Description
Experience the ultimate cozy fall dinner with this velvety Creamy Pumpkin Sausage Pasta. This restaurant-quality dish features lean ground chicken sausage paired with savory pumpkin puree, fragrant sage, and a hint of nutmeg. It is a hearty, comforting weeknight meal that comes together in just 30 minutes. Perfect for chilly evenings, this creamy pasta dish balances the sweetness of autumn with robust, savory flavors that the whole family will love.
Ingredients
12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
1 lb ground chicken sausage (casing removed)
1 cup pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
1 cup heavy cream or full-fat coconut milk
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 small onion, finely diced
1/2 tsp dried sage
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and black pepper to taste
Fresh parsley for garnish
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until al dente, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water before draining.
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat, add chicken sausage and cook for 5-7 minutes until browned and cooked through.
Add diced onion to the skillet and sauté for 3 minutes until translucent.
Stir in minced garlic, sage, and nutmeg, and cook for 60 seconds until fragrant.
Reduce heat to low, stir in the pumpkin puree and heavy cream, and simmer for 3 minutes until thickened.
Toss the cooked pasta into the skillet, adding reserved pasta water as needed to reach desired consistency.
Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted, season with salt and pepper, and garnish with fresh parsley to serve.
Notes
Ensure you use 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling which contains added sugars and spices. For a dairy-free version, use full-fat canned coconut milk and a dairy-free cheese alternative. If the sauce becomes too thick while sitting, splash in a little extra warm water or cream.
- Prep Time: 10
- Cook Time: 20
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 85mg