Description
A quick, savory, and velvety pasta dish made with pumpkin puree, heavy cream, and crispy sage leaves. This weeknight-friendly meal comes together in just 15 minutes using pantry staples.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound penne, rigatoni, or farfalle pasta
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15oz) 100% pure pumpkin puree
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup fresh sage leaves, chopped
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly grated nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 cup reserved pasta water
Instructions
- Chop sage, mince garlic, and grate Parmesan cheese before starting to cook.
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, melt butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for 1 minute until fragrant but not brown.
- Add chopped sage leaves and cook for 30 seconds.
- Reduce heat to low. Whisk in pumpkin puree and heavy cream. Add nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
- Remove skillet from heat. Gradually stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth. Add pasta water if sauce is too thick.
- Add drained pasta to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve immediately topped with extra Parmesan, black pepper, and crispy sage leaves.
Notes
Use 100% pure pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Save pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. Remove pan from heat before adding cheese to prevent graininess. For a lighter version, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy content.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 420
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 380
- Fat: 18
- Saturated Fat: 10
- Carbohydrates: 48
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 15
Keywords: pumpkin pasta, sage pasta, fall dinner, easy weeknight meal, creamy pasta, vegetarian dinner, 15 minute recipes, pumpkin puree recipes