Cheesy Pumpkin Sausage One-Pot Pasta (Print Version)

A creamy one-pot pasta with browned Italian sausage, savory pumpkin sauce, cream cheese, cheddar, and sage.

# Ingredients:

For the sausage base

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 1 lb (450 g) bulk Italian sausage, mild or hot
03 - 1 small yellow onion, finely diced
04 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
05 - 1 tablespoon tomato paste
06 - 1 teaspoon chopped fresh sage, or 1/2 teaspoon dried sage

For the pasta and sauce

07 - 12 oz (340 g) cavatappi, shells, or penne
08 - 1 cup (245 g) pure pumpkin puree
09 - 3 cups (720 ml) low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 1 cup (240 ml) whole milk
11 - 1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
12 - 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
13 - 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
14 - 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
15 - 4 oz (115 g) cream cheese, cubed and softened
16 - 1 cup (115 g) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
17 - 1/4 cup (25 g) grated parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
18 - 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley

# Instructions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and cook for 6-8 minutes, breaking it into small pieces, until browned and cooked through.
02 - Add the onion and cook for 3 minutes, stirring often. Stir in the garlic, tomato paste, and sage, then cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
03 - Stir in the pasta, pumpkin puree, chicken broth, milk, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes, and nutmeg. Bring to a boil, then reduce to a steady simmer.
04 - Cover and cook for 12-15 minutes, stirring every few minutes, until the pasta is just tender. If the pot looks dry before the pasta is done, add 1/4 cup broth or water.
05 - Turn the heat to low. Stir in the cream cheese until smooth, then add the cheddar and parmesan. Stir until the sauce is creamy and glossy.
06 - Remove from the heat and let the pasta stand for 3 minutes to thicken. Stir in parsley, taste for salt and pepper, and serve with extra parmesan.

# Notes:

01 - Use pure pumpkin puree, not sweetened pumpkin pie filling.
02 - Stir often during simmering so the pasta cooks evenly and does not stick.
03 - Add a splash of milk or broth before serving if the sauce gets too thick.

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