Roasted Butternut Squash Pasta with Sausage and Spinach
A hearty and flavorful pasta dish featuring roasted butternut squash, savory sausage, and fresh spinach, perfect for a cozy dinner.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baked
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 medium butternut squash, peeled and cubed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 12 ounces Italian sausage, casings removed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 5 ounces fresh spinach
- 12 ounces pasta (penne or rigatoni)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup toasted pine nuts (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 425°F (220°C). Toss butternut squash cubes with 1 tablespoon olive oil, salt, and pepper. Spread on a baking sheet and roast for 25-30 minutes until tender and caramelized.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain pasta.
- In a large skillet, heat remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it apart, until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the sausage; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add fresh spinach to the skillet and cook until wilted, about 2 minutes.
- Stir in roasted butternut squash and cooked pasta. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Remove from heat and stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and combined.
- Serve topped with toasted pine nuts, if using, and additional Parmesan cheese.
Notes
For a vegetarian version, substitute sausage with sautéed mushrooms or a plant-based sausage alternative.