Perfect Pumpkin Rice

Name: 🍚 Perfect Pumpkin Rice
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/4 onion (finely chopped); 2 garlic cloves (finely chopped or minced ); 1 cup coconut milk; 1 cup vegetable broth; 1/2 cup canned pumpkin; 1/8 tsp ginger; 1/8 tsp thyme; 1/2 tsp Kosher salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 1 cup white rice; 1-2 tbsp roasted pumpkin seeds; 1-2 tbsp parsley (chopped)

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Our creamy pumpkin rice recipe is the perfect fall side dish, bringing warmth to your Thanksgiving table! Every bite of this sweet and savory vegetarian dish is loaded with our favorite autumn flavors. Best of all, it can be prepared in 28 minutes or less using just one pan!

White bowl filled with pumpkin rice topped with pumpkin seeds and parsley.

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👍 Why We Love Pumpkin Rice

Fall Flavors– Our pumpkin rice is an ideal fall side for your Thanksgiving table, with the natural sweetness of pumpkin balanced by garlic, onions, and savory spices for a delicious flavor blend.
One Pan– This pumpkin rice recipe comes together in 28 minutes or less using just one pan!
Vegetarian– Our creamy rice dish is made with coconut milk and is completely vegetarian, a great meat-free option for the fall.
Customizable– It’s easy to jazz up your pumpkin rice with your favorite veggies, like bell peppers, peas or carrots. You can even add your favorite protein, like grilled chicken or leftover Thanksgiving turkey!

If you’re looking for more vegetarian Thanksgiving side options, be sure to check out our Butternut Squash Soup, Dairy-Free Mac and Cheese or this flavor-packed Potato Leek Soup.

🛒 Ingredients & Substitutions

Notes on key ingredients are provided below. Please see the recipe card for a full list of ingredients and quantities.

Onion & garlic– provides a savory, flavorful base to this rice dish.
Seasoning– thyme and ground ginger boost this dish with our favorite fall flavors!
Coconut milk– brings a creamy, sweet flavor to the pumpkin rice. Light coconut milk will also work if you want less sweetness.
Vegetable broth– gives the rice some added flavor, but water will also work. Or, if you don’t need to keep this dish vegetarian, chicken broth is another option.
Canned pumpkin– make sure to get canned pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling which will be too sweet. Or feel free to make your own homemade puree if you have the time.
White rice– we use basmati rice, but jasmine rice or any other long-grained rice will work. Brown rice can also be used but will require more cooking time (about 40 minutes) and additional liquid.
Pumpkin seeds– roasted and salted pepitas for added crunch!

🧑🏾‍🍳 How to Make Pumpkin Rice

Sauce pan with onion and garlic cooking in oil l

Step 1: Sauté onion and garlic in oil for 2-3 minutes or until fragrant.

Sauce ingredients for pumpkin rice in pan.

Step 2: Add and stir together coconut milk, vegetable broth, pumpkin and seasoning.

Adding rice to pumpkin rice ingredients in sauce pan.

Step 3: Stir in white rice, bring to a boil, cover and simmer for 15-20 minutes.

Fluffing and stirring pumpkin rice once cooked in pan.

Step 4: Remove lid, fluff rice and serve.

To serve: top pumpkin rice with a pinch of pepitas and chopped parsley.

Pumpkin rice in a white bowl with a fork.

👧🏽 Kids Cooking Steps

Chop! Enlist kids to help chop the onion! We love these Curious Chef Children’s Knives for little ones. Fun tip– swimming goggles are great for protecting little eyes while chopping onions!
Measure ingredients. We always use our tried and true Pyrex Measuring Cup to measure liquid ingredients.
Set a fun timer for the rice. Your kids will love this adorable cat timer 😸⏲️ from Kikkerland.

🥄 Recipe Variations

More seasoning. While we kept our seasoning to a minimum, feel free to increase salt and/or seasoning as desired. We stuck with salt/pepper, ginger and thyme, but you can easily jazz up this dish with other fall flavors, like cinnamon, cloves or allspice.
Add vegetables. Feel free to experiment with veggies of your choice, like green beans, bell peppers, peas, cabbage or even spinach. If adding veggies, just be sure to put them in along with onions at the beginning.
Top with a protein, like grilled or chopped chicken/ pork or tofu.

✔️Expert Tips and Tricks

Be careful not to over-or under-cook the rice. Rice should be dense and fluffy, with all the liquid fully absorbed.
Adjust seasoning as desired. We recommend starting small and tasting along the way!
Use fresh parsley. Believe us, fresh parsley will add so much more flavor to this dish, plus an awesome pop of color!

🍽️What to Serve with Pumpkin Rice

Our pumpkin rice is very versatile and pairs nicely with lots dishes! You might consider pairing it with:

Veggies- Boost this dish with your favorite raw, steamed, or roasted veggies like parmesan asparagus or these amazing caprese pesto kabobs.
Salad– A simple, mixed green salad will go beautifully with our creamy pumpkin rice.
Turkey or chicken– It goes without saying that the sweet and savoy flavors of our pumpkin rice would pair beautifully with your Thanksgiving turkey! Or pair rice with our Baked Chicken and Squash or one of these simple chicken thigh recipes.
Pork-Balance the sweetness of the rice with crispy pork, like these panko pork chops, or our pork chops with spiced apples (pictured below).
Fish– A light fish, like our panko cod or gilled salmon would balance out the richness of our pumpkin rice.

overhead shot of brown sugar brined pork chops with spiced apple and pumpkin rice

🧊Storing and Reheating

Storing- Store our creamy pumpkin rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 2-3 days. Just be sure to add pumpkin seeds right before serving so they don’t become soft or mushy. We don’t recommend freezing this dish as the rice might lose its texture.

Reheating– Reheat pumpkin rice in the microwave at 30-second intervals or on the stove until you reach your desired temperature. We recommend sprinkling rice with 1-2 tbsp of water or chicken broth to prevent it from drying out as it heats up.

👦🏼 Tips for Picky Eaters

Skip the pepitas. If kids aren’t into nuts or seeds, skip these or offer them on the side.
Kids choose another side. Let kids pair pumpkin rice with another one of their favorite side dishes or chopped fruit/vegetable, like carrot sticks, sliced cucumbers or simple apple slices.
Add protein. If you think your kids would like to boost this dish with protein, consider incorporating grilled chicken or pork. We love paring this dish with our brown sugar brined pork chops!

Closeup pumpkin rice recipe served in a white bowl with parsley.

❓FAQ

Can I use brown rice for this pumpkin rice recipe?

Yes, you can make the dish with brown rice. You will have to extend the cooking time (40 minutes total) and add additional liquid.

Can I make this dish in the rice cooker?

Yes, you can make this pumpkin rice recipe in the rice cooker. Simply sauté the veggies first on the stove and then combine ingredients in the slow cooker.

What kind of pumpkin puree should I use?

You can make homemade pumpkin puree or use a store-bought canned puree. If buying in-store, be sure to get canned pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling which will be too sweet. We love Libby’s 100% Pumpkin Puree.

🧶Craft for this Recipe

While the grown-ups cook, kids can celebrate pumpkins and decorate them with melted crayons! Melting crayons on pumpkins is so colorful and so much fun! It’s a great no-carve pumpkin craft that adults enjoy just as much as kids!