11 Nutritionist-Approved Pumpkin Puree Recipes for Fall

The fall is more than just about pumpkin spice lattes. Get your pumpkin fix with these healthy pumpkin puree recipes from nutritionists and registered dietitians.

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Preparing Hokkaido pumpkin for a pumpkin soup
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How to cook healthy pumpkin puree recipes

Each year, as summer comes to a close, the fall season begins with pumpkin spice-flavored drinks and desserts, pumpkin picking for Jack-o’-lanterns for Halloween and the classic and decadent pumpkin pieโ€”a Thanksgiving staple. There are plenty of health reasons to eat pumpkin: according to the Cleveland Clinic, it support heart health, boosts your immune system and can protect your eyes from macular degeneration. But if you have a hankering, you have options beyond pumpkin spice lattes and pumpkin pie. You can cook pumpkin, specifically pumpkin puree, in a variety of healthy dishes and drinks (sans the added sugar and calories). Not sure where to start? We spoke with several nutritionists who share their pumpkin puree recipes, from pasta to hummus. (And yes, there’s even a PSL recipe included!)

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Pumpkin spice parfait

To resist leftover pumpkin pie, try a dessert parfait instead, using real canned pumpkin, yogurt and chopped fruit. “A fruity dessert provides fiber, which helps you feel satisfied with a smaller portion,” says Willow Jarosh, RD, co-owner of C&J Nutrition, a private practice and nutrition communications business in New York City. Pumpkin is also chock-full of satiating fiber (just 1/2 cup boasts nearly 4 grams of fiber in just 42 calories) and vitamins A and C.

The trick: For the first layer, combine almond butter and yogurt with a generous pinch of pumpkin spice. For a second layer, mix pumpkin puree with 1 tsp maple syrup. Top with chopped fruit for a third layer. Repeat as desired.

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Pumpkin pasta

It’s easy to fall into an eating rut this time of year (heat up leftovers, curl up in a blanket and repeat nightlyโ€”sound familiar?). Pack vitamins and variety into your routine by adding pumpkin puree recipes to your meals. “One night, I had leftover canned pumpkin puree and spaghetti, and needed a late-night dinner,” says Michelle Dudash, RDN, a Cordon Bleu-certified chef and author of Dish with Dudash. “Pumpkin pasta is a savory way to use up leftover pumpkin, and is a delicious vegetarian meal you can make quickly.”

The trick: Stir a dollop of pumpkin puree into cooked, whole-grain spaghetti. Drizzle with olive oil, and sprinkle with garlic salt, onion powder, and nutritional yeast seasoning. Garnish with toasted sliced almonds.

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Pumpkin soup

In the mood to cook something simple? Soup is on deck. “I whip up a simple pumpkin soup thatโ€™s dairy-free, low in calories and loaded with nutrients and antioxidants,” says Cynthia Sass, RD, plant-based specialist and author of Slim Down Now. “Itโ€™s healthy but hearty.”

The trick: Saute a golf ball-sized portion of yellow onion and garlic (combined) in 1/4 cup low sodium organic vegetable broth. Blend in a food processor with 1/2 cup each canned pumpkin and unsweetened coconut milk, 1/4 cup of broth, and a dash of curry seasoning. Transfer to a saucepan, bring to a quick boil, and reduce to a simmer for 5 minutes. To make it a meal, add a lean protein, such as three ounces of grilled shrimp.

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Pumpkin latte

Make a healthier version of the traditional pumpkin spice latte at home to cut calories and sugar. With homemade pumpkin puree recipes, “you’re saving yourself from coffeehouse sugary flavored syrup, and using real pumpkin puree gives you a major boost of the antioxidant beta-carotene,” says Dudash. Beta-carotene is converted into vitamin A in the body, where it promotes healthy skin, eye health and vision, and a strong immune system. Milk provides calcium, vitamin D, potassium and protein.

The trick: Add one part hot coffee to two parts hot milk. Add 3 tbsp pumpkin puree, a drizzle of honey, and a sprinkle of pumpkin pie spice. For even mixing, use a blender or handheld milk frother.

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Pumpkin-dilla

Cooking for someone vegan or lactose intolerant? Note this trick if cheese is off the menu: “Pumpkin pureeโ€™s texture and color resembles that of melted cheese,” says Jarosh. Surprise them with this creative dishโ€”everyone at the table will ask for a second serving.

The trick: Spread pumpkin puree and vegetarian refried beans onto a whole grain tortilla. Add sautรฉed mushrooms and kale. Fold in half, and heat in a lightly oiled skillet until both sides are crispy and golden. Extra health perk: Mushrooms that have been exposed to UV light (look for “100% vitamin D” or “High in vitamin D” on the label) are a good source of the sunshine vitaminโ€”important to get more of as the days get shorter.

pumpkin puree brownies
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Pumpkin brownies

Swap butter for pumpkin puree to nix a sweet number of calories. “You don’t taste the pumpkin at all because the chocolate overpowers it. But it makes the brownies more moist,” says Wendy Bazilian, RD and co-author of Eat Clean, Stay Lean, in San Diego.

The trick: Swap out half the butter the recipe calls for with twice the amount of pumpkin. For example: If a recipe calls for 1/2 cup butter, replace 1/4 cup of butter with 1/2 cup pumpkin to cut 373 calories and 46 grams of fat.

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Pumpkin pie smoothie

Donโ€™t eat pumpkin pieโ€”slurp it! Use traditional smoothie ingredients (bananas, yogurt and milk), then add pumpkin and almond butter for a filling seasonal drink. “Pumpkin and banana provide fiber, yogurt and milk provide protein and the almond butter infuses healthy fat,” says Jarosh. “That high-fiber, protein and fat trifecta is a recipe for staying satisfied.”

The trick: Blend 1 cup milk, 1/2 cup plain yogurt, 3/4 cup pumpkin puree, 3 tbsp almond butter, 1 banana and 2 tbsp raisins. Sprinkle with pumpkin spice. Blend until smooth. Add 1 to 2 cups ice and blend again.

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Pumpkin hummus

Bring this nutritionist-approved pumpkin puree recipe to your next fall potluck. “For fall parties, I love serving [flavored] hummus as an appetizer to create seasonal flair,” says Jackie Newgent, RDN, chef, nutritionist, and author of The All-Natural Diabetes Cookbook, in Brooklyn, New York

The trick: Add canned pumpkin puree to your favorite hummus to taste, sprinkle with garlic, and garnish with pumpkin seeds.

Another trick: Care to start from scratch? Cynthia Sass whips up this pumpkin hummus: Combine 1/2 cup chickpeas with 2-3 tablespoons each tahini and canned pumpkin. Add 1 tsp garlic, 1 tbsp lemon juice, and dashes of cayenne pepper, black pepper, and cumin. Puree in a food processor until smooth. Use as an appetizer, or as a spread in place of mayo.

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Pumpkin potatoes

Mashed potatoes are a comfort food staple. But nutritionists prefer to eat it when pumpkin puree is added. “It’s a really easy way to boost nutrition and change up the same-old dish,” says Bazilian. “The added fiber may reduce the overall glycemic load, which slows your blood sugar response.”

The trick: Stir pumpkin puree into cooked mashed potatoes, to taste.

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Pumpkin yogurt

The nutritionist-approved morning pumpkin fix: Pumpkin puree and pistachios mixed into Greek or Icelandic yogurt. This provides a sweet flavor without the added sugar in many store-bought flavored yogurts, says Dudash. Plus: “The protein in Greek or Icelandic yogurts and the good fats in pistachios keep you satisfied between meals.”

The trick: Swirl 2-3 tbsp pumpkin puree into a single-serve cup of plain Greek yogurt. Spice with ground cardamom and cinnamon, sprinkle with pistachios and drizzle with honey.

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Pumpkin chili

One of Bazilian’s favorite pumpkin puree recipes is pumpkin chili. Adding pumpkin puree to chili won’t make it taste much different, but it will provide a heartier texture and a vitamin boost, says Bazilian. Youโ€™ll taste just a hint of pumpkin, depending on how much you add.

The trick: Stir a dollop of pumpkin puree into your cooked chili, to taste.

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Kelsey Kloss
Kelsey Kloss is a writer and editor based in New York City, who writes about health, food, home, and lifestyle. Her writing has appeared in Prevention, Redbook, and Reader's Digest, among others. Visit her website: Kelsey Kloss.