Spiced Pumpkin and Sausage Pasta
Spiced Pumpkin and Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta, such as penne, rigatoni, or orecchiette
- 1 tablespoon salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or spicy, casings removed
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated preferred
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
For Garnish
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, dried sage, dried thyme, nutmeg, and red pepper flakes, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Stir in the pumpkin puree and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
⏱️ 5 min
- 5
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Serve immediately, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Spiced Pumpkin and Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces pasta, such as penne, rigatoni, or orecchiette
- 1 tablespoon salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or spicy, casings removed
- 1/2 cup yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup canned pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/8 teaspoon nutmeg, freshly grated preferred
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
For Garnish
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add the pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic, dried sage, dried thyme, nutmeg, and red pepper flakes, cooking for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Stir in the pumpkin puree and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer, then reduce heat to low and stir in the heavy cream. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
⏱️ 5 min - 5
Add the cooked and drained pasta to the skillet with the sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Serve immediately, garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh parsley.
⏱️ 1 min