Whether or not you've been carving grinning pumpkins for your home's stoop, munching on pumpkin seeds is something you have to do this season, whether they're homemade or store-bought. Though pumpkin seeds are tailor-made for easy snacking, you should also consider using your loot as a way to bring nutty crunch to your favorite meals. Learn how to roast pumpkin seeds at home and then use them in these fall-inspired recipes to bring a little nuttiness and crunch to your favorites.

Toss Pumpkin Seeds Into Salad

Give your salads a little crunch, without going for croutons, by tossing a few pumpkin seeds into the mix. Aarti Sequeira's top-rated Massaged Kale Salad joins the hearty winter green with juicy mango, a lemon-honey dressing and crunchy toasted pepitas (pumpkin seeds).

Top Your Breakfast with Pumpkin Seeds

Make tomorrow's oatmeal anything but boring by bringing pumpkin seeds into the mix. Pumpkin Spice Oatmeal comes with a pumpkin punch in three ways: with pumpkin puree for added body, pumpkin spice for a little kick and pumpkin seeds for a good crunch.

Dress Up Your Baked Goods with Pumpkin Seeds

Warm and spicy from molasses, dark brown sugar and four kinds of spice,  Pumpkin Muffins are a seasonal staple on their own, and giving them added love by flecking the top with pumpkin seeds.

Bring Pumpkin Seeds Into Trail Mix

Trail mix is all about the crunch, and pumpkin seeds deliver. Before hunger pangs call, throw together this healthy  Pumpkin Seed Dried Cherry Trail Mix with baby pumpkin seeds, almonds, dried cherries and sunflower seeds before sweetening with Grade B maple syrup.

Stir Pumpkin Seeds Into Your Chili

Odds are, you've never sunk a spoon into a chili like this one. This healthy, cocoa-spiked  Turkey and Pumpkin Seed Chili not only uses pumpkin seeds for added texture; it's also cooked in pumpkin seed oil. Pumpkin for the win!

Make Pumpkin Seeds a Side Act

Chilly fall nights call for  Roasted Chicken with Pumpkin Seed Salsa. Use a whole cup of toasted pepitas, peeled pumpkin seeds, to make a bright and refreshing complement for roasted chicken: pumpkin seed salsa, flavored with lime juice, chiles, onions and cilantro.

Just Plain Snack on Pumpkin Seeds

When it's all said and done, munching on pumpkin seeds as-is can be a solid way to go. Get ideas for  Pumpkin Seeds 5 Ways, with sweet or savory seasonings, for snacking on all season long.