Pumpkins, the quirky orange fruit synonymous with sweater weather, can also be the figurehead of the fall season. Every year, when the temperatures start to drop, everything “pumpkin” starts to show up. Whether as a cake on bakery shelves, as a decoration on the front steps or as a popular coffee shop aroma, pumpkins seem to be everywhere in autumn.
If you’re in need of some fresh new ideas on what to do with all that extra pumpkin you’ve got lying around this season, there are only a limited number of pumpkin pie to make, keep reading. From pumpkin marinara sauce to pumpkin and chicken chili and beyond, here are 12 fun ways to use pumpkin in your next fall dinner. Also, bookmark our 45+ best soups and chilies to make with a rotisserie chicken.
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This pumpkin marinara is a great recipe to try out when you want to break out of the traditional tomato sauce pan. This fragrant sauce is made from ingredients such as tomato paste, canned pumpkin and chopped garlic and tastes great on pizza dough or in spaghetti.
Get our Pumpkin Marinara recipe.
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Mashed potatoes, the ultimate comfort food, get an exciting twist when canned pumpkin and light sour cream are added to the mix. Easily cooked in about half an hour, this delicious dish makes a great Thanksgiving side dish.
Get our recipe for pumpkin and potato puree.
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Fall is known for its pumpkin pie, but why not go against the current and do something different with your canned pumpkin and bake some brownies? Decadent, fudgy, and only 54 calories each, these pumpkin brownie bites are the perfect way to end any meal.
Get our recipe for Fudgy Pumpkin Brownie Bites.
RELATED: 33 Delicious Pumpkin Recipes
Jason Donnelly
Slow Cooker Chili goes well with cool autumn evenings and cozy couch nights. This recipe, which features a combination of chickpeas, roasted diced tomatoes, and chopped red bell peppers, will get an autumn update when canned pumpkins are introduced.
Get our Slow Cooker Pumpkin Chicken Chili Recipe.
RELATED: 20 Best Healthy Chili Recipes for Weight Loss
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If you’re a fan of traditional ricotta-filled ravioli, you have to try these sweet pumpkin ravioli. This sweet and savory dish is made from pumpkin puree, whole milk ricotta and a mixture of different spices such as ginger and nutmeg and reinterprets an old classic. Note: This recipe uses pre-made wrappers rather than making batter from scratch, which can help cut prep time significantly.
Get the recipe from Running to the Kitchen.
RELATED: 65 Cozy Comfort Foods That Help You Lose Weight, too
Courtesy of Sally’s baking addiction
If you’re looking for a dessert for this Thanksgiving season that is both delicious and unexpected, this Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe is a must-try. This cheesecake is made from a crispy ginger biscuit crust, a pumpkin spice swirl and salted caramel sauce.
Get the recipe from Sally’s Baking Addiction.
RELATED: The Best Cheesecake in Every State
Courtesy Kims Cravings
This smooth pumpkin and chicken tortilla soup is a great dish to add to your dinner recipe rotation. Made with Zoup! Chicken broth, pumpkin puree, black beans and Greek natural yoghurt, this tasty dish can also be prepared easily vegan and gluten-free with just a few simple substitutions.
Get the recipe from Kim’s Cravings.
RELATED: The Best and Worst Greek Yogurts in 2021 – Ranking List!
Courtesy of Recipe Can Eats
Common autumn vegetables like kale and beetroot are no stranger to salads – so why not roast some pumpkin and throw it on a green bed too? Made with baby spinach, crumbled feta and perfectly cooked pumpkin pieces, this undeniably refreshing salad is easily served with a flavorful honey and balsamic dressing that you can make right at home.
Get the recipe from recipe jar eats.
RELATED: This Roasted Pumpkin Seed Recipe is the Perfect Fall Snack
Courtesy Minimalist Baker
This velvety macaroni and cheese recipe proves that you don’t need a lot of cheese and butter to make a delicious dish. This plant-based version of the iconic comfort food gets its cheesy taste when cooked penne is tossed into a mix of nutritional yeast, vegan parmesan, and almond milk.
Get the recipe from Minimalist Baker.
RELATED: The Worst Mac and Cheese Dishes in America
Courtesy Half Baked Harvest
Autumn’s favorites – pumpkins and apples – combine to create a smoky chipotle soup that gushes over with taste. Made with pumpkin puree, coconut milk, chipotle powder, and paprika, this delicious soup is served in delightful hollowed-out acorn gourd shells.
Get the recipe from Half Baked Harvest.
Courtesy How Sweet Eats
This pumpkin sheet cake is perfect when you need a cake to celebrate a fall birthday or want to make a delicious, easy-to-prepare dessert for the holiday season. Crammed full of ground nutmeg and brown sugar and topped with cinnamon and cream cheese frosting, this recipe can feed up to 12 people.
Get the recipe from How Sweet Eats.
RELATED: The Best Apples for Any Fall Dessert
Courtesy of Cotter Crunch
If you decide to have a large bowl of oatmeal in the morning, be sure to try this vegan pumpkin and quinoa breakfast bowl. Filled with pumpkin puree, coconut milk, ground ginger, pumpkin spice and maple syrup, this recipe proves that quinoa can also be enjoyed beyond hearty dishes.
Get the recipe from Cotter Crunch.
Get more of our delicious and cozy autumn recipes:
25 delicious apple recipes that are perfect for fall
65 cozy comfort foods that also help you lose weight
45+ best cozy casserole recipes for weight loss
