish, bake the pizza on a pizza stone, and turn on the broiler the last minute or so of the cooking process to achieve a brown and crisp edge!

If you want more bite, try drizzling on hot honey or shaking some red pepper flakes over top!