Description
A comforting and creamy pumpkin pasta dish with a luscious sauce made from fresh pumpkin puree, aromatic spices, and a blend of cream and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for autumn or any time you crave a rich, flavorful pasta meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
Sauce
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 2 cups pumpkin puree
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup sour cream
- 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
Garnish
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, minced
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni pasta until al dente, approximately 10-12 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside.
- Sauté Aromatics: In a large skillet, melt the butter over medium heat. Add the finely chopped onion and minced garlic, sautéing until the onion is soft and translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Make Pumpkin Sauce: Whisk in the pumpkin puree, chicken broth, heavy cream, sour cream, nutmeg, salt, and black pepper into the skillet with the onions and garlic. Stir well to combine all ingredients.
- Simmer Sauce: Let the pumpkin sauce simmer gently for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking and to thicken the sauce.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked rigatoni to the pumpkin sauce in the skillet. Stir to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce, then simmer together for 2-3 minutes until the sauce thickens further and pasta is warmed through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle with grated Parmesan cheese and freshly minced parsley for a fresh, flavorful finish. Serve immediately for best texture and taste.
Notes
- Use fresh pumpkin puree or canned pure pumpkin for convenience; avoid pumpkin pie filling as it contains added sugars and spices.
- Adjust the consistency of the sauce by adding more chicken broth if it becomes too thick.
- For a vegetarian version, substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth.
- Parmesan can be omitted or substituted with a vegan cheese to make it dairy-free.
- This dish pairs well with a simple green salad or crusty bread.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Keywords: pumpkin pasta, creamy pasta, autumn recipe, rigatoni pumpkin sauce, easy pumpkin dinner, comfort food pasta
