Best Ways to Use Leftover Canned Pumpkin

Here are the best ways to use up leftover canned pumpkin puree for a brand new recipe!

I got caught up in the pumpkin craze this year and may have purchased a few too many cans. So, it’s forced me to get creative. I hope these ideas inspire you to do the same! 

If you are staring at a half-used can of pumpkin puree, keep reading. Here’s how to use up leftover canned pumpkin puree, get all of the nutrition benefits, and zero waste.

Freeze your leftover pumpkin

When a recipe calls for less than a full can, save the extra pumpkin puree by freezing in ice cube trays. Pop a few cubes out to add to sauces, soups and more – as I’ll get into below.

Make granola

My easy homemade pumpkin spice granola uses leftover pumpkin puree in the mix – not just pumpkin spice. It’s the easiest recipe to make, keeps for a couple of weeks, and your house will smell like one of those fall candles!

Blend a fall smoothie

While you have the blender out, pop a few cubes of frozen pumpkin in with bananas, cinnamon, and your favorite milk for a fall-inspired smoothie.

Swirl pumpkin into yogurt or oats

Stir leftover canned pumpkin into oatmeal or Greek yogurt with a pumpkin spice blend and a drizzle of maple syrup for a fiber-rich, fall-inspired breakfast. And yes. You can also make pumpkin pancakes!

Make pumpkin pasta sauce

Use the pureed pumpkin as a base to create a silky texture like in this Creamy Pumpkin Pasta with Toasted Walnuts and Spinach Never tried pumpkin pasta? This recipe uses up a full cup of pumpkin puree. The pumpkin pasta sauce is made velvety smooth with plenty of extra virgin olive oil and a touch of tomato paste. You can even double the sauce and freeze it to enjoy later.

Give chili a healthy boost

Try stirring canned pumpkin puree into soup, stew, or chili to boost the nutrition quality and color of the dish without an overpowering flavor. This Slow- Cooker Pumpkin Chili looks delicious for meat lovers, and this Vegan Pumpkin Chili does too.

Make curry or stew

As with pasta sauce and in chili, pumpkin is a delicious addition to curries. It works well in this Easy Vegan Pumpkin Lentil Curry.

Bake some bread or muffins. 

Of course, pumpkin bread would make the list. This gluten-free Pumpkin Banana Nut Bread is made with oats, pumpkin, and bananas in the blender. Try a slice with almond butter or Greek yogurt for a quick get-out-the-door breakfast. And if you somehow find yourself with extra pumpkin bread, you can toast it up or freeze individual slices to enjoy throughout the fall.

Stir a leftover pumpkin into hummus

Too far? Well, dessert hummus is a thing. I haven’t tried it. But if I did venture that way, I’d add leftover pumpkin puree, pumpkin pie spice, and a swirl of maple syrup to plain hummus for a fun fall twist!

Feed plain pumpkin to your dog

Your pup will enjoy pumpkin as is or mixed in with her regular food. My Biscuit loves it as a treat, and it’s good for her doggy digestion. I’ve also recently learned that she will take her medicine a lot easier if it’s covered in cold pumpkin puree!

As you can see, pumpkin puree is versatile. It works well in both sweet and savory dishes. It also has some impressive nutrition benefits. Just a ½ cup of pure pumpkin delivers 4g of fiber to help you reach the recommended 25g per day.

Pumpkin puree is also an excellent source of the antioxidant, beta-carotene, widely researched for its potential cancer prevention, immune health, and vision supportive properties. So, even if you’re more a sweet potato pie than pumpkin pie fan, there’s room in the pantry for pumpkin!

How do use up leftover canned pumpkin?

Please let me know in the comments or tag me on Instagram so I can see your creations and give you a shout out. Because this question will roll around again next fall, PIN this post so you can always find it!

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