Easy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Recipe
A creamy and comforting pumpkin pasta sauce that combines the rich flavors of pumpkin purée, Parmesan cheese, and warm spices. This easy-to-make sauce is perfect for fall dinners or any time you want a delicious twist on classic pasta.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Sautéing and Boiling
- Cuisine: American
- Diet: Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
Sauce Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup canned pumpkin purée
- 1 cup heavy cream or half-and-half
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Pasta
- 12 oz pasta (such as fettuccine or penne)
- 1/4 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
Garnish
- Chopped fresh sage or parsley
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain the pasta, reserving about 1/4 cup of the pasta water, and set aside.
- Prepare the Sauce: In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and sauté until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Add Pumpkin and Cream: Lower the heat slightly and add the pumpkin purée, stirring to combine. Pour in the heavy cream or half-and-half and mix well.
- Season the Sauce: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese, ground nutmeg, and red pepper flakes if using. Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste. Let the sauce simmer gently, stirring occasionally, until it thickens, about 5-7 minutes.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked pasta to the skillet with the pumpkin sauce. Toss to coat evenly, adding reserved pasta water a little at a time if needed to loosen the sauce and achieve a creamy consistency. Heat through for 1-2 minutes.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat and garnish with chopped fresh sage or parsley. Serve immediately while warm and enjoy your creamy pumpkin pasta!
Notes
- You can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream to reduce calories slightly.
- Use gluten-free pasta to make this dish gluten free.
- For a vegan version, replace heavy cream with coconut cream and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan.
- Adjust red pepper flakes to your preferred spice level or omit for mild flavor.
- Fresh sage pairs wonderfully with pumpkin but fresh parsley works well too.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup pasta with sauce
- Calories: 420 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 350 mg
- Fat: 18 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 12 g
- Cholesterol: 45 mg
Keywords: pumpkin pasta sauce, creamy pumpkin sauce, fall pasta recipe, easy pumpkin pasta, vegetarian pasta sauce
Find it online: https://zarameals.com/easy-pumpkin-pasta-sauce-recipe/
