15 savory recipes featuring pumpkins

Most of these recipes require you to put in some work scooping out the stringy guts of a pumpkin to get at the flesh that clings to the pumpkin walls. But don't make the mistake of throwing those guts away. Pepitas are a delicious (and relatively healthy!) snack that are incredibly easy to make. This recipe, courtesy of The Pioneer Woman, goes over the techniques required for roasting pumpkin seeds to a delicious crunchy texture. Feel free to toss them in your favorite spices before throwing them into the oven as well (personally, I recommend getting some salt and vinegar flavoring powder and coating your pepitas in that). Follow along with the full recipe here.

We'll keep it simple for this recipe as well. If you don't want to deal with a whole pumpkin, you can use a can of pure pumpkin puree to create a creamy and delicious pasta sauce. This recipe, via Budget Bytes, isn't only delicious, it's low-cost (and low-effort) as well. It takes a total of 20 minutes to complete and can be jazzed up with additions like spinach or sausage. The recipe can also easily be converted into a vegan one as well! Follow along with step-by-step instructions here.

Another recipe that calls for pumpkin puree but is not overly sweet is this classic recipe for pumpkin soup. A warming, stick-to-your-ribs mainstay for holiday dinners, this is an easy recipe that isn't incredibly labor-intensive for the flavors that you end up fostering in the soup. The full recipe can be found here, via AllRecipes.

While this recipe is vegetarian (and can easily be made vegan), you can easily add some chorizo or chicken to augment flavors. The dish doesn't need it, though. If you take the time to peel and roast the pumpkin beforehand, you'll be rewarded with a silky-smooth chili that will fulfill the gustatory desires of even the most devout carnivores. The full recipe can be found here, via The Kitchn.

OK, OK. So, technically, this dish isn't completely savory, given how the natural sweetness of the pumpkin blends with the maple syrup, but the sweet, savory and meaty flavors of this dish deserve your attention. RecipeTin Eats notes that the recipe is versatile enough to be served either as a side or a main, depending on the portions, so there's no reason not to try this one out. The full recipe is right here.

Although this recipe calls for winter squash, one of the first notes on the page is that pumpkin can be easily substituted since they are in the same family and have very similar flavor profiles. This is a delicious and hearty dish that is perfect for entertaining, especially during the fall months. Follow along with the whole recipe here.

Pumpkin is a whole lot more versatile than you might think. In this application, a steamed, mashed pumpkin provides surprising body to a classic cannelloni recipe. Country Living recommends finishing the dish with brown butter, as well as some sage leaves to bring out the fall flavors. The full recipe can be found here.

Bear with us. We know we already have a pumpkin soup recipe here, but this noodle soup deserves a spot on the list as well. Instead of using pumpkin puree to create a creamy soup base, this recipe uses pumpkin to augment a classic miso soup. The addition of buckwheat noodles to the recipe gives this recipe versatility to either be served alongside a main dish or given the spotlight itself. The full recipe is here, courtesy of Allrecipes.com.

Stay with us, here. We know it might be odd to make a vegetarian lasagna without tomato sauce, but after making this delicious dish, you'll understand. Go back to the pumpkin puree for this one to create a unique and flavorful filling for the lasagna. Food and Wine has the full recipe right here.

We bet you didn't see this coming. A meatless taco made with pumpkin puree? Well, trust us, it works. Really well. Layer your tacos with the pumpkin-cheese spread, slaw, chiles and pepitas, and you'll hardly notice the fact that there's no meat in there. Follow along with the full recipe right here.

Pumpkin isn't just for dinner. These pumpkin scones are perfect for breakfast and savory enough to stand alone. The gruyere inside the scone oozes out and caramelizes during baking, offering textural interest to the scones as well. Serve with eggs and bacon and enjoy! Food and Wine has the full recipe right here.

Sure, we know. Risotto can be really hard to get just right. But if you're confident enough in your skills with grains of Arborio, this dish tastes like fall, distilled. The flavors of rosemary and porcini mushrooms go perfectly with the hearty pumpkin, so don't overlook this recipe. Step-by-step risotto-making instructions are here, via Country Living.

OK, now we're getting serious. Pumpkin lobster mac and cheese might sound like overkill, and it totally is. But who said overkill isn't delicious sometimes? If you put in the work to make this dish (and it's not that much, it only takes an hour and a half to make), you'll be rewarded with a symphony of luscious and buttery flavors. And hey, it's under 500 calories per serving! The full recipe is at Allrecipes.com for your gustatory pleasure.

You may be thinking that the sweet-savory flavors of cooked pumpkin would go perfect with curry, and you'd be absolutely right. This dish is wonderfully complex, even though it only takes about 40 minutes to put together. Make sure you grab some good naan bread for dipping! The full recipe is here, via BBC Good Food.

This final dish is a celebration of the entire pumpkin, utilizing both the gourd's delicious flesh and flavorful seeds to create a delicious vegetarian casserole. The cream sauce, featuring mustard seeds, cumin and other spices, brings out the natural flavors of both the pumpkin and the cauliflower, and eaten right out of the oven — hot and bubbly — this casserole is sure to be a hit served as a side or main. The full recipe is here, via Country Living.