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A white bowl filled with a serving of creamy pumpkin sausage pasta with fall foliage in the background.
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5 from 4 votes

Creamy Pumpkin Sausage Pasta

Our creamy pumpkin sausage pasta features hot Italian sausage, tender rotini, pumpkin puree, Parmesan cheese, and a creamy sauce.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time20 minutes
Total Time40 minutes
Course: Dinner, lunch
Cuisine: American
Keyword: creamy pasta, creamy pumpkin pasta, creamy pumpkin sausage pasta, creamy sausage pasta, pumpkin pasta, pumpkin sausage pasta, sausage pasta
Servings: 6 Servings
Author: Deliciously Seasoned

Ingredients

  • 1 pound hot Italian sausage, ground
  • 12 ounce tri-color rotini
  • 2 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tablespoon minced onion
  • 1 red bell pepper, chopped
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
  • 15 ounce pumpkin puree
  • 2 cups vegetable broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 cup Parmesan cheese, grated
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped

Instructions

  • In a large pot, cook rotini noodles according to package directions until al dente.
  • In a large pan, over medium heat, cook Italian sausage and bell peppers until meat is completely cooked and peppers are tender.
  • Add garlic and minced onion and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
  • Next, add the broth and the pumpkin puree. Sprinkle in the spices and seasonings, stir until well combined, and let cook until mixture comes to a boil.
  • Pour in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese.
  • Let cook until mixture is hot and cheese is melted.
  • Add in the al dente rotini noodles and stir until well combined.
  • Top with chopped fresh parsley and stir.
  • Serve and enjoy.

Notes

  • Use plain pumpkin puree: Make sure you're using pumpkin puree and not pumpkin pie filling. Pie filling contains added sugar and spices.
  • Don't overcook the pasta: Cook the rotini just until al dente so it doesn't become mushy when added to the sauce.
  • Cook the sausage completely: Make sure the Italian sausage is fully cooked before moving on to the sauce.
  • Give the Parmesan time to melt: Let the cheese melt into the hot cream and pumpkin mixture before adding the pasta.
  • Don't skip the warm spices: The cinnamon and nutmeg may seem like an unusual addition to pasta, but they work really well with pumpkin.
  • Stir well after adding the pasta: Those rotini twists hold onto a lot of sauce, so give everything a good stir to coat the pasta evenly.
  • Taste before serving: Give the sauce a quick taste and adjust the seasoning if needed.