Creamy Pumpkin Sage Pasta with Brown Butter

Close view of creamy pumpkin sage pasta with rigatoni, crisp sage leaves, Parmesan, black pepper, and pepitas.

Creamy Pumpkin Sage Pasta with Brown Butter

Creamy Pumpkin Sage Pasta is an easy 20-minute fall dinner made with pumpkin puree, brown butter, crispy sage, Parmesan, and pasta water for a silky sauce without heavy cream.

Prep Time5

Cook Time15

Total Time20

Servings: servings

Calories: 327kcal

Author: Stephanie Wilson

Ingredients

12 ounces rigatoni or bucatini
4 tablespoons unsalted butter
12 fresh sage leaves
1 small shallot finely diced
2 cloves garlic minced
1 cup pumpkin puree not pie filling
½ teaspoon kosher salt plus more for pasta water
¼ teaspoon nutmeg
pinch cayenne
½ cup freshly grated parmesan plus more for serving
1 cup reserved pasta water
Black pepper and toasted pepitas for serving

Instructions

Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook pasta al dente according to package instructions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
Meanwhile, in large skillet, melt butter over medium heat until foaming and nutty brown. Add sage leaves, crisp 30-45 seconds. Remove sage to plate.
In the same skillet, reduce the heat to medium, add the shallot, and cook for 2 minutes. Add the garlic, pumpkin, salt, nutmeg, and cayenne. Sauté for 1 minute.
Whisk in ½ cup pasta water until silky. Add drained pasta and parmesan; toss, adding more pasta water until it's creamy and the pasta is well-coated.
Serve topped with crispy sage, extra parmesan, freshly ground black pepper, and toasted pepitas.

Notes

Pasta water: Reserve a full cup before draining. The starch helps loosen the sauce and gives it a silky, creamy texture.
Brown butter: Watch the butter closely as it browns. Once it smells nutty and turns golden, add the sage and crisp it briefly before removing it from the skillet.
Storage: This pasta is best served fresh. You can make the pumpkin sauce up to 2 days ahead and refrigerate it. Rewarm gently and loosen with pasta water before tossing with freshly cooked pasta and Parmesan.

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