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Creamy Butternut Squash and Spinach Tortellini - perfect holiday recipe for Christmas or Thanksgiving. It will work great as a holiday side dish or main dish. Or, if you love butternut squash, you can make it anytime of year!
You will love the flavorful creamy sauce prepared with freshly made butternut squash puree and spiced up with lemon pepper, nutmeg and paprika! It makes this Creamy Butternut Squash and Spinach Tortellini very special.
This is one of those truly seasonal recipes - perfect in the Fall and in the Winter when the fresh butternut squash abounds! This dish is great on its own, as a meatless entree, it's also great with grilled chicken.
If you like this butternut squash and spinach tortellini, you might enjoy these recipes:
Creamy Tortellini with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts
Creamy Chicken, Asparagus, and Bacon Tortellini
Creamy Mozzarella, Sausage, Spinach, and Tomato Tortellini
Pesto Chicken, Tortellini, and Veggies
Butternut Squash and Spinach Tortellini
Ingredients
- 1 cup butternut squash puree
- 1 cup half and half
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 2 cups tortellini uncooked
- 8 oz spinach , uncooked, fresh
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- Add 1 cup of butternut squash puree, 1 cup of half and half, ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg, a pinch of paprika, and ¼ teaspoon salt to the large skillet, on medium heat. While heating, stir all the ingredients to combine. Add about ¼ teaspoon of lemon pepper seasoning - don't add all of it at once, add a little and add more, to your taste. Add the spinach on top of the mixture, cover with the lid, remove from heat. Let the spinach wilt in the pan, covered, off heat.
- While the spinach wilts, bring the medium pan of water to boil, add 2 cups of uncooked tortellini, and cook according to the package instructions (usually 7 - 10 minutes in boiling water). Once the tortellini is cooked, drain the water.
- Add cooked and drained tortellini to the skillet with the butternut squash sauce and spinach and stir to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add more half and half to thin it. Also, taste and add more salt, nutmeg and lemon pepper, if desired.
- Serve topped with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
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.
Want another delicious butternut squash recipe?
Check out this Thanksgiving Side Dish - Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries
Do yoy think this would be freezer friendly?
Absolutely delicious. I did't follow exactly I used what I had. I had 18% cream (I think the American term is table cream) which is thicker so I thinned out the sauce with a bit of white wine. I also skipped the nutmeg (of just not a flavour i enjoy) . And to add a bit of protein I removed some honey garlic saussages from their casings and fried them up, then just added the sauce and simmered for a few min. I also added the spinach at the last minute, just stirred it in while it's still hot. Only way to truly wilt spinach in my opinion, otherwise it becomes too soggy.
Great recipe. Loved it!
So glad you enjoyed it! Honey garlic sausages sound so delicious - what a great addition to the sauce! Adding fresh spinach the last minute is something I usually do, as well, spinach doesn't really need much cooking, it just needs to wilt a bit.
This is just wonderful!! How well do you think it would freeze?
I would also like to know how to freeze and thaw for later!
If you freeze it, I would suggest reheating it in the oven. Or let it thaw completely in the refrigerator, and then reheat gently on the stove top until hot. At that point, you might have to add extra half & half or cream. I would not use the microwave for thawing or reheating, as the sauce will separate.
Do you know the nutritional info. Calories and how much in a serving?
Thanks
I don't have that capability on my site yet, but you can use the following online tool: https://www.verywell.com/recipe-nutrition-analyzer-4129594
I'm not a fan of butternut squash, but this is so good!
Thank you, Jess! I am flattered to hear that a non-fan of butternut squash enjoyed this recipe! 🙂
Looks delicious, I would like to make it with a non-dairy milk such as coconut or flax, do you think that would work just the same as the half and half?
I think it will work great with coconut milk! Butternut squash puree is so thick, it just needs the right amount of thinning agent, so coconut milk should work! Just add in small amounts not to thin it out too much. I am not familiar with flax milk though, wouldn't even know what it tastes like. 🙂
Great recipe! I didn't have butternut puree so I substituted Roasted Red Pepper and Tomato soup and kept everything else the same. We sprinkled parmesan cheese on top and it was creamy, savory and delicious!
Wow, what an interesting spin on this recipe! 🙂 Using roasted red pepper and tomato soup sounds so delicious with pasta - what a great idea!
8oz of spinach is way too much...use 2-3
Thanks, Kimberly. I guess I just love spinach, but yes, even as little as 2-3 ounces will work too!
Can u use ravioli or any other pasta? Or would say an angel hair be too thin for this sauce?
Ravioli would be great for this sauce! Angle hair would be too thin, I would use short pasta, such as penne.
Hiya can you substitute the half and half for stock as I cant have the dairy ..
Yes, you can. Just make sure the stock is boiling and fully heated through before adding the cheese.
Hello - looking through comments and saw your response in January regarding substitute for cream, which is what I would like to do - you mentioned to boil the chicken stock before adding cheese....yet I don't see cheese listed in the ingredients or directions. Could you please clarify what I'm missing?
Thanks!
Same question as Annie
Just use the stock in the same amount as half & half, and it should work just fine. You can also try other milk alternative, such as cashew milk or coconut milk. There is no cheese - I don't know why I am talking about cheese in my comment in January. 🙂
Wow, this looks SO good! I love butternut squash so I think I'd love this!
Thank you, Liz!
This was really good. I only put in half the amount of spinach as I was preparing, 8 ounces seemed like too much.
I will make it again. Even my husband and picky two year old ate it.
Thank you, Sarah, I am glad you like it! I love spinach so I always put more than most people will like, probably. 🙂
It was just okay. It was eatable but wouldn't make again.
Thank you for your feedback, Sue!
Sue, thank you for stopping by! I always appreciate honest feedback so that I can continue make better recipes!
What do u mean by 1 cup half n half? Tq
Half n Half is a product found in North American grocery stores in the dairy section. It is a mixture of half cream and half milk.
Yes, thank you! To make 1 cup of half and half, combine 1/2 cup milk and 1/2 cup regular cream (heavy, or whipping cream).
This is indeed perfect for the season - warm and comforting, dreamy and creamy, and oh so flavorful!
Thank you, Shashi!