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.
Rhonda
DELICIOUS!! Added mushrooms and substituted kale for the spinach. Didn’t change anything else. Will make again and again 🙂
Julia
Rhonda, I am so glad you've enjoyed this recipe. Yes, it tastes amazing with kale, and mushrooms are a great addition!
Rhonda
Could I substitute the spinach for lacinato (dinosaur) kale?
I plan to make this tonight!
thanks!
Julia
I've never heard of dinosaur kale (sounds interesting!) but you can't certainly use kale in this recipe instead of spinach. Enjoy!
Rhonda
It’s has a few names. Lacinato, Dinosaur, Tuscan. I’m sure you’ve seen it. I prefer it to the curly kale.
Julia
Very interesting! Thanks for educating me!
Rhonda
I made it with the kale and added mushrooms as someone else mentioned, then didn’t change anything else. This was DELICIOUS!!! I will be making this again for sure 🙂
Julia
Rhonda, thank you so much for taking the time to share such a wonderful comment! I really appreciate the feedback, especially the positive one, ha-ha! 🙂
Mallory
Made this tonight without the sausage because I'm a vegetarian and I used Asiago cheese because that's what I had and it turned out so delicious!!!! My husband and I both loved it and he even had seconds! I think next time I'll add mushrooms and I'll add the sausage to my husbands portion!
Julia
Mallory, I just love your comment! Glad you've enjoyed the vegetarian version of this recipe. The addition of Asiago cheese sounds so good!
Debi
Hello,
I came across this recipe because I am on another refulx diet. I was wondering can I just use Silk milk instead of half and half?
Julia
It should work. The sauce might be thinner, but the taste would still be great!
Emily Brantford
Lady, this recipe is fantastic!!! I added a little extra garlic and Parmesan because my 4 and 10 year old kids and husband…not to mention myself are obsessed with those flavors…all the yummies! Thank you for sharing! We are HUGE fans!
P.S. - this is absolutely easy to make in a teeny tiny kitchen….we travel full time across the country in our motorhome and I’m always looking for recipes that will work in my mini kitchen.
Julia
Emily, I just love your comment - thank you for taking the time to share such positive feedback! 🙂 Extra garlic and extra Parmesan always add so much flavor!
Pam
The 1st time I made this, I used 2% milk because that is all I had. We really liked it.
The next couple of times I have made this dish I have doubled the amount of squash and still used 2% milk. This is now in our dinner rotation!
Julia
Pam, I am so glad you've made this recipe more than once and enjoyed it! thank you for the feedback about using 2% milk and doubling the amount of squash - very helpful to me and other readers!
Ali
Yum, a new go-to for sure! I subbed turkey sausage and nondairy alternatives (oat milk instead of cream, and dairy free “mozzarella” shreds), and it still turned out great. I also added dried sage and fresh nutmeg for a bit of extra flavor depth. Hearty and cozy without being too rich and heavy. I’ll make this again for sure and will likely also add it to my list of meals to bring new parents!
Julia
Ali, your comment made my day! 🙂 I am so glad you've enjoyed this recipe and thank you for taking the time to share such a positive comment - it means a lot to me! 🙂 Also, thank you for sharing about your non-dairy alternatives used in this recipe - very helpful to me and other readers!
Alliskars
I tried this recipe and it was SO good. My 2yo ate up all the "butterfly noodles" and I chopped the spinach first so that it would be impossible to pick around. My husband said to add it into the rotation which is high praise from him. I've already made it again and it has gotten consistent results. Skarsten family approved.
Julia
Alliskars, I love-love your comment! Thank you for taking the time to share this positive feedback - I really appreciate it!! I know a lot of people might like the recipe but don't have the time to comment, but when I see glowing reviews like yours - they really make my day!
Jamie Mahan
I just subbed veggie sausage and it was delicious!
Julia
Jamie, I am glad this recipe was tasty with veggie sausage! Thank you for sharing your feedback! 🙂
Regina
I made this last night and the whole family loved it! So tasty!! I added red pepper flakes for a touch of heat and the next time I make it I'll add mushrooms. Thanks for sharing this easy and delicious recipe!
Julia
Regina, you are very welcome! I am glad the recipe was enjoyed! 🙂 Thank you for taking the time to share this positive feedback - it means a lot!
Karen
Made this for my daughter who lives out of town while visiting her. She’s not a big pasta fan. She had two servings for dinner and more for lunch the next day saying if all pasta tasted like this she would eat it everyday. Her four and two year old boys also loved it. Awesome recipe. Thank you for sharing it.
Julia
Karen, your comment made my day! 🙂 I am so flattered! Thank you for sharing this story - it warms my heart.
Rebecca
I just made this exactly as recipe calls with the exception of subbing 16oz sautéed baby portabella mushrooms for the sausage. It was amazing!!!
Julia
Rebecca, I am so glad the recipe was a success! Love that you used baby portabella mushrooms instead of the sausage - that sounds delicious!
Rebecca S
This was amazing. Followed the directions exactly and I wouldn't change a thing. My 10 year old daughter loved it.
Julia
Rebbeca, I am so glad you've enjoyed this recipe! 🙂
Julie
Awesome recipe the whole family enjoyed it!
Julia
Julie, I am happy to hear that! 🙂
Julie
This was ridiculously good. I may try next time with a pink sauce just as a variety. But so so good just as it is
Julia
Julie, comments like yours make me so happy! So glad the recipe was enjoyed! 🙂
Lynn
This recipe is fabulous! The sweetness of the squash, the spicy sausage, the creamy sauce...outstanding! I will be making this again and again.
Julia
Lynn, your comment made my day! Glad you've enjoyed this recipe! 🙂
Melissa
Wowzas!!!! Flavor explosion! This was amazing. Sweet and savory goodness I’ll definitely be making again. So quick and easy. Thanks for this delicious recipe.
Julia
Melissa, thank you so much for such a positive and enthusiastic comment! 🙂 I am so happy you've enjoyed this recipe and took the time to share this wonderful feedback! 🙂
Dawn
This was a hit! I was able to make this with ingredients I had on hand, except for the butternut squash. I didn’t have one and didn’t want to run to the store mid-week for one so I used diced and roasted sweet potatoes I had in the pantry and it was great also!
Julia
Dawn, thank you so much for such helpful feedback! I am so happy to hear this recipe worked with roasted sweet potatoes! Thank you for taking the time to share this - it would be so helpful to others, too!