Festive Pumpkin Pasta Sage Butter (Printable Version)
Creamy pumpkin pasta topped with sage brown butter provides a warm, autumn-inspired dish for casual or festive meals.
# What You'll Need:
→ Pasta
01 - 12 oz fettuccine or tagliatelle
02 - Salt, as needed for boiling water
→ Pumpkin Sauce
03 - 2 tbsp olive oil
04 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
05 - 2 garlic cloves, minced
06 - 1 1/2 cups pumpkin purée (unsweetened)
07 - 1/2 cup vegetable broth
08 - 1/2 cup heavy cream
09 - 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
10 - 1/4 tsp ground black pepper
11 - 1/2 tsp salt
12 - 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
→ Sage Brown Butter
13 - 6 tbsp unsalted butter
14 - 12 fresh sage leaves
→ Garnish
15 - Additional grated Parmesan cheese
16 - Cracked black pepper
17 - Toasted pumpkin seeds (optional)
# Directions:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain with a colander.
02 - While pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until soft and translucent, about 4 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute longer.
03 - Add pumpkin purée, vegetable broth, heavy cream, nutmeg, black pepper, and salt to the skillet. Simmer gently for 5 to 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until slightly thickened. Incorporate Parmesan cheese, stirring until sauce is smooth. If sauce thickens too much, adjust with reserved pasta water.
04 - In a small saucepan over medium heat, melt unsalted butter. Add sage leaves and cook, swirling occasionally, until butter is golden brown and sage is crisp, 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from heat.
05 - Add cooked pasta to the pumpkin sauce. Toss gently to ensure even coating. Warm through, using reserved pasta water as needed for consistency.
06 - Divide pasta among plates. Drizzle with sage brown butter and top with crispy sage leaves. Garnish with additional Parmesan, cracked pepper, and toasted pumpkin seeds if desired.
# Additional Tips::
01 -
- Ready in just forty minutes so perfect for busy nights
- Uses simple ingredients most kitchens already have
- Fits vegetarian diets and adapts beautifully for vegan or gluten-free needs
- Delivers luxurious texture and deep flavor without fuss
02 -
- High in vitamin A thanks to pumpkin
- Freezes well for make-ahead meals
- Flexible for vegan gluten-free or dairy-free swaps
03 -
- Always brown the butter until it smells nutty and deep gold but do not walk away since it turns from perfect to burnt in an instant
- Save some pasta water before draining for the creamiest sauce Toss pasta with sauce in the skillet instead of off the heat so everything blends evenly If using fresh pumpkin roast it until caramelized for a sweeter more pronounced flavor