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Penne pasta in creamy butternut squash sauce topped with crispy sage leaves and Parmesan

Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Crispy Sage

A cozy fall pasta where blended butternut squash and a little Parmesan make a silky sauce without any cream. One pot and one skillet, on the table in about 30 minutes.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: American

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb butternut squash peeled, seeded and cut into 1/2-inch cubes (about 4 cups)
  • 12 oz penne or rigatoni
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup low-sodium vegetable broth
  • 1/2 cup whole milk or 2% milk
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan plus more for serving
  • 12 leaves fresh sage 2-3 small sprigs
  • 1/2 tsp kosher salt plus more for the pasta water
  • 1/4 tsp black pepper

Method
 

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain.
  2. While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the butternut squash, salt and pepper and cook 8-10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender and lightly golden. Add the garlic and cook 1 minute more.
  3. Transfer the squash to a blender with the vegetable broth and blend until smooth. Vent the lid to let steam escape.
  4. Heat the remaining 1 tbsp olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Fry the sage leaves 30-45 seconds until crisp, then transfer to a paper towel. Turn off the heat.
  5. Wipe the skillet, pour in the squash puree and set it over medium-low heat. Stir in the milk and Parmesan and simmer 2 minutes; season to taste.
  6. Add the pasta and toss to coat, thinning with the reserved pasta water as needed. Serve topped with the crispy sage and extra Parmesan.