How to Roast Yummy Pumpkin Seeds

| October 26, 2020

It’s that time of year when pumpkins are everywhere! Pumpkin spice, pumpkin pie, pumpkins as decor. Chances are you’ve probably even carved a pumpkin or two at this point. I always loved carving pumpkins as a kid but I hated the goopy mess inside.

A few years ago, I was introduced to roasted pumpkin seeds and now I look forward to pumpkin carving just for the goopy mess of seeds inside! There are tons of ways to season pumpkin seeds but the process is mostly the same no matter which seasonings you choose.

Step One: Prep Your Seeds

We’re operating on the idea that you’ve got pumpkin guts laying around your house because you just carved a pumpkin. If you’re using fresh seeds your first step will be to clean them up by separating them from the fleshy part of the pumpkin.

This is really not as gross or difficult as it might seem. Most of the time the seeds are easily separated and often congregate at the bottom of whatever container you put them in themselves.

Now just give them a rinse, put them on a cookie sheet to dry, and you’ll be on to the next step. One easy way to rinse them is to place them all in a colander and spray them. This helps separate any little strings of guts that might still be hanging on plus gets them nice and clean for your next step.

Pro-Tip: Pat them dry to speed up the drying process but don’t be impatient. If excess water remains on the seeds it can create steam and make it difficult to get the crip roasted texture you want.

Step Two: Season the Seeds

Now that your seeds are clean and dry you can move on to the fun step of seasoning them! There are tons of different ways to season them. Here are some of our favorites:

Ranch Flavored Pumpkin Seeds:

The easiest way to do this one is to use a ranch powder that you like, but if you’re feeling a bit adventurous you can create your own ranch flavoring with the ingredients below:

1 teaspoon olive oil
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon parsley
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon dill
1/8 teaspoon dry mustard
1/8 teaspoon celery seed
1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon black pepper

Pizza Flavored Pumpkin Seeds:

This one is a crowd favorite and it’s super easy to do. The parmesan cheese adds a really cool flavor during roasting. Try out this pizza flavoring with the ingredients below:

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese
1/2 teaspoon dried basil
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/8 teaspoon garlic powder

Cinnamon Sugar Pumpkin Seeds:

If you’re looking for something to curve your sweet tooth, these cinnamon sugar pumpkin seeds might be right up your alley! Crunch, sweet, and a little salty. This recipe is sure to be a hit!

1 teaspoon olive oil
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
Pinch of salt

The Classic with a Twist

Chances are most pumpkin seeds you’ve had are probably just good ole salted seeds. These are the classic go to and my favorite. However, I like to give them a little twist. I add some worcheshire to them for some added flavor.

1 teaspoon sea salt
1 tablespoon worcheshire sauce

Once you’ve decided how to flavor your seeds you can move on to roasting them.

Step 3: Roast Your Pumpkin Seeds

This step is pretty self-explanatory, but let me give you a few tips to help you get the perfect roasted seeds.

First prepare the baking sheet by placing aluminum foil on it and lightly spraying it with canola oil spray or grease it with butter. Once you’ve done this, spread your seeds on the tray in an even single layer. Don’t stress too much about making it perfect. Just make sure you don’t have big clumps of seeds all together.

Preheat your oven to 225 degrees Fahrenheit and then put your baking sheet in the oven for 45 minutes. Keep an eye on your seeds in the oven and give them a little stir every 10 minutes or so. After the 45 minutes has elapsed, crank up the heat to 325 and let them roast for another 10 minutes. This makes sure that you get that perfect crunch!