These slow roasted pumpkin seeds are golden brown, crunchy, and delicious. Don’t toss them — they just might be your new favorite part of pumpkins!

roasted pumpkin seeds in a serving bowl

These slow roasted pumpkin seeds always bring back my best childhood memories. Growing up in rural Ukraine, my family grew pumpkins to feed our pigs, cows, and chickens. When harvest time came, it was my cousin and I’s job to scoop the seeds out, although our hands sometimes got so stiff doing it. Looking back, those were some of my favorite memories. Despite it being a hard job, someone had to do it and I loved it.

Whether you’re roasting up pumpkin for a healthy meal or using it for seasonal decoration (for fall or for Halloween), never let the seeds go to waste! In Ukraine, we took the seeds and roasted them in a pechka (or a wood burning stove). In the US, I don’t have a pechka but I found that slowly roasting the seeds in the oven gives a very similar taste. Once they’re done, I eat them as a snack or on top of salad!

ps. I love involving our boys in this process 🙂

A child pulling out pumpkin seeds using his hands

How to Roast Pumpkin Seeds in the Oven

This roasted pumpkin seeds recipe can’t get any easier. There’s only one main ingredient plus whatever you have in your pantry (if you want).

  • Collect the seeds: Preheat the oven and slice the pumpkin down the center. Remove the seeds from the pumpkin guts.
  • Crisp the seeds: Spread the seeds in a single layer onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Roast the seeds at 300°F for 15 minutes, or until they turn a golden brown color.
  • Lower the heat: With the oven door cracked open slightly, turn the heat down to 200°F and bake the seeds for an hour. Every 10-15 minutes, stir them with a wooden spoon.
  • Cool the seeds: Remove the seeds from the oven and allow them to cool at room temperature. Store the seeds in an airtight container or eat them slightly warm. Enjoy!

What Type of Pumpkin is Best?

There’s a ton of different pumpkin varieties out there, so you may wonder which pumpkin has the best seeds. Here’s a few things to look for when choosing your pumpkin!

  • A large pumpkin: Usually, the larger the pumpkin, the more seeds it has; however, remember that “heavy” doesn’t always equate to “large”.
  • A carving pumpkin: A carving pumpkin is perhaps the most popular pumpkin sold in grocery stores. Although the flesh is not the sweetest and tastiest out of all pumpkin varieties, the seeds are still great roasted!

Hot tip: Some pumpkins come with “hull-less” seeds called pepitas. I would not recommend using this roasting method on those because they will likely burn!

Tips for the Best Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Between my family and my moms and grandma’s family, we’ve had decades of experience roasting pumpkin seeds. Here are a few pro tips to make the best roasted pumpkin seeds on the planet.

  • Play around with seasonings: Before roasting the seeds, toss them in your favorite spices/seasonings. There’s a ton of great options like cinnamon, cayenne pepper, allspice, ginger, garlic powder, paprika, chili powder, curry powder, or simple salt and pepper. Get as creative as you want here, but don’t go too overboard.
  • Spread the seeds in a single layer: Avoid stacking or layering the seeds as they may stick together and cook unevenly. Spread the seeds out so they have more surface area and get more crispy!
  • Don’t wash the seeds before baking: There’s absolutely no need to wash the seeds before baking. Leaving some of the pumpkin flesh yields such a nice, sweet flavor – and it means less work for you!
  • Bake the seeds low and slow: When seeds are roasted on a high temperature, they break apart easily, plus the high heat can lead to burning and a bitter flavor. The trick to perfectly roasted pumpkin seeds is to bake them low and slow, which helps them dry out but not burn.

Storing Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Pantry, refrigerator, and freezer – you can store these roasted seeds in all of these areas!

  • Room temperature: Store roasted pumpkin seeds in an airtight container in the pantry for up to two weeks.
  • Refrigerator: In order to store the seeds for three months, place them in an airtight container in the fridge.
  • Freezer: For long term storage up to six months, freeze the seeds and store in an airtight container or freezer safe bag.

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About Author

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Natalya founded Momsdish to demonstrate that placing a homemade meal on the table is not hard at all. Natalya makes cooking easier and approachable, by simplifying the ingredients, while still producing the same great taste.