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Why I love this pumpkin pasta recipe
What better way to further you pumpkin addiction that a savory pasta dish. If you’ve never tried pumpkin in a savory way, this is definitely the way to do it.
It pairs really well with the fennel flavors in the Italian sausage, and it make a great dairy free sauce because it creates a creamy, flavorful sauce without any cream or milk.
This pumpkin pasta recipe only takes 30 minutes.
This pumpkin pasta is actually a new spin on a super old recipe I published a few years back. That one used butternut squash that had been roasted and pureed rather than pumpkin, but times have changed and I just don’t have the time to prep meals like I used to.
Personally, I think a can of pumpkin works even better anyway. By making this one simple swap, I’ve managed to take a recipe that should take almost an hour and cut the time in half.
So let’s talk about the shallots. I used a shallot in this recipe because they have a really unique flavor that you can’t replicate.
But, having said that, you can easily swap an onion. I would suggest using a sweet onion because it’s going to be the closest match to the shallots. If you haven’t tried using shallots before, definitely give it a try though if you can.
How to make pumpkin pasta sauce
To make the sauce, you’ll need to use a decent amount of pasta water. That means you need to take some out before draining the cooked pasta. I do this by sinking a liquid measuring cup into the pot – and hoping I don’t get any pasta.
A mug would work really well, too, but you can also ladle some into a bowl or measuring cup. Always, always reserve more water than you need, maybe even double if you can. It’s better to have extra than not enough. I added about 1 1/4 cup of pasta water to my sauce for the pumpkin rigatoni.
More savory pumpkin recipes you’ll love*:
- Pumpkin hummus
- Pumpkin cornbread*
- Pumpkin scalloped potatoes
- Spicy chicken soup
- Instant pot pumpkin risotto*
*You may need to make changes to these recipes to make them 100% dairy free. For simple swaps, check out my favorite dairy free substitutes.
More pasta recipes you’ll love:
- Italian sausage and peppers pasta
- Sweet potato pasta
- Sesame noodles
- Pasta carbonara
- Slow cooker beef ragu
Pumpkin Rigatoni with Italian Sausage & Spinach
Looking for an easy fall dinner idea? Look no further than this dairy free, pumpkin pasta with Italian sausage & spinach. Makes 6 servings.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 6 – 8 servings 1x
Ingredients
- 1 16-ounce package rigatoni
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 shallot, diced
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 8-ounce bag fresh spinach
- 1 15-ounce can pumpkin puree
- 1/4 teaspoon dried sage
- 1/2 – 3/4 teaspoon coarse salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta in a large pot of salted water according to package directions for al dente – reserving 1 1/2 cups of pasta water for sauce before draining.
- In a large skillet, brown Italian sausage over medium-high heat, breaking it into pieces as it cooks, about 8 minutes. Transfer cooked sausage to a plate and set aside.
- Add olive oil to pan and sauté shallot, garlic and crushed red pepper, stirring frequently, until softened and slightly golden, about 3 minutes.
- Add spinach to pan and wilt, stirring occasionally. If needed, reduce heat to low until pasta is ready.
- Return heat to medium-high. Add pumpkin puree, sage and salt & pepper. Slowly stir in pasta water, about 1/2 cup at a time, until sauce has reached desired consistency. Return sausage to pan and toss with pasta, adding extra pasta water if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size:
- Calories: 0
- Sugar: 0 g
- Sodium: 0 mg
- Fat: 0 g
- Saturated Fat: 0 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 0 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 0 g
- Fiber: 0 g
- Protein: 0 g
- Cholesterol: 0 mg
Last Updated on November 4, 2021 by Melissa Belanger
i’ve made this several times (farmshare sugar pumpkins, local deli-made hot italian sausage). tonight added some kalamattas on hand – that was a good addition.
i’ve made this several times – tonight with a few chopped kalamattas added. it is always, still, a surprise how delicious this is.
★★★★★
That sounds like a really great addition. I’m glad you like it as much as I do! Thanks for the review!
Delicious! Made this tonight and my husband and I loved this dish. Perfect for fall.
★★★★★
This was so creamy and delicious. I added a tiny bit of nutmeg. Pure comfort!
★★★★★
Had anyone made this with ground beef instead of sausage?