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Cozy Autumn Sausage Pasta Squash

A comforting dish featuring Italian sausage, sweet butternut squash, vibrant spinach, and creamy pasta, perfect for cozy autumn dinners.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American, Italian
Calories: 375
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Essential Ingredients
  • 8 oz Pasta Choose your favorite shape—penne, fusilli, or farfalle.
  • 1 lb Italian Sausage Sweet or spicy; turkey sausage is a healthier option.
  • 1 Medium Butternut Squash Peel and cube; can substitute with acorn squash or pumpkin.
  • 2 cups Spinach Fresh is best, but frozen can be used if thawed and drained.
  • 3 Cloves Garlic, Minced Fresh is preferable for flavor.
  • 1/2 cup Parmesan Cheese, Grated For non-dairy, try nutritional yeast.
  • 2 tbsp Olive Oil Use high-quality extra virgin olive oil.
  • Salt and Pepper to Taste Essential for enhancing flavors.

Method
 

Cook the Pasta
  1. Boil water in a large pot and cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water.
Sauté the Sausage
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking apart. Cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes.
Add Garlic and Squash
  1. Stir in minced garlic and cubed butternut squash. Cook for about 10-12 minutes until squash is tender and caramelized slightly.
  2. If the skillet is dry, add a splash of reserved pasta water to keep everything moist.
Incorporate Spinach
  1. Once squash has softened, add spinach and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes until wilted.
Combine Everything
  1. Add drained pasta and grated Parmesan, tossing to combine. Drizzle in more pasta water if needed for creaminess. Season with salt and pepper.
  2. Serve topped with additional Parmesan if desired.

Notes

Store leftovers in airtight containers in the fridge for up to 3 days. For best quality, freeze individual portions for up to a month. Can be made a day ahead, just heat and toss in the cooked pasta before serving. Substitute ingredients as desired for variations.