How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Save your pumpkin seeds when carving pumpkins to create an easy and healthy snack! This tutorial will show you How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds until perfectly seasoned and crunchy, with a savory salt and smoked paprika flavor or sweet cinnamon-sugar flavor.

Why Youโ€™ll Crave These Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Everyone loves a crispy, salty snack food – but a lot of them arenโ€™t great for your body. These pumpkin seeds are the answer! Here are a few reasons youโ€™ll love โ€˜em:

  • Fresh and Wholesome: There’s something utterly satisfying about freshly-roasted, crispy, crunchy pumpkin seeds. You can easily make them yourself with the freshest, simplest ingredients for a healthy snack thatโ€™s so much better than processed food.
  • Versatile Seasonings: These little bites of delight can be spiced up with any flavoring you like! Iโ€™m keeping things savory with smoked paprika and a good bit of salt – yum. However, they are also delicious with a cinnamon-sugar coating for a sweet treat!
  • Go with Everything: Roasted pumpkin seeds are wonderful for a quick bite between meals, but theyโ€™re also nice for topping for salads and soups, adding to trail mix, or any other recipe that needs some wholesome texture.
  • Seasonal: Make the most out of pumpkin season – not just with all of your favorite sweet bakes, but with this salty-savory snack.
Seasoned, baked pumpkin seeds.

What Is the Best Way to Eat Pumpkin Seeds, Raw or Roasted?

Pumpkin seeds are full of nutrition, whether served roasted or straight up. Unroasted pumpkin seeds, however, have a shell thatโ€™s much chewier, which may make it more difficult to enjoy them. Roasted pumpkin seeds are crunchy and easy to eat. That means youโ€™re more likely to get the nutrition, because youโ€™re more likely to actually eat the pumpkin seeds! 

Additionally, the phytic acid content in raw pumpkin seeds is higher, so if youโ€™re watching your phytic acid, roasting the pumpkin seeds might be a better option. Best of all, roasting brings out a richer, more nutty taste that works beautifully in all kinds of dishes.

Ingredients for How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds.

Recipe Ingredients

To make a batch of smoky roasted pumpkin seeds, you’ll need just a handful of simple, healthy ingredients. For the full ingredient amounts, scroll to the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post.

  • Pumpkin Seeds: Shells on. You can get them from a fresh pumpkin, or buy them raw.
  • Olive Oil: Or melted butter.
  • Salt
  • Seasoning: To keep things easy, Iโ€™m just using smoked paprika. However, you will find many different flavor options from sweet to savory in the post below.
Baked seeds in a white serving bowl.

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

There’s no need for complicated prep here – just a simple, easy method that works every time.

  • Get Ready: Preheat the oven to 350ยฐF, and line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil for easy cleanup.
  • Clean the Seeds in Water: Place the pumpkin seeds in a bowl of water, and use your hands to separate the seeds from the pulp. Drain the seeds on a paper towel, and make sure to dry them well!
  • Season: Drizzle oil over the seeds and then season with salt and paprika.
  • Bake: Bake for 10 minutes, flip and bake for another 5 to 10 minutes, until lightly toasted.

Do Pumpkin Seeds Need to Be Dry Before Roasting?

Yes, drying the pumpkin seeds before roasting is crucial. Moisture can prevent the seeds from becoming truly crispy during roasting. You don’t have to dry them overnight or anything – just drain them on clean paper towels or kitchen towels to make sure they bake up crispy. 

Close-up shot of seasoned, baked seeds.

Helpful Tips for Success

If you’re excited to roast your own pumpkin seeds, be sure to read over these helpful tips and tricks – they will help guarantee perfectly seasoned, tasty results.

  • Cutting the Pumpkin: Make sure you have a sharp knife and be super careful. Cutting a pumpkin open can be a little hard and the knife can slip. Practice caution!
  • Cleaning Seeds: Easily remove pulp from the seeds by putting the pumpkin seeds and pulp in a bowl of water. Using your hands is the best way to quickly separate the seeds from the pulp. Remove the pulp, and throw it away. Done!
  • Add Heat: If you want your pumpkin seeds spicy, you can add 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cayenne pepper, to taste.
  • Roasting Time: The times here are approximate, so be sure to keep an eye on the seeds while roasting them, to avoid burning.
  • Baking Sheet: Use a rimmed baking sheet to prevent seeds from falling off during roasting.
Baked seeds in a white serving bowl.

Flavor Variations:

There are so many different ways you can flavor your pumpkin seeds, here are a few more flavor variations I have tried:

  • Sweet Cinnamon Sugar: This sweet version of the recipe uses 1 cup seeds, 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter, 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.
  • Spicy Cinnamon: Kick up the heat with a spicier version of the original! You’ll need 1 cup seeds, 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter, 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon chili powder and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
  • Ranch: This one is super easy, just use 1 cup seeds, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
  • Garlic Parmesan: Cheesy garlic flavor? Yum! Use 1 cup seeds, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese and 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder.
Baked pumpkin seeds in a white dish.

How to Store Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

You can store your roasted pumpkin seeds in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator, but they may become a bit less crunchy that way.

Can I Freeze These?

Yes, you can! If you want to freeze the roasted pumpkin seeds, just put them in a sealed freezer-safe bag or container. Just ensure they are fully cooled before freezing. Theyโ€™ll stay fresh for up to 6 months. Thaw them at room temperature before enjoying.

More Crunchy Snacks

Landscape shot of seasoned seeds in a bowl.
5 from 2 votes
Print Pin Recipe
Yield: 4

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds

Save your pumpkin seeds when carving pumpkins to create an easy and healthy snack! This tutorial will show you How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds until perfectly seasoned and crunchy, with a savory salt and smoked paprika flavor or sweet cinnamon-sugar flavor.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time25 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 cup raw pumpkin seeds
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil, or melted butter
  • 2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika, or chili powder

Want to save this recipe?

We’ll email this recipe to you, so you can come back to it later!

Instructions 

  • Heat the oven to 350ยฐF. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or foil.
  • Place the pumpkin seeds and pulp in a bowl of water. Using your hands, separate the seeds from the pulp. Remove the pulp and throw it away.
  • Place the seeds on a paper towel and dry well.
  • Place the seeds in a bowl and drizzle with olive oil. Season with salt and paprika, or chili powder, and toss until coated.
  • Spread seeds evenly over the cookie sheet and place in the oven. Bake for 10 minutes, then use a spatula to flip or stir them. Continue baking for another 5 to 10 minutes, until lightly toasted.
  • Remove from oven and serve warm or let pumpkin seeds cool. Serve as desired!

Notes

Storage: Store your roasted pumpkin seeds in an airtight container at room temperature for up to two weeks. For longer storage, keep them in the refrigerator, but they may become a bit less crunchy that way.

More Flavor Options:

Sweet Cinnamon Sugar: This sweet version of the recipe uses 1 cup seeds, 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter, 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 2 tablespoons granulated sugar.
Spicy Cinnamon: Kick up the heat with a spicier version of the original! Youโ€™ll need 1 cup seeds, 2 tablespoons olive oil or butter, 1.5 teaspoons cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon chili powder and 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper.
Ranch: This one is super easy, just use 1 cup seeds, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1 tablespoon ranch seasoning, and 1/2 teaspoon salt.
Garlic Parmesan: Cheesy garlic flavor? Yum! Use 1 cup seeds, 2 tablespoons olive oil, 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese and 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder.

Nutrition

Calories: 122kcal, Carbohydrates: 2g, Protein: 5g, Fat: 11g, Saturated Fat: 2g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g, Monounsaturated Fat: 5g, Trans Fat: 0.01g, Sodium: 1164mg, Potassium: 141mg, Fiber: 1g, Sugar: 0.3g, Vitamin A: 249IU, Vitamin C: 0.3mg, Calcium: 9mg, Iron: 2mg

Categories:

Post may contain affiliate links. Read my disclosure policy.

Related Posts

Comments

We LOVE hearing from you! Submit your question or comment here and don’t forget to leave a rating! Click the icon below to upload a pic of your creation!

Recipe Rating:




0 Comments
Newest
Oldest Most Voted
Inline Feedbacks
View all comments

Thank You For Being Here!

Jessica
For the past 15 years, Jorge & Jessica have loved getting to share their families' favorite recipes with all of you. They live in Florida with their 3 kids.