Easy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

After carving pumpkins or prepping squash, use this simple recipe to make toasted seeds for snacking.

By
J. Kenji López-Alt
Kenji Lopez Alt
J. Kenji López-Alt
Culinary Consultant
Kenji is the former culinary director for Serious Eats and a current culinary consultant for the site. He is also a New York Times food columnist and the author of The Food Lab: Better Home Cooking Through Science.
Learn about Serious Eats' Editorial Process
Updated November 03, 2024
Closeup of roasted pumpkin seeds on a rimmed baking sheet.

Serious Eats / Vicky Wasik

Why It Works

  • Drying the seeds before roasting ensures they can be evenly coated in oil, for a perfectly toasted texture.
  • Roasting the pumpkin seeds at a moderate temperature dries them out without burning them, for a golden exterior and crisp center.

Roasting pumpkin seeds isn't exactly rocket science, but there are some surefire ways to guarantee great flavor and texture. The secrets: Dry your pumpkin seeds before roasting them, and coat them in oil to help them toast evenly and get a nice, crisp, flavorful finish.

October 2013

Recipe Details

Easy Roasted Pumpkin Seeds Recipe

Prep 15 mins
Cook 25 mins
Active 10 mins
Resting Time 60 mins
Total 100 mins
Serves 8 servings
Makes 2 cups
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Ingredients

  • 2 cups pumpkin seeds

  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) vegetable, canola, or olive oil

  • Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

Directions

  1. Carefully wash pumpkin seeds to remove all excess pulp. Transfer pumpkin seeds to a paper towel–lined rimmed baking sheet. Allow to rest at room temperature until completely dry, about 1 hour. To speed up the process, dry pumpkin seeds in a 200°F (90°C) oven, stirring occasionally, or use a hair dryer.

  2. Adjust oven rack to center position and preheat oven to 325°F (160°C). In a large bowl, toss dried pumpkin seeds with oil and season with salt and pepper. Transfer to a rimmed baking sheet. Roast until pale golden brown, stirring occasionally, about 25 minutes total.

Special Equipment

Rimmed baking sheet

Make-Ahead and Storage

Roasted pumpkin seeds will continue to give off moisture as they cool. To store, allow seeds to cool completely, then transfer to an airtight container and keep at room temperature.

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Nutrition Facts (per serving)
102 Calories
7g Fat
9g Carbs
3g Protein
×
Nutrition Facts
Servings: 8
Amount per serving
Calories 102
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 7g 8%
Saturated Fat 1g 5%
Cholesterol 0mg 0%
Sodium 52mg 2%
Total Carbohydrate 9g 3%
Dietary Fiber 3g 11%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 3g
Vitamin C 0mg 0%
Calcium 9mg 1%
Iron 1mg 3%
Potassium 148mg 3%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

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