Description
This Pasta Bake with Pumpkin Tomato Sauce is the ultimate autumn comfort meal. Combining the velvety sweetness of roasted pumpkin with a zesty, savory tomato base, this dish is packed with hidden veggies and features a satisfying, bubbly cheese crust. Perfect for busy weeknights or a cozy Sunday family dinner, this soul-warming recipe comes together in under an hour for a delicious and decadent dining experience.
Ingredients
16 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
1 cup pumpkin puree
2 cups crushed tomatoes
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/2 lb chicken sausage, casings removed
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
1 tsp dried oregano
1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2 tbsp olive oil
Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) and lightly grease a 9×13 inch baking dish.
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook pasta until just barely al dente; drain and set aside.
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat and brown the chicken sausage for 5–7 minutes, breaking into crumbles.
Add diced onion to the skillet and cook for 3 minutes until translucent, then stir in garlic, oregano, and red pepper flakes for 1 minute.
Stir in the pumpkin puree and crushed tomatoes, bring to a simmer, then mix in the heavy cream and cook for 5 minutes.
Fold the cooked pasta into the sauce until well coated.
Transfer the mixture to the baking dish, top with mozzarella and parmesan cheese.
Bake for 15 minutes until the cheese is bubbling and golden brown.
Notes
Ensure you use pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling to avoid added sugars and spices. You can substitute coconut milk for heavy cream for a dairy-free twist. This dish is excellent for meal prep as flavors meld together even better the next day.
- Prep Time: 15
- Cook Time: 30
- Category: Recipes
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian-Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 750mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 11g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 85mg