Description
A comforting and flavorful Pumpkin and Sausage Pasta Bake that combines the earthy sweetness of pumpkin with savory Italian sausage, all baked to perfection with a cheesy topping. This hearty dish is perfect for a cozy family dinner or entertaining guests.
Ingredients
Bake:
- cooking spray
- 8 ounces rigatoni pasta, or ziti
Sauce:
- 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 the oven to 375°F.
- Cook the pasta in boiling salted water until slightly undercooked.
- Cook the sausage in a skillet until browned; set aside.
- Sauté onions and garlic in the skillet.
- Add chicken base, water, pumpkin, and sage to the skillet; simmer.
- Stir in half and half and cooked sausage; adjust seasoning.
- Combine pasta and sauce in the skillet.
- Layer pasta mixture in the baking dish with cheeses.
- Bake for 20 minutes until bubbly and cheese is melted.
- Serve garnished with parsley.
Spray a 3 or 4-quart baking dish with cooking spray.
Notes
- If using sausage links, remove meat from casings.
- Substitute 1 cup chicken broth for chicken base and water.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 40 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 753
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 1020mg
- Fat: 47g
- Saturated Fat: 20g
- Unsaturated Fat: 21g
- Trans Fat: 1g
- Carbohydrates: 54g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
