Roasted Squash Seeds Recipe (With Variations)

Name: Roasted Squash Seeds (With Variations) Recipe
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 80 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 1/2 cups squash seeds from a squash (raw, any winter squash variety); 1 tablespoon salt; 1 3/4 tablespoons butter (melted, or olive oil )

Prep: 20 mins

Cook: 20 mins

Drying and Cooling Time: 40 mins

Total: 80 mins

Servings: 6 servings

94 ratings

Write a Review

Add a comment

Roasted seeds are a popular snack in the Middle East. Think of eating them as you would peanuts or chips. You may be familiar with roasted pumpkin seeds, but when a recipe calls for any other kind of winter squash, be sure to save and roast the seeds for a nutritious treat. Some favorites include roasted seeds from spaghetti squash, acorn, buttercup, butternut, turban, Hubbard, kabocha, and Delicata squash.

Enjoy these simply salted roasted seeds or try spicing them in various ways. This easy-to-make snack will soon be a favorite for everyone in your family.

"If you're making any variety of winter squash, be sure to collect the seeds and try this recipe. Not only are the seeds delicious, but the recipe allows you to enjoy a part of the squash that might normally not be thought about and thrown away." —Diana Andrews

Roasted Squash Seeds (With Variations)/Tester Image

1 squash (any winter squash variety)
1 tablespoon salt
1 3/4 tablespoons melted unsalted butter, or olive oil

Gather the ingredients.

The Spruce/Madhumita Sathishkumar
Cut the squash in half lengthwise. Gather seeds from squash, separating them from the stringy flesh, and place them in a colander. Rinse the seeds thoroughly in a colander and pick away any excess squash flesh still clinging to the seeds.

The Spruce/Madhumita Sathishkumar
Once clean, spread the seeds out in an even layer on a clean kitchen towel or paper towels and allow them to dry. Seeds can be patted dry, but they roast much better when they are completely dry. This is a good step to reach before you continue to prepare the main flesh of your squash in whatever recipe you prefer. The seeds can be allowed to dry for 30 minutes to several hours before you go on to the roasting step.

The Spruce/Madhumita Sathishkumar
Position a rack in the center of the oven and heat to 275 F. Toss the dry squash seeds with salt and butter and place in a single layer onto a baking sheet lined with aluminum foil or parchment paper. Place in the oven and bake until the seeds begin to turn golden, 15 to 20 minutes.

The Spruce/Madhumita Sathishkumar
When you remove them from the oven, agitate the pan a bit to loosen them. Allow them to cool for 5 to 10 minutes before serving as they will become crisper as they cool.

The Spruce/Madhumita Sathishkumar

Tip

Roasted squash seeds are great for eating by the handful and are perfect toppings for salads or soups, too.

Recipe Variations

You can use seasoned salts, such as garlic salt or onion salt, in place of regular salt. You can add black pepper, cayenne, cumin, curry powder, smoked paprika, or chile flakes for more spice. Try different dried herbs such as rosemary or oregano. When adding spices, it is best to roast the seeds on parchment paper to help prevent burning the spices.
You can also soak the seeds overnight in salt water or boil them for 10 minutes in salt water before roasting them. This can result in crunchier seeds and may make nutrients more available for absorption.

How to Store Roasted Squash Seeds

Save any roasted squash seeds in an airtight container for several days. They are safe to store at room temperature.

Are all squash seeds edible?

Yes, all squash seeds are edible, just like pumpkin seeds (which are also a variety of squash). Enjoy these delicious nutty-flavored seeds.

15 Winter Squash and Pumpkins Varieties

Nutrition Facts (per serving)
82	Calories
6g	Fat
6g	Carbs
2g	Protein

Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6
Amount per serving
Calories	82
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 6g	8%
Saturated Fat 1g	5%
Cholesterol 0mg	0%
Sodium 1059mg	46%
Total Carbohydrate 6g	2%
Dietary Fiber 2g	7%
Total Sugars 0g
Protein 2g
Vitamin C 0mg	0%
Calcium 7mg	1%
Iron 0mg	2%
Potassium 98mg	2%
*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.