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Home / Recipes
30 minutes
4.54 from 30 votes
18 Comments

Pumpkin Sausage Pasta

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  • 317
by: Joanna Cismaru
10.03.20

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This Pumpkin Sausage Pasta is the perfect comforting fall meal! A delicious and creamy sauce with sausage and pumpkin. Not only is this dish super easy and flavorful but it’s ready in just 30 minutes.

overhead shot of pumpkin sausage pasta in a pasta bowl with a serving spoon in it

Pumpkin Season

I love pumpkin season, I really do, and I personally feel the need to showcase the pumpkin and make it the star of the show as often as possible. So how about a pumpkin and sausage pasta? Don’t knock it till you try it! This pasta is absolutely divine.

And that sauce, well that sauce is simply incredible. With ingredients like Italian sausage, white wine, pumpkin of course and heavy cream, how can it not be divine!

Pumpkin Sausage Pasta?

You know I never used to cook a lot with pumpkin, probably the only thing I’d have is pumpkin pie, but this was a long time ago, before I was a foodie. And what a world has opened up to me since I started blogging! I’ve learned so much and I’ve learned to love and try so many foods I would never have before. But pumpkin in this pasta recipe really is delicious and a must try.

What’s So Great About Pumpkin?

Pumpkin is a little powerhouse! It’s packed full of fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants. It’s a nutrient dense low calorie squash that deserves more love year round than just around holidays. So let’s get into it!

overhead shot of all ingredients needed to make pumpkin sausage pasta

Ingredients

  • Olive oil – We want a nice neutral oil to saute our ingredients in.
  • Sausage – I used mild Italian sausage today but you can use whichever kind you’d prefer, I’ll include a section below with recommended substitutes.
  • Aromatics – Fresh garlic and chopped white or yellow onion.
  • Herbs – Bay leaf and dried oregano.
  • Spices – Cinnamon and nutmeg, these flavors will really round out our creamy sauce. Don’t worry about it combining with the pumpkin and feeling too reminiscent of pie – the flavors here are different enough!
  • Liquids – Low sodium chicken broth, heavy cream, and white wine.
  • Pumpkin – Make sure to check the ingredients in your pumpkin. We’re looking for 100% pure with no added spices or salt.
  • Pasta – You can use any shaped pasta you’d like from penne to bow tie, macaroni to rigatoni.
  • Seasoning – Salt and pepper to taste.
process shots showing how to make pumpkin sausage pasta

How To Make Pumpkin Sausage Pasta

  1. Cook pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Darin and set aside.
  2. Brown the sausage: Meanwhile, in a large skillet, or cast iron pot heat the olive oil. Remove the sausage from casings if needed, and brown the sausage in the skillet, breaking it with a wooden spoon to smaller pieces.
  3. Saute the aromatics: Add chopped onion and garlic to skillet and saute 3 to 5 minutes or until the onions are tender.
  4. Create the sauce: Add the nutmeg, cinnamon, bay leaf, oregano and wine to the skillet. Cook until the wine reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth, pumpkin and heavy cream. Stir to combine until sauce comes to a bubble. Simmer the sauce until it thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaf from the sauce.
  5. Finish the dish: Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with the sauce over low heat for about a minute. Stir in the parmesan cheese, parsley if preferred, and serve.
pasta with pumpkin and sausage in a dutch oven

What Wine Is Best For Cooking?

When making a dish like this that calls for white wine, try to choose something a bit drier that still has some good flavor, for this I like to use something like a Sauvignon Blanc or a Pinot Grigio, although that is even pushing it a bit on sweetness. Keep in mind that if you wouldn’t want to drink the wine, you probably won’t want to cook with it.

Don’t want to cook with wine?

If you’d rather keep your kitchen alcohol free then just sub out the called for amount of wine with more low sodium chicken broth.

Looking To Use Fresh Pumpkin?

Well then you’re ambitious I’ll give you that, but it’s totally possible to use fresh pumpkin and to achieve that next level of flavor. This is a step even I haven’t taken in my kitchen, so go for it if you have the desire!

  • First halve the pumpkin and scoop out all the seeds.
  • Heat an inch of water in a sauce pan till boiling, in the mean time slice the pumpkin into chunks. Boil these pieces of pumpkin briefly before reducing the heat, covering and allowing to simmer for 30 minutes.
  • Drain and cool before removing the pumpkin from the peel. Mash it all up and you’re good to go!
sausage pasta in a large pasta bowl garnished with parsley and parmesan cheese

Other Sausages To use

We’re using raw sausage today as we want to brown it and allow that flavor to soak up into our sauce. Because of this you’re going to want to stay away from precooked sausage like chorizo or andouille and stick with any sausage that can either be squeezed out of the casing or is sold packaged up raw.

What Can I Pair My Pasta With?

This meal has it all, veggies, protein, starch. But if you’re still looking to turn this into an entire meal, you can bet I have some perfect accompaniments here on the blog for you to test out.

  • Kale And Quinoa Salad With Lemon Vinaigrette
  • Warm Kale Salad With Roasted Butternut Squash
  • Summer Salad With Herbed Ricotta And Balsamic Vinaigrette
  • Italian Roasted Mushrooms And Veggies
  • Old Fashioned Green Beans
  • Mushroom Arugula Warm Salad
pumpkin sausage pasta in a white bowl with a fork in it

Storing Leftovers

Properly cool the pasta before storing it, so that it will freeze and store evenly. It will stay fresh for 3 – 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Frozen pasta dishes will last for 2 – 3 months, just be sure to allow to thaw fully in the fridge before re heating.

More Must Try Recipes:

  • Creamy Cajun Pastalaya
  • One Pot Hamburger Helper Lasagna
  • Arugula and Walnut Pesto Pasta
  • Chicken Pesto Caprese Pasta
  • Penne with Prosciutto, Tomatoes and Zucchini
  • Penne with Cream and Smoked Salmon
  • Leftover Ham And Cheese Penne
  • Greek Chicken Pasta
  • Cheesy Taco Pasta

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overhead shot of pumpkin sausage pasta in a large serving bowl with a serving spoon taking a scoop

Pumpkin Sausage Pasta

4.54 from 30 votes
Prep: 10 mins
Cook: 20 mins
Total: 30 mins
Author: Joanna Cismaru
Serves: 6
Print Pin Rate
This Pumpkin Sausage Pasta is the perfect comforting fall meal! A delicious and creamy sauce with sausage and pumpkin. Not only is this dish super easy and flavorful but it's ready in just 30 minutes.

Equipment

  • 6 Quart Dutch Oven

Ingredients

  • 1 pound pasta uncooked
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 pound Italian sausage mild, casings removed
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg ground or freshly grated
  • 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon ground
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1/2 teaspoon oregano dried
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt or to taste
  • 1/2 teaspoon pepper or to taste
  • 1 cup white wine
  • 1 cup chicken broth low sodium
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated
US Customary – Metric

Instructions

  • Cook pasta: Cook the pasta according to package instructions. Darin and set aside.
  • Brown the sausage: Meanwhile, in a large skillet, or cast iron pot heat the olive oil. Remove the sausage from casings if needed, and brown the sausage in the skillet, breaking it with a wooden spoon to smaller pieces. 
  • Saute the aromatics: Add chopped onion and garlic to skillet and saute 3 to 5 minutes or until the onions are tender.
  • Create the sauce: Add the nutmeg, cinnamon, bay leaf, oregano, salt, pepper and wine to the skillet. Cook until the wine reduced by half, about 2 minutes. Add the chicken broth, pumpkin and heavy cream. Stir to combine until sauce comes to a bubble. Simmer the sauce until it thickens, about 5 minutes. Remove the bay leaf from the sauce.
  • Finish the dish: Add cooked pasta to the skillet and toss with the sauce over low heat for about a minute. Stir in the parmesan cheese, parsley if preferred, and serve.

Video

Recipe Notes

  1. Note: In the video it says Italian seasoning instead of oregano, however either can be used.
  2. Properly cool the pasta before storing it, so that it will freeze and store evenly. It will stay fresh for 3 – 5 days in an airtight container in the fridge. Frozen pasta dishes will last for 2 – 3 months, just be sure to allow to thaw fully in the fridge before re heating.
  3. Please keep in mind that nutritional information is a rough estimate and can vary greatly based on products used.

Nutrition Information:

Calories: 761kcal (38%)Carbohydrates: 65g (22%)Protein: 29g (58%)Fat: 39g (60%)Saturated Fat: 17g (106%)Cholesterol: 96mg (32%)Sodium: 1042mg (45%)Potassium: 569mg (16%)Fiber: 4g (17%)Sugar: 5g (6%)Vitamin A: 6777IU (136%)Vitamin C: 5mg (6%)Calcium: 261mg (26%)Iron: 3mg (17%)
Course:Dinner, Lunch, Main Course
Cuisine:American
Keyword:pumpkin sausage pasta
Tried this recipe? Rate it belowtag @jocooks on instagram and hashtag it #jocooks!
  • 317

Meet Joanna Cismaru

I’m Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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Comments

  1. Trixie B says

    November 4, 2021 at 7:19 pm

    5 stars
    This was a terrific recipe! I cooked down a baking pie pumpkin. When getting ready to cook, I had all my ingredients lined up and ready at hand. The spices blended quite nicely. Instead of mixing the Parmesan, I opted to spoon it on my serving. Thanks for listing this recipe…it’s definitely a keeper!

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      November 5, 2021 at 10:16 am

      I’m so glad you like it, it’s definitely a favorite of mine!

      Reply
  2. Katy says

    November 3, 2021 at 6:42 pm

    4 stars
    This was so goood. The combination of pumpkin and oregano and sausage was amazing. I used red wine since I didn’t have white and it turned out so flavorful and not sweet. My sons (13 and 8) loved it and asked for seconds. Thanks for this! It’s now in our fall rotation!!

    Reply
  3. Christy Hamilton says

    September 11, 2021 at 7:08 am

    I’m going to make this but wondering if I can make the sauce in the morning and keep it in the fridge until I”m ready to warm it up?

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      September 11, 2021 at 12:45 pm

      Absolutely!

      Reply
  4. Amy Nunes says

    September 4, 2021 at 5:50 pm

    5 stars
    Really good! Even my boyfriend liked it and he’s not a pumpkin fan!

    Reply
  5. Hailey says

    November 18, 2020 at 6:20 am

    Wow, this is absolutely delicious! Thank you so much for this recipe — I have made it three times over the past couple of months and it just hits the spot on a cold fall day. I make it red-meat free by using Italian chicken sausage (I ask the butcher to throw a single spicy one in there for a small flavor boost), and dairy free by subbing oatmilk for the heavy cream. I have been serving it with a side of asparagus. Wonderful! 🙂

    Reply
    • Joanna Cismaru says

      November 18, 2020 at 8:57 am

      I’m so glad to hear you enjoyed the recipe and I love your changes. 🙂

      Reply
  6. Sandy says

    October 31, 2020 at 2:43 am

    4 stars
    I substituted the sausage with lean ground turkey and added mushrooms. Ate it right after I made it and was alittle disappointed (kind of bland). But when I reheated it the next day, it was really yummy and flavorful! I would definitely make again…

    Reply
  7. Sarah Grech says

    July 7, 2020 at 9:47 am

    Hi. I’m planning on trying this dish tomorrow. Does it have to be canned pumpkin? Can I use fresh? I’m in Malta and we do not get canned pumpkin here. Thanks for your recipes.

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      July 7, 2020 at 2:29 pm

      Absolutely! We’re the opposite up here; very hard to get fresh pumpkin. Enjoy!

      Reply
  8. Missi says

    September 26, 2019 at 6:44 pm

    5 stars
    Just made this tonight and it was SO good!! Super easy to make, tons of flavors and I can already tell it will be fab for leftovers!

    Reply
    • jo says

      September 26, 2019 at 6:51 pm

      So glad to hear it!

      Reply
  9. Beth says

    September 26, 2019 at 6:08 am

    Oh, this sounds good–I have to try it.

    You mention in the article that it uses an entire can of pumpkin–I love that, as I almost never finish what’s left over from a partial can and hate the waste. But the recipe only calls for 1 cup. Is it 1 or 2 cups (assuming a 15 oz can).

    Also, the video link in the recipe isn’t there. I was able to find it by searching YouTube, however.

    Reply
    • Jo Cooks Team says

      September 26, 2019 at 9:49 am

      Just fixed the blog post- you will still end up with leftover pumpkin.
      If you have an ad blocker in your browser then it’ll completely hide the video. Pause the ad blocker for our site and you’ll be able to see it under the recipe!

      Reply
  10. Teresa says

    October 18, 2014 at 2:44 am

    This sounds so intriguing. I love pumpkin and pasta together.

    Reply
  11. Justine@CookingandBeer says

    October 16, 2014 at 9:04 pm

    I am IN LOVE with all of the delicious autumn(ness) going on in this pasta! Pinning!

    Reply
    • jo says

      October 17, 2014 at 12:38 am

      Thank you Justine 🙂

      Reply

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I'm Joanna (Jo for short) and this is my blog where I share with you my culinary adventures. Here you will find a variety of recipes using simple everyday ingredients and creating wonderful, delicious and comforting meals, including some decadent desserts.

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