Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Italian Turkey Sausage and Crispy Sage

When the seasons change and you’re craving something warm, comforting, and full of flavor, this creamy butternut squash pasta is the perfect dish to bring to the table.

This pasta is made with roasted butternut squash, red onion, garlic, thyme, and DivineKuizine Sugar Spice, this pasta delivers a beautiful balance of savory, sweet, and aromatic flavors. Blended into a velvety sauce and tossed with rotini, Italian turkey sausage, fresh spinach, and Parmesan cheese, it’s a comforting meal with a little something special in every bite.

The finishing touch? Crispy pan-fried sage leaves and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes for a delicious contrast of texture and flavor.

Why You’ll Love This Butternut Squash Pasta

• Creamy and comforting: Roasted squash creates a naturally rich, velvety sauce.

• Full of flavor: DivineKuizine Sugar Spice, garlic, thyme, and Parmesan bring warmth and depth.

• A satisfying meal: Italian turkey sausage and spinach make this pasta hearty and delicious.

• A beautiful finishing touch: Crispy sage leaves add a fragrant crunch.

Prep time: 15 minutes

Cook time: 40 minutes

Total time: 55 minutes

Servings: 4–6

Ingredients: Creamy butternut squash pasta

Roasted Butternut Squash Sauce

• 1 medium butternut squash (about 2 pounds), peeled, seeded, and cubed

• 1 medium red onion, roughly chopped

• 4 garlic cloves, peeled

• 1 tablespoon fresh thyme leaves

• 1 teaspoon DivineKuizine Sugar Spice

• 1 teaspoon salt, or to taste

• ½ teaspoon seasoned pepper

• 2 tablespoons olive oil

• ½–1 cup reserved pasta water

Pasta and Sausage

• 1 pound rotini pasta

• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• 1 chicken bouillon cube

• 1 pound Italian turkey sausage

• 2 tablespoons smoked butter

• 3 cups fresh spinach

• ¾ cup heavy cream

• 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese

• Salt and pepper, to taste

Crispy Sage Topping

• 12–16 fresh sage leaves

• 2 tablespoons butter or olive oil

• ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste

• Additional Parmesan cheese, for serving

Instructions

1. Roast the vegetables. Preheat the oven to 400°F (200°C). Toss the butternut squash, red onion, garlic, thyme, Sugar Spice, salt, seasoned pepper, and olive oil on a baking sheet. Roast for 25–35 minutes, until tender and lightly caramelized.

2. Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add the olive oil and chicken bouillon cube. Stir to dissolve, then add the rotini and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.

3. Blend the sauce. Transfer the roasted vegetables to a blender. Add ½ cup reserved pasta water and blend until smooth. Add more pasta water as needed to achieve a creamy consistency.

4. Brown the sausage. Melt the smoked butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian turkey sausage and cook for 8–10 minutes, breaking it into crumbles, until browned and fully cooked.

5. Add the spinach and sauce. Stir the spinach into the sausage and cook until wilted. Add the butternut squash sauce, heavy cream, and cooked rotini. Stir to combine.

6. Finish with Parmesan. Add the Parmesan cheese and stir until melted into the sauce. Taste and adjust the seasoning. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed.

7. Fry the sage. Heat the butter or olive oil in a small skillet over medium heat. Add the sage leaves and fry for 30–60 seconds, until crisp. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate.

8. Serve. Plate the pasta and garnish with additional Parmesan, crispy sage leaves, and red pepper flakes.

Tips for the Best Butternut Squash Pasta

• Roast until caramelized: A little browning brings out the natural sweetness of the squash.

• Save your pasta water: The starchy water helps create a smooth, silky sauce that clings to the rotini.

• Season as you go: Taste the sauce before serving and adjust the seasoning to your preference.

• Add the sage just before serving: This keeps the leaves crispy and fragrant.

Make It Your Own

This recipe is easy to customize. Swap the turkey sausage for chicken sausage, use vegetable broth instead of chicken bouillon, or add extra spinach for more greens.

For a little more heat, increase the red pepper flakes. And if you love a deeper, warmer flavor, add a touch more DivineKuizine Sugar Spice to the roasted squash.

Bring More Flavor to Your Kitchen

DivineKuizine Sugar Spice brings warmth and aromatic flavor to both sweet and savory recipes. In this creamy butternut squash pasta, it complements the roasted vegetables and helps create a sauce that’s rich, balanced, and memorable.

Explore more recipes and discover how DivineKuizine can bring flavor, sweetness, and spice to your kitchen.