Creamy Pumpkin Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish that combines the earthy sweetness of pumpkin with the richness of a velvety sauce. The sauce, made from pureed pumpkin, milk, and a blend of warm spices, coats the pasta in a luscious, smooth texture. Cheese adds a savory depth, while a touch of garlic and onion enhances the overall flavor. This dish is perfect for autumn, offering a cozy, satisfying meal that celebrates the seasonal flavors of pumpkin. Creamy Pumpkin Pasta is both indulgent and nourishing, making it a favorite for cool-weather dinners.
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta
Ingredients
- 8 ounces pasta of your choice, such as penne
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 1/2 medium onion, diced
- 5 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- Pinch of kosher salt
- Big pinch of ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp all-purpose flour
- 1 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth or vegetable broth
- 1 cup milk
- 1/2 cup finely-shredded Pecorino Romano or Parmesan, more for serving
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 tbsp finely-chopped fresh sage leaves
- Grating of fresh nutmeg
- Pinch of ground cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Prep all ingredients: dice onion, mince garlic, grate Pecorino, and chop sage. Set aside for now. Place a large pot of water on the stove to boil.
- Begin the sauce while the water is coming up to boil. Add olive oil and butter to a large skillet set over medium-low heat. Once the butter is melted and everything is well heated, add the diced onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add the minced garlic to the skillet and cook for 1 minute. Season with paprika, kosher salt, and black pepper and stir in.
- Sprinkle flour over the onion and garlic and stir in. Cook for 2 minutes, stirring often so it doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan, then slowly whisk in the broth and milk. Stir and cook as the sauce thickens until it can coat the back of a wooden spoon.
- Once the pot of water is boiling, salt it and add your pasta. Cook according to package directions, reserving a ladle or two of water at the end of cook time before draining it.
- When the sauce has thickened, turn off the heat and scatter in the grated Pecorino and whisk as it melts to combine. Whisk in the pumpkin puree, chopped sage, and cayenne (if using), then add the drained pasta and toss. Add some of the reserved pasta water to thin the sauce to your liking, if desired.
- Taste for salt and pepper. Serve with extra grated Pecorino, sage, and/or a grating of fresh nutmeg.
Notes
Pasta: Varieties that work well for a thick sauce are long, flat noodles such as fettuccine or linguine; or shapes with nooks, crannies, and ridges like ziti or cavatappi.
Milk: A high milkfat percentage isn’t needed here as the sauce thickens from the roux and pumpkin puree.
Sage: Rubbed sage, found by the dry spices, can be used in place of fresh sage. Start by adding 1 ½ teaspoons of rubbed sage, adding more to taste.
Tips
- If you forget to reserve some of the pasta water, heat up some milk or chicken broth and stir it into the sauce at the end if you’d like it thinner.
- Protein options that pair well with these pumpkin pasta flavors are cooked and crumbled bacon and apple chicken sausage.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!