I love using pumpkin for baking in the Fall. However, most recipes don’t use a full can of pumpkin, and then I’m left with half a can or more sitting in my fridge. I hate wasting food, so that’s what inspired me to think about some creative ways to use up extra canned pumpkin that I had in my fridge. I thought, why not go savory? That’s how this creamy pumpkin pasta was born.
This pasta has a creamy pumpkin sauce that’s highlighted by one of my favorite fall flavors – sage, lots of freshly grated Parmesan cheese, and I top it with some crispy chicken sausage which adds protein, as well as a nice textural element. This dish is like a hug in a bowl and is a perfect recipe for the colder months. Hope you enjoy!
Making creamy pumpkin pasta with crispy sausage
First, you want to find a pasta that you like and you’ll cook it to package instructions, reserving about a cup of pasta water in case you need to thin out your sauce. Trader Joe’s has a nice pumpkin shaped pasta if you want to be festive, and I found this pumpkin shaped pasta from Walmart as part of their bettergoods line as well as on Amazon.
To make your chicken sausage, take your preferred sausage, cut it into thin rounds, and then air fry or pan fry until brown and crispy. I air fried at 380F for about 6-8 minutes. While your pasta is boiling, you can start on your sauce which comes super easily.
First you’ll saute the onion and garlic and until they’re nice and fragrant, then add your broth, milk, and a little bit of cornstarch slurry to thicken things up. Then mix in your pumpkin, your shredded cheese, your sauces and spices, and stir until you have a nice creamy sauce. If you need to thin the sauce out, use some of the pasta water that you saved.
Toss your cooked pasta with your sauce, top with your crispy sausage rounds, and finish with fresh grated Parmesan and some freshly chopped sage. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Enjoy!
Looking for more pasta recipes?
My Creamy Boursin Pasta is a quick and easy, creamy pasta recipe with minimal ingredients. If you’re looking for a fun flavor, try my French Onion Pasta, which tastes just like French onion soup. My Creamy Tomato Crockpot Pasta is a great meal that’s healthy, easy, and made super simply in the crockpot. You can check out all of my pasta recipes here!
Creamy Pumpkin Pasta with Crispy Sausage
Equipment
- Pasta Pot
- Air Fryer optional, can pan fry sausage
- Cutting Board
- Knife
- Grater
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1/2 medium onion diced
- 5 cloves garlic minced
- 1/4 tsp paprika
- Pinch kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
- 2 tbsp corn starch mixed with water to create slurry to thicken sauce
- 3/4 cup reduced-sodium chicken broth can sub vegetable broth
- 3/4 cup 2% milk
- ½ cup shredded Parmesan cheese plus extra for serving
- 1/2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1 cup pumpkin puree
- 2 Tablespoons fresh sage leaves finely-chopped or sub dried sage
- 8 ounces pasta I used zucchette
- 3 chicken sausage links cut into thin rounds
- Cooking spray
Instructions
- Place a large pot of water on the stove to boil. Begin sauce while pasta boils. Cook pasta according to package instructions and set aside. Reserve 1 cup pasta water to thin your sauce if needed.
- For the chicken sausage, cut into thin rounds, spread on air fryer tray, spray with cooking spray, air fry 375 for 6-8 min, til browned with crisp edges.
- To begin the sauce, heat olive oil over medium heat, add onion and cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add garlic and cook for one minute. Add broth and milk and milk to combine, stir and let heat for 3-4 minutes. Mix corn starch with water to create a slurry and add to sauce mixture. Mix to thicken your sauce. Add in pumpkin puree, grated Parmesan, spices, and Worcestershire sauce. Stir to combine.
- Turn off heat and give everything a good mix until you have a smooth, creamy sauce. If needed, add some pasta water to thin the sauce out a bit. Adjust seasoning to your liking.
- Drain pasta, toss in sauce, and serve with some extra grated Parmesan. Enjoy!
