This creamy pumpkin pasta sauce with sage and freshly grated parmesan is a seriously delicious fall comfort food dinner!

It’s officially that time of year when I find myself wanting all the pumpkin recipes!

When you think of pumpkin, you may immediately think of dessert, but this recipe may change your mind on just how versatile this fall favorite ingredient is. 

This pumpkin pasta sauce is ultra creamy and makes for the perfect cheesy fall pasta!

Ingredients to make pumpkin pasta 

1. heavy cream
2. freshly grated parmesan cheese
3. ground sage
4. garlic
5. onion
6. canned pumpkin
7. unsalted butter
8. milk
9. rigatoni or pasta of choice
10. salt

Only ten ingredients and 30 minutes from start to finish. 

This recipe was inspired by one of my absolute favorite recipes to cook every fall – this One Pot Sweet Potato and Spinach Pasta in a parmesan cream sauce. 

The flavor of this pumpkin pasta sauce is similar to that recipe. 

Once you realize that sweet potato and pumpkin taste very similar, it opens up a whole new world of using pumpkin for savory recipes!

If you’re hesitant to make a savory pumpkin recipe for the first time, just give this one a shot!

I used to turn my nose up at the thought of a non-dessert pumpkin recipe, but this parmesan pumpkin sauce absolutely changed my mind!

Think of it as almost like a pumpkin alfredo sauce – very similar flavors but with a mild fall twist!

Can I add more veggies to this dish?

Yes, you can! An easy addition of veggies would be to throw in some chopped fresh spinach to wilt in the last 2 minutes before serving. 

What do you serve with pumpkin pasta sauce?

Serve it over whatever your favorite pasta is – it doesn’t have to be rigatoni.

Salad and garlic bread would complement this beautifully. 

How many servings does this make?

This pumpkin pasta will serve at least 6 generous main dish portions, or more if you are serving it along side other dishes. 

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Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Recipe

Yield: 6 servings

Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

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Creamy pumpkin pasta sauce with parmesan and sage makes for the perfect fall comfort dinner!

Prep Time 5 minutes

Cook Time 25 minutes

Total Time 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 2 cups heavy cream
• 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
• 1/4 teaspoon ground sage
• 3 cloves of garlic, minced
• 1 cup finely diced yellow onion
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1 cup whole milk
• salt, to taste

For the pasta

• 1 lb rigatoni or other pasta of choice

Instructions

1. Melt butter in a dutch oven, then add the garlic and onion
2. Cook over medium high heat for 8 - 10 minutes, stirring often, until onion is softened
3. Add milk, pumpkin, heavy cream, and sage, and cook over medium low heat, stirring often, until it begins to thicken, around 10 - 15 minutes
4. Add the parmesan cheese in and stir (this will thicken it more)
5. Cook the rigatoni to al dente, drain, and add to the pumpkin sauce
6. Salt to taste (I used 1 teaspoon)
7. Serve topped with additional parmesan cheese

Notes

1. The sauce will continue to thicken the longer it sits, or you can add more parmesan to thicken it even more

Nutrition Information:

Yield:

6

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 585Total Fat: 40gSaturated Fat: 24gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 118mgSodium: 444mgCarbohydrates: 44gFiber: 4gSugar: 8gProtein: 15g