Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage and Spinach
This Creamy Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta combines caramelized squash, savory sausage, fresh spinach, and a Parmesan cream sauce with farfalle. It’s a cozy, satisfying dish perfect for fall dinners.
4 Servings
Ingredients
Roasted Butternut Squash:
- 2 cups butternut squash peeled, seeded, and cubed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Sausage:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- ½ pound sausage crumbled and casings removed
Creamy Pasta Sauce:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 6 ounces spinach
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅓ cup Parmesan cheese shredded
- ¼ teaspoon salt
Pasta:
- 8 ounces farfalle bow-tie pasta
Instructions
For the Roasted Butternut Squash:
- Preheat your oven to 400°F (204°C).
- In a large mixing bowl, toss the cubed butternut squash with olive oil, salt, and pepper to coat evenly.
- Arrange the seasoned squash on a parchment-lined baking sheet in a single layer.
- Roast for 30 minutes, flipping halfway through, until tender and lightly caramelized. Remove from the oven and set aside.
For the Sausage:
- Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a medium skillet over medium heat.
- Add the crumbled sausage and cook for approximately 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and cooked through.
- Remove the sausage from the skillet and set aside, reserving any drippings for added flavor.
For the Creamy Pasta Sauce:
- In the same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat.
- Sauté the minced garlic for 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add the spinach and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5 to 7 minutes, or until wilted.
- Pour in the heavy cream and bring the mixture to a gentle boil.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the Parmesan cheese until melted and smooth.
- Season with salt to taste, adjusting based on the sausage's saltiness.
For the Pasta:
- Cook the farfalle in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente, according to the package instructions (typically 7–11 minutes).
- Drain the pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the creamy spinach sauce.
- Incorporate the cooked sausage into the mixture, stirring to coat evenly.
- Finally, gently fold in the roasted butternut squash, either mixing it throughout or arranging it on top for presentation.
- Adjust the seasoning with additional salt and pepper if needed. Serve warm.
Notes
To make this dish gluten-free, substitute the farfalle pasta with a gluten-free alternative. Options such as rice-based or corn-based pasta work beautifully. Ensure the sausage and all other ingredients are labeled gluten-free to avoid cross-contamination.