Transforming Your Pumpkins into Delicious Dishes: 11 of the Best Varieties for Cooking

Pumpkins are more than just decorations or fairy tale chariots. They can also be transformed into delightful dishes that can spark creativity in your kitchen.

While pie pumpkins are the most popular, there are a variety of other pumpkin cultivars that offer unique and delicious flavors to elevate your cooking game. From muffins to soups, stews, and even lasagna, pumpkins can be a versatile addition to your recipes when you know which varieties are best suited for cooking.

Pumpkins require ample space, water, and warm weather to thrive, but the results are truly rewarding. The best cooking varieties are fresh, dense, and sweet, providing you with plenty of flesh for numerous meals and baked goods.

When I grew an heirloom cheese pumpkin a few years ago, I was amazed by the fresh, moist, and slightly sweet flesh that I harvested. It was a far cry from the canned pumpkin I was accustomed to using for baking.

I ended up preserving the flesh by steaming, mashing, and freezing it in pint jars, which I used in various dishes over the next nine months. From creamy soups to added sweetness in sauces and even incorporating it into pancake batter, the possibilities were endless.

This year, I’ve decided to grow the blue-shelled ‘Jarrahdale’ cultivar from Australia with thick orange flesh. These pumpkins take 95 days to grow and require layers of mulch and deep watering throughout the summer. The multitudes of tasty eight to 10-pound fruits from this cultivar will be perfect for my roasted vegetable medleys, velvety soups, savory stews, and tasty bread.

While carving pumpkins for Halloween is a popular tradition, I prefer to use my homegrown pumpkins for cooking and avoid wasting any part of them. If you’re interested in growing your own pumpkins, be sure to check out our comprehensive guide for success.

Now, let’s dive into a list of 11 of the best pumpkin cultivars for cooking to help you pick the perfect variety for your kitchen endeavors:

11 of the Best Pumpkin Cultivars to Grow for Cooking

Table of Contents

When choosing a pumpkin variety for cooking, it’s important to consider not only the taste and texture of the flesh but also the growing requirements and space needed to cultivate these plants effectively.

1. Casper

The white ‘Casper’ pumpkin may surprise you with its delicious sweet flesh.
Harvest these 15-pound fruits 115 days after planting.
Ideal for both sweet and savory dishes, ‘Casper’ is a versatile cooking pumpkin.

2. Cherokee Bush

A bush variety, ‘Cherokee Bush’ can be grown at home while still requiring ample space to spread.
The five to eight-pound fruits with gold-yellow flesh are perfect for roasting or pureeing for various recipes.
Direct sow ‘Cherokee Bush’ 50 seeds from Burpee for a bountiful harvest.

3. Cinderella

Resembling the fairy tale carriage in appearance, ‘Cinderella’ pumpkins mature in around 110 days from direct sowing.
These 15-inch orange fruits are great for preserving in butter, soups, or pickles.
Consider adding ‘Cinderella’ seeds from Eden Brothers to your cooking pumpkin collection.

4. Cushaw Green-Striped

‘Cushaw Green-Striped’ pumpkins are technically squash with creamy flesh ideal for pies, custards, or salads.
The distinctive white and green striped shells give these pumpkins a unique look for fall decor.
Enjoy the sweet and tender squash from your garden by planting ‘Cushaw’ seeds from Eden Brothers.

5. Dill’s Atlantic Giant

The ‘Dill’s Atlantic Giant’ pumpkin is known for its massive size and excellent eating qualities.
While these pumpkins require extra care and space to grow, the flesh is creamy and smooth, perfect for soups, stews, and purees.
Consider growing ‘Dill’s Atlantic Giant’ for a rewarding cooking experience from Botanical Interests seeds.

6. Fairytale

Shaped like Cinderella’s carriage, ‘Fairytale’ pumpkins boast dense and smooth dark orange flesh.
These 15-pound pumpkins with 125 days of harvest time are not just for display but also for culinary delights.
Impress your guests with a whole ‘Fairytale’ pumpkin at your dinner party, available in various seed sizes from Eden Brothers.

7. Jarrahdale

An heirloom pumpkin cultivar from Australia, ‘Jarrahdale’ pumpkins feature ribbed blue-green shells and thick, heavy flesh.
Ideal for savory dishes due to its stringless nature, ‘Jarrahdale’ is a productive variety suitable for various climates.
Get your ‘Jarrahdale’ seeds from Burpee to grow your own versatile cooking pumpkins.

8. Musquee De Provence

Originating from France, ‘Musquee De Provence’ pumpkins offer firm, sweet orange flesh that’s perfect for cooking.
The ribbed and lobed shells of these pumpkins provide a unique appearance for decorative purposes.
Add a touch of French cuisine to your recipes with ‘Musquee De Provence’ seeds from Eden Brothers.

9. Pepitas

‘Pepitas’ pumpkins are hybrids known for their hull-less seeds and mottled green and gold shells.
While the flesh may not be suitable for purees, the seeds are delicious when slow-roasted.
Grow these versatile pumpkins in your garden for both eating and autumn decorations, available from Walmart.

10. Red Warty Thing

Despite its unattractive name, ‘Red Warty Thing’ pumpkins feature smooth, dense, and sweet flesh for cooking.
The sunset-orange rind with warts adds a unique touch to these pumpkins, perfect for roasting or pickling.
Consider adding ‘Red Warty Thing’ seeds from True Leaf Market for a fun and flavorful addition to your garden.

11. Rouge Vif d’Etampes

‘Rouge Vif d’Etampes’ pumpkins are unique French heirlooms with flat and red-orange flesh.
The dense and heavy flesh of these pumpkins is perfect for savory autumn dishes like soups and curries.
Add a pop of color and flavor to your recipes with ‘Rouge Vif d’Etampes’ seeds from Eden Brothers.

Whether you choose the classic ‘Casper’ or the vibrant ‘Rouge Vif d’Etampes,’ there’s a cooking pumpkin variety to suit every taste and culinary preference. These pumpkins require patience and care to grow, but the reward of fresh, flavorful flesh for your recipes is worth the wait.

So put down the carving tools and pick up a fork and knife to savor the delicious dishes you can create with your homegrown pumpkins. From decadent pies to savory stews, the possibilities are endless when you have the best pumpkin varieties for cooking in your garden.