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Creamy Easy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce served with pasta and garnished with herbs.

Easy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

This creamy pumpkin pasta sauce is a quick and comforting dish that captures the essence of fall. It's easy to make and can be customized with various ingredients.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 15 minutes
Total Time 25 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Comfort Food
Calories: 400
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Pasta Ingredients
  • 12 ounces Pasta (penne, rigatoni, fettuccine, etc.) Choose a pasta shape that holds sauce well.
Sauce Ingredients
  • 1 tablespoon Butter or olive oil Both can be used depending on preference.
  • 3-4 cloves Garlic, minced Adjust according to taste.
  • 1 cup Pumpkin puree (canned is perfect) Do not use pumpkin pie filling.
  • 3/4-1 cup Heavy cream (or half and half) Use half and half for a lighter version.
  • 1/2 cup Grated Parmesan, plus more for serving Adjust according to taste.
  • to taste Salt and black pepper Ensure to taste for seasoning.
  • optional A pinch of nutmeg, red pepper flakes, or a squeeze of lemon These enhance the flavor.
  • A splash of pasta water To loosen the sauce if too thick.

Method
 

Cooking the Pasta
  1. Boil your pasta in well-salted water. Before draining, scoop out about 1 cup of pasta water and set it aside.
Making the Sauce
  1. In a large skillet, melt butter (or warm olive oil) over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds to 1 minute until fragrant. Do not brown the garlic.
  2. Stir in the pumpkin puree and let it warm through for about 1 minute.
  3. Pour in the cream and stir until smooth. Add Parmesan, salt, pepper, and any optional ingredients. Add pasta water a little at a time if the sauce gets too thick.
  4. Toss in the drained pasta and stir until everything is well coated. Taste and adjust seasoning, finishing with additional Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Use pumpkin puree, not pumpkin pie filling. Don’t skip the pasta water, as it helps the sauce adhere to the pasta. Add cheese off high heat to avoid graininess. Always taste before serving and adjust salt accordingly. Leftovers keep well in the fridge for 3 to 4 days.