This tried and true method results in crunchy, salty, irresistibly Perfect Roasted Pumpkin Seeds! This is a must make recipe for the Halloween season.
This post will help you choose the best pumpkin, collect and prep the seeds, and create the best Roasted Pumpkin Seeds you’ve ever had!
It’s not Halloween without crunchy, salty, roasted pumpkin seeds. They are packed full of fiber, vitamins, and minerals and they taste incredible. Maybe this will help offset the effect of the little chocolate candy bars I keep stealing from the Halloween stash in our pantry.
Here is my method, tried and true.
Table of contents
Which Pumpkins Have the Best Seeds?
In my experience, the larger the pumpkin the more seeds it will yield. So go big but not too heavy. According to The Kitchn, large is good but sometimes the heavier ones tend to have less seeds.
Choose a pumpkin that appears fresh, has a sturdy stem and a flat bottom so it will stay put while you’re carving. Small surface scratches are okay but avoid pumpkins with any deep cuts or bruises.
He has no idea what he’s in for.
If you are as crazy about pumpkin seeds as we are and want to be sure you’ll have enough, grab an extra pumpkin just to be sure.
Pumpkin Carving Tips
Here is the big man wielding a big knife.
Once you’ve used your artistic skills to draw the perfect face for your Jack O’Lantern, use a large, sharp knife to cut around the stem at a slight angle to create the lid. Cutting on an angle will ensure the lid will not drop straight down inside the pumpkin when placed on top.
Use a scooping tool, like a large metal spoon, to scrape and thin the wall of the pumpkin where you will be carving the face a bit so that it will be easier to cut through from the front.
How to Clean Pumpkin Seeds Before Roasting
- Use a large metal spoon to scrape out the seeds and strings.
- Transfer the seeds and strings to a colander.
- Place the colander in your sink and rinse the seeds with cool water. While rinsing, sort through them with your hands and pull out the stringy pumpkin guts.
- Place some newspaper on the counter next to the sink for the stringy guts. This allows you to just roll it up and toss the mess when you’re done. There will be some bits of pumpkin still mixed in with the seeds. Just get out as much as you can.
How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds
I’ve found that allowing the seeds to dry overnight results in crispy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds. Full disclosure, I discovered this technique after a long, exhausting day when I was too tired to deal with finishing the seeds. The next day, I roasted up the best batch of seeds I’d ever tasted and knew I was on to something!
Dry the Pumpkin Seeds
- Spread the rinsed seeds on a rimmed baking sheet. Unless you are an excellent pumpkin string picker, there will most likely still be some small bits of pumpkin innards left behind. Don’t worry, we’ll get those later.
- Leave the baking sheet on your kitchen counter overnight so the seeds can dry. They will not roast as well if you put them in the oven when they are wet. It will be easy to pick out any remaining bits of pumpkin the next day.
Prep and Roast the Seeds
- Prep – The next day pick out any remaining stringy bits and coat a clean baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray. Place the dry seeds in a large bowl, toss them with olive oil and garlic salt, and spread them out over the baking sheet.
- Roast – Roast them in a preheated 325 degree F oven until toasted and golden brown. Use a spatula to stir them occasionally for even roasting.
- Season – Remove them from the oven, taste, and sprinkle with a little additional garlic salt if needed.
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds are delicious served warm from the oven. I dare you to try and eat just one!
Storing Pumpkin Seeds
After they cool, transfer the seeds to an airtight container and they will stay fresh and tasty for at least a week or more.
More Fun Halloween Recipes
Did you know that other seeds are also delicious roasted? Check out my recipes for Roasted Acorn Squash Seeds!
Be sure to watch the video in the recipe card below to see this process in action.
These seeds are excellent and it turned out okay for the pumpkin too. Happy Halloween!
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Perfect Roasted Pumpkin Seeds
Ingredients
- 1 ½ cups raw pumpkin seeds
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- ½ teaspoon garlic salt, plus additional if desired
- nonstick cooking spray
Instructions
- Use a large metal spoon to scoop the seeds from your pumpkin and place them in a colander. Place the colander in your sink and rinse the seeds with cool water, removing as much of the stringy pumpkin guts as you can.
- Place some newspaper next to your sink for the stringy guts. This allows you to just roll it up and toss the mess when you're done. There will be some bits of pumpkin still mixed in with the seeds and this is okay. Just remove as much as you can. Drain the seeds well, pour them out on to a rimmed baking sheet, and allow them to dry overnight.
- The next day, pick out any remaining pieces of dried pumpkin. Preheat oven to 325 F degrees. Spray a clean rimmed baking sheet with nonstick cooking spray.
- Toss the seeds in a large bowl with the olive oil and garlic salt. Spread the seeds on the prepared baking sheet and bake for 20 to 30 minutes or until golden brown, stirring about halfway through.
- Taste and season with additional garlic salt if desired.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated using generic ingredients, and is an estimate not a guarantee. For more accurate results, please refer to the labels on your ingredients at home.
It worked out perfectly!
This is an excellent step by step method to roasting these seeds perfectly! I was saved from making a big mistake with the tip to dry the seeds overnight before roasting instead of immediately placing the wet seeds in the oven. Thanks soooo much!!!
You are so welcome, Catherine! 🙂
So good
I added paprika and a bit of aleppo chilies to mine <3
Thank you for a great recipe! Very simple and delicious. I plan to grow extra pumpkins next year so we can have plenty of seeds to roast!
You’re welcome! I’m looking forward to pumpkin time 🙂
I make this quite often. It is so flavorful. My son loves it too. So easy and so yummy. This is a winner! Thank you for sharing!
Pie pumpkins are smaller and sweeter and most always high yield seeds and less strings to pick out. We also like soy sauce olive oil and garlic
Hi Valerie! I just subscribed and your “Roasted Pumpkin Seeds” is the first recipe I’m trying. I look forward
to many more!
Welcome, Melissa!
In the comment submitted a few minutes ago – I meant to say, Hi Valerie!