Leftover Pumpkin Recipes: Ideas and Tips

Wondering what to do with leftover pumpkin puree? This post includes ideas for leftover pumpkin recipes, ranging from breakfast to desserts. Plus, you’ll learn how to freeze canned pumpkin to stop it from going to waste.

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Point of view: you’re excited to make your first pumpkin recipe of the season and open a fresh can of pumpkin to add to the dish. You end up using less than half of the can, and store the rest of it in the fridge. A couple weeks later, that used-to-be-bright-orange puree is giving off a funky smell. Now you’re wishing you used it up when you still could!

Sound familiar? I am 100% guilty of this exact scenario, almost every fall. I always pick up a can of pumpkin to make one of my recipes and frequently forget to use the rest of it. Ugh. It’s the worst!

Well, I’ve got solutions for you (and me)! There are so many ways to use up leftover pumpkin puree to boost the color, nutrition, and creativity of your everyday meals. You don’t need to make a fancy recipe or spend a lot of time to do it either.

Read on to learn some great ideas for leftover pumpkin recipes, ranging from full meals to tips for stirring in some pumpkin to what you’re already eating. At the very least, you’ll learn how to freeze pumpkin so you can enjoy it a later time if you’re really just not feeling it at the moment.

Healthy Canned Pumpkin Recipes

Every meal of the day presents an opportunity to use up pumpkin puree. You can stir it into oatmeal at breakfast or add it to pasta sauce at dinner. Here are some of my favorite ideas, separated into breakfast, snack, savory, and sweet categories.

Breakfast Ideas with Pumpkin

Eating veggies at breakfast has never been easier! Start your day with a healthy dose of fiber and beta-carotene from pumpkin.

• Stir pumpkin into oatmeal: Make some plain oatmeal and stir in a few tablespoons of leftover pumpkin puree before serving. Add sliced apples or dried cranberries, ground cinnamon, pecans, and a drizzle of maple syrup for additional flavor.
• Add it to a smoothie: A pumpkin smoothie is both vibrant and delicious. Canned pumpkin pairs especially well with Greek yogurt and banana. Check out this Pumpkin Pie Smoothie from a fellow RD at Cozy Peach Kitchen for an idea.
• Make a yogurt parfait: Grab a jar and fill it with alternating layers of pumpkin puree and vanilla Greek yogurt. Add other seasonal fix-ins like cooked cranberries, low-sugar granola, nuts or seeds, and pumpkin pie spice.
• Mix it into scrambled eggs: Pumpkin in eggs? Trust me, it’s good (see also my Apple Pumpkin Frittata with Gouda). For an easy breakfast with pumpkin, stir a few tablespoons of pumpkin puree into scrambled eggs while they’re cooking. Add a shredded cheese, like gouda or cheddar, and seasonings of choice.

Leftover Pumpkin Snacks

Snacks are among my favorite options for leftover pumpkin recipes. These healthy options will give you a boost of energy and nutrition when you need it the most!

• Make energy bites with pumpkin: Pumpkin puree is a great addition to bite-sized snacks. If you’re interested in trying this option, follow my easy recipe for Pumpkin Peanut Butter Balls.
• Or oatmeal bars: As you can see, I think pumpkin + oatmeal is a match made in heaven! If you have a little extra time, make oatmeal bars instead of oatmeal energy bites. These Chocolate Cherry Pumpkin Oatmeal Bars are great as a snack, breakfast, or dessert.
• Blend pumpkin puree into a healthy dip: A dip with pumpkin may not sound that intuitive, but it totally works. See for yourself by making my Pumpkin Black Bean Dip. An even easier option is mixing pumpkin puree into store-bought hummus or yogurt dip for fruit.
• Use it in chia pudding: Pumpkin adds great flavor and color to chia pudding. My rendition, Vegan Pumpkin Chia Pudding, uses coconut milk, vanilla extract, and pumpkin pie spice for maximum flavor.

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Canned Pumpkin Savory Recipes

Want to use leftover pumpkin in a savory recipe for lunch or dinner? Here you go!

• Use pumpkin in pasta sauce: I love making savory (and slightly sweet!) pumpkin tomato sauce, so much so that I have recipes that use it on my blog and in my cookbook. If you’re heating up a jar of pasta sauce for dinner, try mixing in a ½ cup of pumpkin puree. For a more specific recipe, check out my One Pot Pumpkin Tomato Pasta. You can also use pumpkin tomato sauce on pizza.
• Make a filling for stuffed shells: Are you planning on making stuffed shells sometime soon? You can use up leftover pumpkin when you do! Check out my Ricotta Pumpkin Stuffed Shells for tips.
• Stir pumpkin into chili or soup: Making chili? Stir in whatever pumpkin puree you have left while it’s simmering. It will taste delicious with the other ingredients. You can also add it to chowders or other soups.
• Add it to mac and cheese: Whether your mac and cheese is homemade or from the box, add a little pumpkin to it. Start by adding a couple tablespoons to the cheese sauce, taste, and add more if desired.
• Mix it into curry: If you have a skillet of curry simmering on the stove, stir in a little canned pumpkin at the same time you add the coconut milk. You won’t even notice it’s there, especially because it has the same color as curry spices!

Canned Pumpkin Dessert Recipes

Last but not least, let’s talk pumpkin desserts! Most people think of pumpkin as an addition to sweet foods. These healthy leftover pumpkin recipes are a great way to satisfy your sweet tooth with a little extra nutrition.

• Bake pumpkin bread: You can never go wrong with pumpkin bread to use up leftover pumpkin. Here’s my recipe for Healthy Banana Pumpkin Oatmeal Bread.
• Use it in leftover pumpkin puree muffins: Pumpkin muffins are just as delicious as pumpkin bread. You can sub pumpkin for butternut squash puree in my Spiced Oat and Butternut Squash Muffins.
• Make a filling for homemade candy: Add pumpkin to homemade candies, like my Peanut Butter Cups with Pumpkin. You can also use it in pumpkin caramels.
• Whip up pumpkin mousse: The texture of pumpkin puree lends itself well to homemade mousse.
• Browse recipes for cookies, cakes, pies, and more: There’s something for everyone out there!

Tips for Storing Leftover Pumpkin

If you still have some pumpkin puree after making leftover pumpkin recipes, you can freeze it! Here are my answers to frequently asked questions about keeping canned pumpkin in the fridge or freezer.

How long is leftover pumpkin good for?

In the fridge, canned pumpkin typically lasts for 5 to 7 days. Keep it in airtight container. I have found that is lasts longer if I transfer it to a container instead of keeping it covered in the can.

How do you know if pumpkin is bad?

The best way to tell if canned pumpkin has gone bad is to smell it. If it smells slightly sweet and earthy and like it did when you first opened the jar, it hasn’t gone bad. If it has a strong and rotten smell, it is past its prime. Any signs of mold or discoloration also indicate that pumpkin is bad.

Can leftover pumpkin be frozen?

It sure can! One of the best ways to freeze canned pumpkin is to separate it into individual portions using a muffin tin. Scoop out ½ cup portions, plop them into the muffin tin, and transfer that to the freezer for a couple of hours.

Once the pumpkin is frozen solid, pop the servings out of the tray, and place them in a labeled bag or container. Using a silicone muffin pan makes popping out the servings super easy! Frozen canned pumpkin should last for at least 3 months.

You can also just transfer all of the pumpkin puree you have to a Stasher bag or plastic container. Place it in the freezer and use it in leftover pumpkin recipes within a few months.

To defrost frozen pumpkin, transfer it to the fridge and let it thaw overnight. You can also microwave it or add it directly to hot dishes.

And that’s a wrap! What’s your favorite way to use up leftover pumpkin? Let me know in the comments! – Lizzie