Description
Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage and Spinach is the ultimate fall comfort food—sweet roasted squash blended into a silky sauce, paired with savory sausage, earthy spinach, and Parmesan. Cozy, nourishing, and perfect for chilly nights!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 lbs), peeled and cubed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
- 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet or hot, casings removed)
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped (or 1 teaspoon dried)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter option)
- 4 cups fresh spinach, roughly chopped
- 1 pound pasta (penne, rigatoni, or fettuccine work best)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (freshly grated if possible)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes (optional, for heat)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F. Toss cubed squash with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Roast 25–30 minutes until golden and tender, stirring halfway.
- Cook pasta in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- In a large skillet, heat remaining olive oil. Cook sausage until browned, 7–8 minutes. Add onion and sauté until translucent, then add garlic and sage, cooking 1 minute.
- Add roasted squash (reserve 1 cup for garnish), broth, and simmer 2 minutes. Blend with immersion blender until smooth. Stir in cream and nutmeg, simmer 5 minutes.
- Add spinach to sauce until wilted, then toss in pasta and Parmesan. Adjust with pasta water for desired consistency.
- Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Garnish with reserved squash, extra Parmesan, and olive oil drizzle if desired.
Notes
Use pre-cut squash to save time. For dairy-free, swap cream with coconut milk and Parmesan with nutritional yeast. Make sauce ahead—it stores beautifully for 3 days or freezes up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop & Oven
- Cuisine: Italian-Inspired
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 490
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 58g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 65mg