11 Pumpkin Recipes You’ll Want to Cozy Up With This Fall

Pumpkin season is officially here! If you’re a big fan of the orange gourds, then you’re going to love these delicious pumpkin recipes you can try for yourself.

On top of amazing flavor, these cozy fall dishes are packed with all the great health benefits you get from eating pumpkins — including lots of vitamin A, beta-carotene, and more.

From muffins and waffles to make-it-yourself drinks and sweet treats, you’re sure to find a couple of new recipes to try. 

Pumpkin Bagels 

No need to be intimidated by the thought of making your own bagels at home, says Tati of Milk and Pop. She features a pumpkin bagel recipe on her website that gets rave reviews, and she promises it’s easier than you might think.

All you need is active yeast and a mixer stand for the best results. If you follow her step-by-step instructions (she has more great photos, too), you can expect chewy, delicious bagels in just a few hours. By the way, it’s only hours because of the time you need for the dough to rise. It really is easy! 

Pumpkin Mug Cake 

Maggie Michalczyk, a registered dietician, runs the Instagram page Once Upon a Pumpkin where you’ll find lots of pumpkin recipes and inspiration. She’s also written a cookbook on the subject as well, The Great Big Pumpkin Cookbook (Buy on Amazon, $16.19).

The pumpkin mug cake, featured here, has pumpkin, pumpkin spice, chocolate chips, and melty peanut butter. You bake it in the microwave in minutes, so it’s ideal when you just need that after-dinner treat without making a full recipe. You can get the recipe on her website. 

Pumpkin Granola 

Ella features healthy, vegan recipes on her Instagram page, Splurge with Ella. We especially love this recent granola recipe, naturally sweetened with maple syrup, pumpkin seeds, and spice.

Want to make it even more pumpkin-y? Try adding roasted pumpkin chunks or slices. You’ll make this one in a large baking dish or even a cookie sheet in the oven. If you’d like to get the recipe with all the ingredients, check it out here. 

Pumpkin Risotto 

Mary Smith of the blog Mary’s Whole Life is big into Whole 30, paleo recipes, and being gluten-free. She recently shared this risotto recipe on her Instagram, which features cauliflower rice and shrimp in a pumpkin cashew sauce.

It’s such a good dinner option, and you won’t have to feel guilty about it at all. This is an easy recipe to modify to your taste. She uses kale and parsley, but you can adjust to something else if you choose. For the full recipe shown here, check it out on Mary’s website. 

Pumpkin Soup 

Fresh pumpkin can cook down really well, eventually becoming a soup like this. This Instagram user, Cooking Phoenix, explains how to make this recipe, which starts by sautéing pumpkin, ginger, carrots, onions, and tomatoes.

For the full tips on how to make this, check it out on their Instagram post. The great thing about this one is you can easily adjust the seasonings or flavor to match your taste. Love a certain spice, add it? Want to have more veggies? Throw ‘em in. This is perfect for those chilly fall nights. It would be a great one for the slow cooker, too. 

Pumpkin Pie Smoothie 

Is this breakfast or dessert? Have it for either (or both) — it’s packed full of protein, vitamin A, and fiber. This smoothie comes from Brooke of the website and Instagram page, The Sweet Mitten. She focuses on gluten-free and dairy-free recipes, and she loves pumpkin season.

Two of the secret ingredients for this one are almond milk and vanilla protein. It’s topped with pumpkin spice granola, too. If you want the full recipe for this one, check it out here. 

Pumpkin Mac and Cheese 

This mixes classic comfort food with one of the best season’s flavors. You’ll combine all the ingredients in a slow cooker, then in just an hour or two, you’ll have a warm and delicious dinner.

You only need about a can of pumpkin for this (or make your own puree from fresh pumpkin). To get the full recipe, check it out here. 

Pumpkin Waffles 

You can feel good about eating this for breakfast with ingredients like cashew milk and flax seed.

The most important part of this recipe is getting a nice pumpkin puree (either from a can or make it yourself), and then add in just the right spices. See what Anne-Sophie used in her recipe here on Instagram. 

Pumpkin Zucchini Cream Cheese Swirl Muffins 

You can count on these muffins being as good as the name implies. They are perfect for this time of year because zucchini is readily available, and then by adding pumpkin spice, it’s the perfect blend of flavors.

Kellie with Nest of Posies says this is her favorite kind of recipe because everything is just “dump and mix.” You’ll swirl in the cream cheese part separately, but these really are easy and perfect for fall. Get the full recipe here.

Pumpkin Quesadillas 

Here’s another one from pumpkin cookbook author, Maggie. She proves that you really can make pumpkin part of any meal!

These quesadillas have a great Southwest style, mixing pumpkin with black beans. She keeps it simple, mixing the two with some pepper flakes, veggies, and cheese. She didn’t add meat to this one, but you certainly can. It’s a must-try recipe for fall. Get it and tips for making it on Maggie’s pumpkin Instagram page. 

Pumpkin Hot Toddy 

Here’s the perfect one to end on. Hot toddies are the best for warming up on those chilly nights! These would be great for sitting outside, getting in one last backyard fire, too.

The ingredients are simple — pumpkin butter, whisky, pumpkin pie spice, and water. Add a cinnamon stick, and  you’re all set. For the exact recipe, check it out here.