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It's a cozy and comforting fall dinner!

Move over, marinara! When autumn leaves start to change color and the scent of pumpkin spice fills the air, this creamy butternut squash pasta will fulfill your craving for fall pasta. Fresh butternut squash mingles with garlic, sage, and parmesan cheese to make a thick, savory sauce to coat any type of pasta. It's creamy, satisfying, and makes for the perfect fall recipe.

What does butternut squash pasta taste like?

Butternut squash pasta tastes like fettucine alfredo meets butternut squash soup—it's a cozy, creamy pasta, that isn't actually loaded with a lot of cream. Butternut squash is simmered in chicken stock until tender, then pureed into a smooth sauce. Finishing with parmesan cheese and heavy cream gives the sauce a boost of flavor and creamy texture. 

What flavors go well with butternut squash?

Garlic and parmesan give the butternut squash sauce a savory edge, while herbs like sage add depth and freshness. The finished pasta dish is topped with walnuts that are cooked in lightly browned butter, for crunch and flavor. If you like, top the pasta with cooked bacon, pancetta, or mix in up to 8 ounces of crumbled, cooked Italian sausage. Up to 1/2 teaspoon of pumpkin spice, ground cinnamon, or ginger could be added to the sauce, to pump up the autumnal flavors.

chopped sage, plus more for garnish

cubed butternut squash (about 30 0z. cubed)

kosher salt, plus more for pasta water

ground black pepper, plus more to taste

grated parmesan cheese, plus more serving

Look for bags of pre-cut butternut squash in the produce section, to save time on peeling and chopping. Otherwise, start with a whole butternut squash that weighs around 2 pounds.