This Easy Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Recipe is total Fall deliciousness! With pumpkin puree and warm Fall spices like cinnamon and nutmeg, and also fresh sage, this is total comfort and cozy in every bite! Best part is it is ready in less than 30 minutes!
Prep Time10 minutesmins
Cook Time10 minutesmins
Total Time20 minutesmins
Course: dinner, lunch
Cuisine: fall, Italian
Keyword: fall cooking, fall pasta, pasta recipes
Servings: 4
Ingredients
1poundpenne pasta
1Tablespoonextra-virgin olive oil or mild flavored oil you like
2Tablespoonsmargarine I used Earth Balanceuse butter if you're not vegan/dairy-free
1small onion mincedI used purple. Sweet, or white onion or shallot works fine
1teaspoonsea salt
½teaspooncrushed black pepper
1cuppumpkin puree
¼teaspoonground cinnamon
¼teaspoonground nutmeg
¼cupwhite wine
1cupunsweetened almond milk I used almond milkuse real milk if you're not vegan/dairy-free
2Tablespoonfresh sage chopped
Instructions
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and salt it. Cook the pasta making sure it's not quite al dente (so about 1 minute less than the cooking time, because you'll be combining in pan with the sauce and heating together and it will cook a little more).
While the pasta is cooking, prep the pumpkin sauce.
Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onions and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions have become translucent and have totally softened, 5 to 8 minutes.
Add the wine (water, if you're not using wine), cinnamon, nutmeg, and simmer until it reduces (about 3-5 minutes). Stir in the pumpkin puree and add in the milk. Stir to combine. Check seasoning, and add some more salt and pepper, if needed.
When pasta is cooked reserve some of the pasta water (½ cup is good), drain well and immediately add the pasta to the pan with pumpkin sauce. On medium heat, give it a nice stir to combine it all together. If it's too thick, loosen it with a little bit of the reserved pasta water and stir it all together.
Spoon it out onto plates. Add some more crushed black pepper (if you like). Sprinkle on the chopped fresh sage. Enjoy!
Nutrition Disclaimer
Please keep in mind that the nutritional information presented below is an approximation and may vary depending on the exact ingredients used.
Notes
Pumpkin: I used canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling). You could make this with your own homemade pumpkin puree.
Spices: Adjust them to your taste. I add the spice and taste and then always end up adding another dash of cinnamon or nutmeg or both. I like mine to have more of the spice flavor, so adjust yours to your taste.
Milk: I used unsweetened almond milk. You could use whatever nut milk you like or use heavy cream or regular whole milk (if you're not vegan or dairy-free).
Sage: The pasta really comes together with the fresh sage. IF you can't get your hands on any, make it with some fresh thyme. If everyone likes the fresh sage, stir it into the sauce before combining with the pasta. If not everyone enjoys it, sprinkle it on the plates for those that like it.
Serve: Enjoy this pasta as soon as it cooks. The sauce will not stay creamy as it cools down.