Description
This Creamy Pumpkin Pasta with Sage Butter is the ultimate cozy comfort food. Silky pasta coated in a luscious pumpkin cream sauce with nutty brown butter and crispy sage—perfect for fall nights or any time you crave something warm, rich, and satisfying. Ready in just 30 minutes, it’s an easy weeknight meal that tastes gourmet.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz fettuccine or penne pasta (use gluten-free if preferred)
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 6–8 fresh sage leaves
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup pumpkin purée (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or coconut cream for dairy-free)
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus extra for serving)
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- ⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water. Cook the pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Brown the Butter and Sage: In a large skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add sage leaves and let them sizzle until crispy. Remove the leaves and set them aside. Continue cooking the butter until it turns golden brown and smells nutty.
- Add Garlic and Pumpkin: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds. Add the pumpkin purée and stir well to combine with the butter.
- Make the Cream Sauce: Pour in heavy cream and whisk until smooth. Season with salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Simmer gently for 3–5 minutes until thickened.
- Toss with Pasta: Add the cooked pasta to the sauce, tossing well to coat. Add Parmesan and a splash of pasta water as needed to achieve a creamy texture.
- Finish and Serve: Crumble the crispy sage over the pasta and drizzle with extra brown butter. Serve hot with more Parmesan on top.
Notes
For a lighter version, use half-and-half instead of cream. Add spinach or grilled chicken for extra protein. Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days and reheat gently with a splash of cream or milk.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (about 1¼ cups)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 480mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 70mg