Description
A simple recipe for pasta tossed in a rich, creamy sauce made from roasted butternut squash and savory sausage.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled, seeded, and cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup vegetable broth
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 pound pasta (such as penne or rigatoni)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200 degrees Celsius). Toss the cubed butternut squash with half the olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast for 25 to 30 minutes, or until tender.
- While the squash roasts, cook the sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it up with a spoon until browned. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of drippings.
- Add the remaining olive oil to the skillet. Sauté the onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
- Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Place the roasted butternut squash, sautéed onion and garlic, vegetable broth, and heavy cream into a blender or food processor. Blend until completely smooth.
- Pour the squash sauce into the skillet. Heat gently over low heat. Stir in the Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth. If the sauce is too thick, add a little reserved pasta water until you reach your desired consistency.
- Add the cooked sausage and drained pasta to the sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated. Season with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve immediately.
Notes
- For a smoother sauce, you can roast the squash ahead of time.
- Use mild or hot Italian sausage based on your preference.
- You can substitute half-and-half for heavy cream for a slightly lighter sauce.
- Prep Time: 20 min
- Cook Time: 40 min
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Roasting and Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 10
- Sodium: 750
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 15
- Unsaturated Fat: 20
- Trans Fat: 1
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 6
- Protein: 30
- Cholesterol: 80
Keywords: butternut squash, pasta, sausage, creamy sauce, fall recipe, weeknight dinner