Description
A warm and comforting pasta dish featuring creamy butternut squash, savory sausage, and fresh spinach.
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 oz. pasta of your choice (penne, fusilli, or spaghetti)
- 1 small butternut squash (about 4 cups cubed)
- 1 lb. Italian sausage (spicy or mild)
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 2–3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Olive oil for cooking
Instructions
- Prepare the butternut squash by preheating your oven to 400°F (200°C). Peel, cut, and dice the squash into small cubes. Toss with olive oil, salt, and pepper and spread on a baking sheet.
- Roast the squash for about 25-30 minutes until fork-tender and slightly golden.
- Cook your pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain and set aside.
- Sauté the sausage in a skillet with olive oil, adding the diced onion and cooking until translucent.
- Add minced garlic, followed by the spinach, and sauté until wilted.
- Create the creamy sauce by adding the roasted squash and heavy cream. Mash some squash into the sauce for creaminess.
- Combine the cooked pasta and Parmesan cheese into the sauce, adjusting consistency with reserved pasta water as needed.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
Notes
For a lighter version, substitute heavy cream with half-and-half or non-dairy milk. This dish is flexible and can accommodate various proteins and vegetables.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Baking and Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 8g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 70mg
Keywords: pasta, butternut squash, creamy sauce, sausage, comfort food, weeknight dinner