Description
This Pumpkin Sage Pasta is a cozy fall-inspired recipe that brings together creamy pumpkin sauce, fresh sage, and perfectly cooked pasta in just 30 minutes. It’s comforting, flavorful, and perfect for weeknight dinners or holiday gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz pasta (fettuccine, linguine, or penne)
- 2 tablespoons butter (or olive oil)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small shallot, finely chopped
- 1 cup pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
- 6–8 fresh sage leaves, chopped or left whole
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water
- Optional: crumbled bacon, red pepper flakes, or chopped spinach
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until al dente. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: Melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and shallot; cook until fragrant, about 2 minutes.
- Make the Sauce: Reduce heat to low. Stir in pumpkin puree, cream, salt, pepper, and nutmeg. Simmer for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add Cheese and Sage: Stir in Parmesan cheese and sage leaves. Add reserved pasta water to adjust consistency.
- Toss and Serve: Add cooked pasta to the skillet, tossing gently to coat. Cook for another minute to blend flavors.
- Garnish and Enjoy: Serve topped with extra Parmesan and crispy sage leaves for a beautiful finish.
Notes
Use fresh sage for the best aroma and flavor. To make it vegan, replace butter and cream with olive oil and coconut cream, and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan. Great with roasted vegetables or grilled chicken on the side.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 460mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 7g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 14g
- Cholesterol: 45mg