Rich and creamySausage and Pumpkin Pastamade with ground sausage, pumpkin puree, garlic, sage, and lots of Parmesan cheese – comfort food at its best.

Pumpkin puree in savory dishes is one of my all-time favorite ways to use the stuff!I feel like we think pumpkin recipes and we go straight to those yummypumpkin cookiesandpumpkin bread. I’m here to convert you to pumpkin in every dish, all day long, including dinner!

Pumpkin puree is magical if you ask me.It’s nutritious, inexpensive, easy to find, and easy to use. It adds beautiful color, a subtle sweetness, and a rich creaminess to dishes.One of my favorite ways to use pumpkin is with pasta! When the dish is made, the pasta looks super cheesy and tastes extra rich. But the secret is the pumpkin puree. The sausage, sage, and just a bit of cream and Parmesan make this pasta dish a favorite.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Fall Flavors:Sage and pumpkin are delicious together. Something about the combination just screams all the savory flavors of fall.
Creaminess:The pumpkin puree adds a creaminess to the sauce without having to add a lot of dairy.
Colorful:The pumpkin puree gives it a beautiful hint of orange. Even picky eaters won’t notice that it’s not ultra cheesy.

Ingredients

Pasta
Ground Sausage
Onion
Garlic
Sage Leaves
Chicken Broth
Pumpkin Puree
Cream
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes, optional
Parmesan
Salt and Pepper

See the recipe card below for full information on ingredients and quantities

How to Make Sage and Pumpkin Pasta

Step #1.Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and reserve one cup of pasta water.

Step #3.Stir in the chicken broth and cook until the onion is tender. Add the pumpkin and cream, reduce heat to low then stir in the Parmesan.

Step #2.Brown the sausage in the pan for several minutes, then add the onion. Continue to cook until onion is translucent. Add the garlic and sage and cook until fragrant.

Step #4.Stir the pasta into the sauce mixture. Add reserved pasta water if the sauce is too thick. Remove from the heat and serve with additional salt, pepper, and Parmesan as desired.

What kind of pasta should I use?

I like to use a sturdy pasta like Orecchiette, Rigatoni, or even Bow-Tie. Chubby big pasta pieces work well with the ground sausage.

What kind of sausage should I use?

You have a lot of freedom when it comes to what sausage you use. You can use hot Italian, sweet Italian, pork breakfast sausage, and just about anything in between. Just be sure it’s a ground sausage and remove any casing before cooking.

Expert Tips

I like sage but I don’t love it, so I added 2 leaves.If you know you love it, add the full 4. If you are somewhere in the middle, try three.
To speed up the cooking time, you can cook the pasta in a separate pan and start making the sauce in a second pan while the pasta cooks.You can save on time or dishes, but not both. 🙂 I lovethis saute’ panif you are in the market.
Don’t Overcook the Pasta.Cook until just al dente so it holds up well in the creamy pumpkin sauce.