Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage and Spinach is a perfect Autumn comfort food. This easy and flavorful recipe is packed with veggies (roasted butternut squash and spinach) and will become your favorite Fall and Winter family weeknight dinner!
Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta - Seasonal and Holiday Main Course
Butternut squash pasta is one of those recipes you would probably make only in the Fall and Winter when the butternut squash is in season. Which makes this pasta so much more special! It's so good I hope you will be looking forward to making it every year! My other favorite butternut squash pasta dish that I highly recommend is butternut squash and spinach lasagna.
This easy pasta is also a great holiday main course. If you want to expand your Thanksgiving or Christmas menu, add this colorful and flavorful roasted butternut squash pasta to your holiday menu! Another fantastic holiday recipe is Roasted Butternut Squash and Brussels sprouts with Pecans and Cranberries.
Why Make Butternut Squash Pasta
This roasted butternut squash pasta is one of those rare pasta recipes that combine both comfort food deliciousness and healthy ingredients. This pasta is surely comforting yet it's packed with fiber and nutrients. A perfect family weeknight dinner!
- Butternut squash is an excellent source of vitamins A, B6, C, and E, as well as several minerals, including magnesium, manganese, and potassium. Butternut squash is also rich in dietary fiber.
- Spinach is packed with nutrients and antioxidants. It’s high in fiber and a good source of many vitamins and minerals. Spinach is a great source of vitamins A and C, as well as folic acid, iron, and calcium.
How To Make Butternut Squash Pasta
Ingredients
- Bow Tie Pasta. This recipe uses an Italian pasta, called Farfalle, or bow tie pasta. The bow-tie shape of this pasta works very well with the cubed butternut squash and adds an appealing look to your dinner. Cook bow-tie pasta al dente for best texture.
- Butternut Squash. This wonderful vegetable is known for its subtly sweet and nutty flavor. In this recipe, butternut squash is roasted with olive oil and acquires a nice soft texture on the inside with a little crunch on the outside.
- Sausage. If you have a spicy sausage somewhere in your fridge or freezer, this is the recipe to use it! Spicy sausage will blend exceptionally well with sweet and nutty butternut squash and creamy pasta sauce. Use crumbled sausage without casings. Any type of pork sausage, spicy sausage, or Italian sausage will work!
- Spinach. Spinach adds flavor, texture, and colorfulness to this pasta dish.
How to Roast Butternut Squash
For everything you need to know about roasting this fantastic vegetable, refer to my recipe on how to roast butternut squash.
The butternut squash should be peeled, seeded, and cubed. You can do it yourself or buy cubed butternut squash in the store. Tip: If you peeled, seeded, and cubed butternut squash ahead (or bought cubed squash in the store), you can store it refrigerated in an airtight container for up to 2 days. Use cubed butternut squash within 2 days.
- Preheat the oven to 400 F.
- Combine butternut squash with 1 or 2 tablespoons of olive oil, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Toss together.
- Then, spread the squash on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in a single layer. Make sure the butternut squash is not overcrowded. This way the air can circulate around the squash in the oven and the squash roasts properly instead of steaming. Roasted this way, without overcrowding, will give squash a slightly crunchy texture on the outside. This will ensure that the squash is roasted and not steamed.
- Roast the squash in the preheated oven at 400 F for 30 minutes.
How To Make Creamy Pasta Sauce
While the butternut squash is being roasted, prepare the cream sauce.
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil together with 4 minced garlic cloves and 6 oz of spinach. Cook on medium heat for about 5 to 7 minutes, until the spinach starts to wilt.
- Add heavy cream. Bring to boil and immediately reduce to a low or medium boil.
- Add shredded Parmesan cheese while the sauce simmers, constantly stirring.
- Season with salt to taste, about ¼ teaspoon of salt. Note: No salt is necessary if the sausage is very salty.
Cook Sausage
In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium heat. Add crumbled sausage and cook for about 10 minutes, regularly stirring, until the sausage is cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
How Long to Cook Pasta
- Usually, the pasta is cooked in a pot of boiling water for 10 minutes. Always check the cooking time on the package instructions for precise times of cooking pasta.
- To prepare any pasta al dente, cook pasta in boiling water for 8 minutes, or for 2 minutes less than indicated on the package instructions.
Assemble the Pasta
- Add drained cooked pasta and cooked sausage to the creamy spinach sauce in the skillet. Stir. Season with salt and pepper.
- Top with roasted butternut squash. Stir it in, or leave butternut squash on top.
Tips on Making Pasta Ahead
Make-ahead Tip: Roast butternut squash up to 2 days ahead. Keep it refrigerated in an airtight container until ready to use. Reheat it briefly in the microwave (for about 30 seconds) before adding it to the pasta. Or, just add it to the creamy pasta sauce, stir it in and reheat it in the cream sauce.
How to Store, Freeze, Reheat Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta
- Refrigerate. Store leftover butternut squash pasta in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Freeze. You can freeze butternut squash pasta in an airtight container for up to 2 months.
- Reheat. Reheat the pasta gently on the stovetop in the skillet over medium heat, stirring halfway through. Add extra milk or heavy cream to thin out the sauce.
It's always best to serve bow tie pasta (or any pasta) al dente. That's when the pasta texture is at its best. Storing cooked pasta for a day or two will cause the pasta to lose its perfect texture, however, it will still taste great.
Also, keep in mind that the cream sauce when refrigerated loses its texture and becomes thick. To reheat it the next day, reheat over medium heat and add extra milk or heavy creamy when reheating to thin out the sauce.
Substitutions
- Pasta. Use any type of short pasta. That includes farfalle (bow-tie pasta), penne, rigatoni, fusilli, or orecchiette. You can also use gnocchi.
- Spinach. This butternut squash pasta will work equally well with spinach, kale, Swiss chard, or arugula. Pick the greens of your choice, add them to the pasta, and enjoy!
- Sausage. Use crumbled sausage without casings. Regular or spicy pork sausage (such as Jimmy Dean brand) is a great choice. Crumbled Italian sausage or spicy Italian sausage is another excellent option.
- Cheese. Use shredded Parmesan cheese, Romano cheese, or Asiago. You can also use shredded low-moisture part-skim Mozzarella cheese. Do not use soft Mozzarella cheese balls.
- Cream. If you don't have heavy cream, you can use half-and-half instead and add more shredded cheese to thicken the sauce.
Other Butternut Squash Pasta Recipes
Butternut squash is an amazing vegetable that pairs beautifully with pasta, whether the squash is roasted or pureed. Here are some delicious butternut squash pasta recipes to explore:
- Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter and Pecans
- Butternut Squash and Spinach Tortellini
- Butternut Squash and Spinach Lasagna
What to Serve with Butternut Squash Pasta
- Salad. Because this pasta has a rich creamy sauce with lots of veggies, any type of simple fresh salad will make an excellent pairing. Serve this pasta with a simple spinach salad with pine nuts and Parmesan or cranberry spinach salad with cashews and goat cheese. Or, pair the pasta with the colorful and easy-to-make arugula salad with apples, cranberries, and pecans.
- Bread. Serve the pasta with warm garlic bread or olive bread. If you want to venture out and make your own simple loaf - try this easy bread recipe made in a bread machine.
Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage and Spinach
Ingredients
Roasted Butternut Squash
- 2 cups butternut squash , peeled, seeded, and cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- salt and pepper
Sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ lb sausage , crumbled, without casings
Creamy Pasta Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 6 oz spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Pasta
- 8 oz farfalle (bow tie pasta)
Instructions
Roast Butternut Squash
- Preheat oven to 400 F.
- In a large bowl, toss cubed butternut squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper.
- Spread the squash on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet in one layer, without overcrowding.
- Roast in the preheated oven at 400 F for 30 minutes. Remove from oven.
Cook Sausage
- In a medium skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil on medium heat.
- Add crumbled sausage and cook for about 10 minutes, regularly stirring, until the sausage is cooked through. Remove from heat and set aside.
- Tip: Cook the sausage while the butternut squash is being roasted.
Make Creamy Sauce
- In a separate, large skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil together with minced garlic and spinach over medium heat. Cook, occasionally stirring, for about 5 or 7 minutes until spinach starts to wilt.
- Add heavy cream. Bring to a brief boil, then immediately reduce to simmer (boiling but not intensely). Add shredded Parmesan cheese. Keep stirring the sauce with the Parmesan cheese on low to medium boil (simmer) until the cheese melts. Remove from heat.
- Season with salt to taste, about ¼ teaspoon of salt. No salt might be necessary if the sausage is very salty.
- Tip: Use your judgment about whether to add salt or not based on how salty the sausage is. Make the cream sauce while the butternut squash is being roasted.
Cook Pasta and Assemble
- Cook pasta al dente in boiling water according to package instructions. That usually means cooking pasta in boiling water for about 7 to 11 minutes. Drain.
- To a large skillet with the creamy spinach sauce, add drained cooked pasta and cooked sausage. Stir. Season with salt and pepper, if desired.
- Top the pasta with roasted butternut squash. Stir the squash in, or leave it on top.
Nutrition
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Sarah
I never leave reviews, but this recipe was delicious! Everyone in my family loved it and husband is already asking when I will make it again (I only made it last night haha). This recipe is definitely a keeper!!
Julia
Sarah, wow, I am so happy your family loved this recipe - thank you for sharing this wonderful feedback with me! ❤️
Erin
This was absolutely delicious! I made it as is with mild Italian sausage. Thank you for a new go-to autumn dish!
Julia
Erin, that is so nice to hear! Thank you for your great review! 🙂
Karen L.
I tried this recipe yesterday and all I can say is WOW! If you like sweet and savory, then this is a recipe that you must try! The sausage and butternut squash complemented each other well. The recipe was easy to follow and well worth it. I used mild Italian sausage and definitely did not need to add additional salt!
Julia
Karen, thank you for your rave review - I really appreciate it! ❤️ Happy Holidays! 🙂
J
Can this be made a day in advance and reheated?
Julia
J, yes, you can make it in advance.
➡️ I would be very careful reheating the cream sauce (do it on low heat) so that it doesn't separate.
➡️ Another option can be to prep everything a day in advance, but make the cream sauce right before serving.
Enjoy!
Lynn
Can this be made in casserole form in the oven ?
Julia
Lynn, once everything is cooked (including the pasta), you can combine everything in a casserole dish, add the cream + cheese and bake it. It should work just fine.
Caycee
I don’t think I’ve ever left a review on a recipe before but this one is well worth it! So simple to make and my whole family loved it! I’ll definitely be using this recipe again and again.
Julia
Caycee, I am so glad everyone loved this dish! Thank you so much for taking the time to share such a positive comment and the 5-star rating! ❤️
Janice
Fabulous!!! I will be more careful with my pasta next time but way good!!!! Can’t wait to try more of your recipes!!! ♥️
Julia
Janice, I am so happy this recipe was a success! 🙂 I hope you love my other recipes as much as this one! 🙂
Becca
Soooo yummy!! I've made this a few times now and tweaked it a little. I do half the amount of cream and double the sausage (we prefer a more savory palette). Even my kids love it!
Julia
Becca, I am so happy to hear this recipe is worth repeating! 🙂 I love doubling the amount of protein (sausage in this case) in my personal cooking, as well! ❤️
Priscilla
This is hands down one of the most delicious recipes I have tried! It tastes like a meal I would order at a restaurant. The sauce was amazing!! Definitely a keeper.
Julia
Priscilla, your comment really made my day! 🙂 Thank you for your rave review! ❤️
Mary
5 star for flavor but dropping a point for using a separate dish for cooking every ingredient.
Julia
Mary, glad you loved this recipe! I agree - this recipe can be more efficient dishes-wise. 🙂
Julie
This was delicious. The squash compliments this dish so well. Family also gave it their approval. We will be making this again. Thanks!
Julia
Julie, I am so glad everyone loved it! Thank you for taking the time to share your review! ❤️
A Gardist
I doubled this recipe for a big family reunion and it disappeared quickly because every woman, man, and child loved it! I didn’t even get a chance to try it other than the taste testing (so delicious!)! So, I will be whipping up another batch for Thanksgiving dinner because the family is insisting 🙂 Thanks!
Julia
A Gardist, So glad this recipe was a huge hit (even thought there was not enough food for you)! ❤️ Thank you for sharing your rave review! It will be a great Thanksgiving dinner! 🙂
Lisa
I made this last night; I had to make a couple adjustments as I didn’t have heavy cream so I used milk and substituted Parmesan cheese for a mexi-mix, and rotini noodles verses bow ties. I try to work with what I have on hand so I don’t need to go to the store for each recipe. Even with the changes, it was amazing. My kids were skeptical at first, however my 10 year old got seconds!!! THANK YOU! We will be making this again.
Julia
Lisa, thank you for your rave review - I really appreciate it! ❤️❤️ I am all about not wasting any ingredients, so I am glad you were able to adjust this recipe to use up whatever ingredients you already had available. 🙂
Megan
So good! 10/10 from husband and we both got seconds.
Julia
Megan, so glad you both enjoyed it! ❤️❤️
Eloise
I'm very glad I found this recipe while searching for a way to use butternut squash. It was really delicious and despite the high carb and calorie count, full of healthy ingredients so I didn't feel too bad. I used spicy Italian sausage but may try it with turkey sausage next time to cut the fat.
Julia
Eloise, thank you for you thoughtful review. ❤️ This recipe is exactly what you described: yes, it's high in calories, but it's packed with healthy vegetables and it's a well-balanced meal (that includes protein, veggies, carbs, etc.).
Kayla D.
Absolutely delicious! My 3 year old (who isn't quite picky thank goodness) is devouring her food! I cut the spinach into smaller pieces for her to not get choked up on the "strings". I also used 1 lb of ground lamb with my homemade sweet Italian sausage seasoning. Instead of butternut squash, I subbed sweet potatoes. This is definitely a 10/10 in my book and will go in the special recipe tin 😉
Julia
Kayla, thank you for such a detailed and positive comment! ❤️❤️ I love that you used ground lamb and sweet potatoes - both are so delicious!
Mireille
This recipe was fantastic! Switched the bow ties for fresh cheese tortellini. Everyone cleared their plate and went back for a little more. Will definitely make again.
Julia
Mireille, I love that you used cheese stuffed tortellini instead of bow-tie pasta here. ❤️ How delicious! ❤️
Holly
This was absolutely delicious! Added some mushrooms so good!! Make this!!
Julia
Holly, thank you for your rave review! ❤️ I love the addition of mushrooms! ❤️