15 Fresh Pumpkin Recipes That Go Beyond Pie

Our recipe for basic roasted pumpkin is simple and very versatile. You can eat the sweet, fibrous flesh straight out of the shell with some olive oil, salt, and pepper, or you can get creative and use the roasted pumpkin flesh for purée or scope out the flesh and use it for Mashed Pumpkin with Cumin and Maple.

Give mashed potatoes a colorful, healthy upgrade by adding pumpkin and chard to the mix.

So very fall! This whole-wheat pasta dish is hearty, not heavy, and full of flavor thanks to cubes of roasted sugar pumpkin, plenty of garlic, toasted walnuts, and a touch of umami from anchovies. Sure, you can skip the anchovies if you must, but we think you'll find they add so much flavor to the finished dish.

Starring sugar pie pumpkin or calabaza, this slowly simmered soupy stew is easy to make. It takes just 15 minutes of prep. When the beef chuck or neck bones are fork-tender, you add the vegetables that won't need long to cook. Fresh basil and a splash of fish sauce are not to be skipped for serving—the latter adds an exceptional hint of umami flavor.

We're sneaking a pie in to this collection of fresh pumpkin recipes because it's just so good. Traditional pumpkin pie gains depth of flavor with roasted fresh pumpkin and just the right amount of cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Make extra purée and freeze it so you can enjoy pumpkin desserts throughout the season.

Sugar-pumpkin purée is seasoned simply with salt and pepper, then baked under a crown of crunchy breadcrumbs and Romano cheese. This casserole makes a magnificent side dish with roast chicken or pork or a fabulous vegetarian entrée.

Though the recipe title says "squash," this recipe can and should be made with sugar pumpkin. It's a hearty winter salad with mellow roasted vegetables and apples contrasting with the peppery watercress.

Fresh pumpkin is roasted with onion and shiitake mushrooms, then puréed to make a creamy (but cream-free!) soup. An immersion blender makes quick work of this simple, hearty meal.

Fresh pumpkin is simmered with tomatoes, Swiss chard, roasted tomatoes, and smoky chipotle-tomatillo salsa. Serve this flavorful dish alongside grilled or roasted meat or over rice as a main course.

This lively one-pot dinner features coconut milk, cod,  pumpkin (or calabaza), baby spinach, and a touch of chile for a hearty and healthy meal.

Sweet, tender sugar pumpkin is roasted with olive oil, sage, and shallots for an easy side dish on its own or tossed with rice, couscous, or pasta. In place of sage, you could use another robust herb, such as thyme, rosemary, or oregano.

All dressed up for a fabulous fall dinner party, this hearty stew is baked in sugar pumpkins. A combination of navy beans, turkey sausage, mushrooms, carrots, leeks, potatoes, and peas makes a delicious, hearty meal.

These tender gnocchi are made with just three ingredients: baked pumpkin purée, flour, and Parmesan cheese. They're tossed with a sauce of chanterelle mushrooms, sage, and cream just before serving.

For sheer good looks, a stuffed sugar pumpkin is hard to beat. Here, we use it as the dish for an easy dip, the sweetness of the pumpkin purée is balanced by rosemary and roasted garlic. Serve with crunchy breadsticks and raw vegetables for scooping. 

This easy, satisfying pasta dish is full of tender roast pumpkin and tangy goat cheese. For an even quicker dinner, roast the pumpkin ahead of time and heat it up just before tossing with the rigatoni.