This creamy pumpkin pasta sauce recipe is a take on the classic alfredo sauce. A fall themed creamy pasta sauce made with seasonal ingredients.

rigatoni mixed with pumpkin pasta sauce with a spoon in the dish

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

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.

If “pumpkin pasta” makes you go hmmmm, just think of it like this – it tastes pretty similar to butternut squash would in the same dish.

Ingredients to make pumpkin pasta sauce

heavy cream
freshly grated parmesan cheese
ground sage: sage and pumpkin are the perfect combination
garlic
onion
canned pumpkin: or use fresh if you have it!
unsalted butter
milk
rigatoni or pasta of choice: fettuccini would be fun for a fall alfredo
salt

This decadent sauce needs just ten ingredients and is ready in 30 minutes from start to finish.

pumpkin pasta in a dutch oven from an overhead view

How to make pumpkin pasta sauce

Step 1: Melt the butter in a dutch oven or large pot, then add the fresh garlic and onion. Cook over medium high heat for 8 – 10 minutes, stirring often, until onion is softened.

Step 2: Add milk, pumpkin, heavy cream, and sage, and cook over medium low heat, stirring often, until the pumpkin sauce begins to thicken, around 10 – 15 minutes.

While the sauce is thickening, cook one pound pasta of choice to al dente.

Step 3: Stir in the fresh grated parmesan cheese and stir to melt. Add in the cooked pasta (we used rigatoni) and salt to taste. Serve topped with extra fresh grated parmesan on top!

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.

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. Fettuccini, bowtie pasta, macaroni noodles, ziti, etc.

Salad and baked garlic bread would complement this dinner 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.

Are you making this recipe? I want to see! Don’t forget to tag me on instagram @buildyourbite and hashtag #buildyourbite with your recipe creations!

More Pasta Recipes

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up close rigatoni with dripping pumpkin pasta sauce

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Yield: 6 servings

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

Name: Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 25 min
Total time: 30 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
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; 1 lb rigatoni or other pasta of choice

How to make pumpkin pasta sauce that tastes delicious! A fun fall twist on the classic alfredo sauce.

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

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

Serving Size:

1
Amount Per Serving: Calories: 439Total Fat: 30gSaturated Fat: 18gTrans Fat: 1gUnsaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 89mgSodium: 333mgCarbohydrates: 33gFiber: 3gSugar: 6gProtein: 11g