How to Roast Perfectly Crisp Squash Seeds ~ the secret to super crisp and delicious roasted winter squash seeds is simple and oh so easy…I’ll show you how to make five different varieties and five different flavors!
Have you ever grabbed a handful of roasted pumpkin seeds, maybe at a friend’s house, and popped them in your mouth, expecting something wonderfully crunchy and delicious, only to find yourself gnawing endlessly on the wooden shells and madly trying to figure out how to ‘dispose’ of them politely? Been there and done that and that’s why I’ve never been a fan of the stuff…that is, until I figured out the secret.
The secret to the most amazing roasted pumpkin seeds? That’s easy, nix the pumpkin.
That’s right, pumpkin seeds are just too tough to roast successfully, so the next time you’re carving a jack-o-lantern, I suggest tossing those seeds. (The little green seeds called pepitas are the inner kernels of pumpkin seeds, and they are fabulous. But the full-on pumpkin seed? Not so much.)
Turns out other types of winter squash have much better seeds for roasting, like the delicata, above, or the butternut, below. Their seeds are smaller, and so much more tender and flavorful that those cardboard pumpkin seeds. Once I came to grips with this reality, I began experimenting with other types of squash seeds and that’s where all the deliciousness begins. I started with the seeds of 2 acorn squash. I sliced the squash in half and removed the seeds, see my detailed instructions for removing and cleaning seeds below.
I roasted up a selection for you, just to prove my point. I gave every one a different flavor profile, too. But that’s just the beginning, you can roast any winter squash seed and use any spice or herb flavoring you like. The possibilities are mind boggling!
The seeds:
- acorn (with olive oil and salt)
- butternut (with olive oil, fennel seed and salt)
- delicata (olive oil, coriander seeds, curry powder and salt)
- spaghetti squash (olive oil, red chili flakes, and salt)
- kabocha (allspice, cardamom, and cloves)
The method:
- 350F oven.
- @1 tsp oil per 1/2 cup seeds ~ salt and spices to taste.
- 15-20 minutes, or until you start to hear them ‘pop’.
- Let cool on pan, they’ll crisp as they cool.
- enjoy.
My personal favorites were the acorn seeds ~ they were ultra crisp and so delicious, with just a hint of salt. But really all of them were wonderful, with one exception…the kabocha seeds were tougher than the others. It figures, because they’re also larger. If you’re a pumpkin seed lover and don’t mind the extra chewing required, you’ll love the kabocha, too.
How to easily remove and clean winter squash seeds ~
- Cut your squash in half. Use your hands to pull out the seeds into a large bowl Try to squeeze the seeds out, leaving as much of the pulp behind as you can. There are pockets of seeds in the cavities of squash, so be sure to root around in the corners.
- Fill the bowl with cold water and use your hands to squish the seeds together to remove the slimy pulp. The seeds will rise to the surface. Skim them off and spread them out to dry,
- If pulp is stubborn, try putting the seeds in a strainer and using your kitchen sprayer to loosen it.
- Turn the seeds out onto a clean absorbent dishcloth and pat them dry.
- Don’t worry about a little of the pulp sticking to the nuts, it won’t hurt anything.
How do I use my seeds once they’re roasted?
I love to serve them in little bowls as a healthy snack, or an appetizer with wine, beer, or cocktails. They’re addictive, and the minute somebody pops a few in their mouth, their snacking hand will go on autopilot. but I also use them in fall salads for a bit of crunch, just like you would use nuts or croutons. They also make the best garnish for cozy fall soups. Sometimes I’ll add them to my granola or trail mix recipes, too.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup acorn squash seeds, cleaned and dried
- 1 tsp olive oil
- salt to taste (start with 1/4 tsp)
- 1/2 cup butternut squash seeds
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp fennel seeds
- salt to taste (start with 1/4 tsp)
- 1/2 cup delicata squash seeds
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1 tsp coriander seeds
- 1/2 tsp curry powder
- salt to taste (start with 1/4 tsp)
- 1/2 cup spaghetti squash seeds
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
- salt to taste (start with 1/4 tsp)
- 1 tsp olive oil
- 1/4 tsp allspice
- 1/4 tsp cardamom
- 1/8 tsp ground cloves
Instructions
- set oven to 350F
- Toss the seeds with the oil and the appropriate seasonings in a small bowl. Make sure to get all the seeds evenly coated.
- Spread the seeds out on a dry baking sheet, making sure they're in a single layer.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, until they turn golden and start to pop. I like to stir them around once or twice during the cooking to rearrange them so they cook evenly. Note: some seeds do not pop, so if they've turned golden after 20 minutes, they're done.
- Let cool on the baking sheet and then you can put them in a bowl for serving. Add more salt or seasonings to taste.
Make it your own ~
- You can completely leave out the oil and toast the seeds dry, if you like. The only problem is that the seasonings won’t stick to the seeds, so they will have to be plain. I found they were delicious this way, too!
Don’t lose this recipe for how to roast perfectly crisp squash seeds 5 ways ~ pin it!

28 Comments
Don Cherf
February 17, 2019 at 5:47 pmIf you don’t wash/rinse all the pulp and squash juice off the seeds, salt and other spices will stick to the seeds. The pulp and juice add flavor to the seeds, also.
Sue
February 17, 2019 at 8:15 pmThanks Don, I’ll try that next time for sure :)
Ann
January 15, 2019 at 3:40 pmI roast winter squash whole in my countertop convection oven. After they’re cooled, I scoop out the seeds and whatever pulp that is still attached goes into the convection oven to slow roast and to dry out the pulp. I used to be quite picky about the pulp but not anymore. Once it’s dried, it’s easy to crumble and free the seeds. The pulp actually tastes good when crisped with seasoning. So that’s how I do it. Call me lazy but it works, my family likes it, and there’s a lot less squash wasted. :D
Sue
January 15, 2019 at 4:47 pmThat’s a great tip Ann, I’ve never considered doing it like that, I hate the messy business of trying to separate the seeds from the slimy pulp.
Julie Corinne
January 15, 2019 at 11:27 amThese were wonderful! Thank you! I roasted the seeds after making spaghetti out of our spaghetti squash. I used dried rosemary, alderwood smoked salt, brown sugar, and cayenne. SO good!
Tommy
January 7, 2019 at 1:58 pmGreat stuff. I’ve noted some recipes suggesting boiling seeds fir 10 minutes or so before roasting. This seems to add a special crunch — also is a foolproof way to remove any pulp. If you rinse the boiled seeds in a colander, the pulp just falls off effortlessly. I recently added some Ethiopian berbere seasoning — yummy, for those who are OK with a bit of heat. Love the allspice tip as well!
Sue
January 7, 2019 at 2:08 pmLove this Tommy, thanks! I’m going to have to look up the Ethiopian seasoning, I’ve never heard of it and I love heat.
Cheranimyl
November 4, 2018 at 7:10 pmMmm, how delightfully simple and tasty!
Sue
November 4, 2018 at 7:22 pmI know, better than buttered popcorn, right?
Mañuel Laver
October 26, 2018 at 2:47 pmHave you ever tried using an heat-gun, or a ‘air’ popcorn popper?
Sue
October 26, 2018 at 3:38 pmNo I haven’t ~ let us know if you try it!
This is Halloween! – A. Crowley
October 24, 2018 at 4:01 pm[…] celebrate make a wreath, carve a pumpkin (be sure to roast the seeds), make a mask of your shadow side (doubles as a costume), and build a besom (also known as a […]
Angel
October 1, 2018 at 2:21 pmIt’s amazing that I’ve never considered roasting and eating squash seeds other than those from pumpkins. I’m definitely giving this a try with tonight’s spaghetti squash.
Sue
October 1, 2018 at 2:24 pmYou’ll love it Angel, the other varieties are even better than pumpkin seeds if you ask me. Definitely try the butternut, they were amazing. I just visited our pumpkin patch yesterday, so I’m gearing up for some seed roasting soon :)
Roasted Squash Seeds: Benefits And Recipes For Everyone
September 7, 2018 at 1:43 am[…] Experimenting with different types of squash seeds opens a new world of snacking. If you are eating the squash anyway, why not use the whole vegetable? Roasting and seasoning your fresh, unused seeds will most likely taste better than packaged seeds that could be months old. Another benefit of roasting your own seeds is that you can season them to suit anyone's tastes. […]
Butternut Squash Recipe Roundup for Friday's Featured Foodie Feastings
August 31, 2018 at 3:01 am[…] How to Roast Butternut Squash Seeds from The View from Great Island […]
Adina
October 20, 2017 at 3:24 amThis brings back childhood memories from Romania, we would be able to buy roasted pumpkin or sunflower seeds everywhere on the street, it used to be our favorite snack. I tried roasting the seeds of a butternut squash I bought for cooking, but was dissapointed to find that most of the seed shells were empty!!! I wonder why, but I should give it another try and maybe I get lucky to find the right squash.
Sylvia
November 9, 2017 at 6:24 pmI roasted the battternut squash seeds
In the microwave and they turned out perfectly I washed them then added it
Some salt and microwaved them 30seconds
At the time 4 times then then 1 minute
X 2 and they were nice and crunchy
It’s like there roasted in the oven
Sue
November 9, 2017 at 6:25 pmDefinitely trying this Sylvia, thanks!
Sylvia
November 9, 2017 at 6:50 pmYou are welcome I just finish eating them ,you are right once you start then you keep going back for more :) healthy snacks,enjoy
Jennifer @ Seasons and Suppers
October 19, 2017 at 6:38 amI love this! I have never roasted my acorn squash seeds, but I’m going to now :) Great post!
Tricia @ Saving Room for Dessert
October 19, 2017 at 4:13 amWhat a terrific post! Thanks for the encouragement on trying again – I have had the chewy, woody seeds that were kinda yuck. Going to try your method now :)
Sue
October 19, 2017 at 3:38 pmEnjoy, Tricia <3
Robyn Gleason
October 19, 2017 at 3:58 amI love these tasty seeds, Sue, but I have to admit I’m not always patient enough to save them. Now I will just remember how fabulous these look and be inspired. Sharing :)
Rose
October 18, 2017 at 11:12 amHI Sue, just so happened to be roasting some buttercup squash when your email came through, so thought I’d give your recipe a go. Just did the “plain Jane” version, using salt and olive oil. Surprisingly delicious! It, too, am not a fan of the woody pumpkin seeds, but these are lovely. I usually put my seeds out for the squirrels, but I guess from now on, they’re going to have to share their stash with yours truly. Thanks for the recipe!!
Sue
October 18, 2017 at 12:55 pmPerfect! The squirrels have acorns, after all:)
John/Kitchen Riffs
October 18, 2017 at 8:02 amI haven’t roasted pumpkin seeds in years — because they’re so darn hard to eat! And because of my experience with pumpkin seeds, I never even considered roasting other squash seeds. So thanks for this post — I learned a ton of new stuff. :-)
Chris Scheuer
October 18, 2017 at 4:22 amGreat post! I hate throwing away all those lovely seeds but didn’t know all these great tricks!