Pumpkin and Sausage Pasta Bake
A warm, comforting dish featuring pumpkin and Italian sausage in a creamy pasta bake, perfect for chilly evenings.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Omnivore
Ingredients
Scale
- Cooking Spray
- 8 ounces rigatoni pasta (or ziti)
- 1 pound bulk sweet Italian sausage
- 1 cup chopped onions
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon roasted chicken base
- 1 cup water
- 1 (15-ounce) can pure pumpkin
- ½ teaspoon dried ground sage
- 1 cup half and half
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese (divided)
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese (divided)
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
- Chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C).
- Spray a 3 or 4-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
- In a pot, bring salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni until just shy of al dente, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the sausage until browned. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
- Lower the heat and sauté the chopped onions until softened, about 3-5 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and sauté until fragrant.
- In a separate bowl, combine the roasted chicken base with one cup of water, then add it to the skillet along with the pumpkin and sage. Season with salt and pepper, bring to a boil, and let simmer for about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the half and half and cooked sausage, simmer for another 5 minutes.
- Fold the cooked rigatoni into the sauce until well-coated.
- Spoon half of the pasta mixture into the baking dish, sprinkle with half of the cheeses, add the remaining pasta mixture, and top with the remaining cheese.
- Bake for approximately 20 minutes, or until bubbly and the cheese is melted.
- Garnish with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
Notes
This dish can be assembled a day ahead. Reheat straight from the fridge or freeze leftovers for later.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 700mg
- Fat: 25g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
