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    Home » Italian food

    Pumpkin Pasta with Toasted Breadcrumb Topping

    Published: Oct 17, 2022 · Modified: Nov 10, 2022 by Diana Reis · This post may contain affiliate links

    ↓ Jump to Recipe

    Delicious, light, and quick to prepare, this pumpkin pasta is an amazing dish you will enjoy this fall and all year long. The toasted breadcrumb topping, packed with pumpkin seeds, garlic, and fresh sage, adds great crunch to a smooth and easy pumpkin sauce.

    breadcrumb topping over pumpkin sauce pasta on black plate
    Contents hide
    Make this dish, because...
    Ingredients
    How to Pumpkin Pasta Sauce and Toasted Breadcrumb Topping
    FAQs
    Diana's Tips for Success
    Related Recipes
    📖 Recipe
    Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Topped with Sage Toasted Breadcrumbs
    Ingredients Pumpkin Pasta Sauce
    Ingredients Toasted Breadcrumb Topping
    Sage and Pumpkin Seed Toasted Breadcrumbs
    Easy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

    Make this dish, because...

    This is another great quick pasta dish that comes together in under 30 minutes and is great for weeknight dinners this season. 

    The pumpkin pasta sauce recipe is made with simple ingredients and has a creamy texture that coats the noodles beautifully.

    The toasted breadcrumb topping adds delicious flavor and crunch to this simple dish.

    Unlike many other pumpkin recipes this time of year, this delicious recipe is savory and has the texture of an American style alfredo sauce.

    Ingredients

    pumpkin pasta ingredients

    Pure Pumpkin Puree- Canned Pumpkin is great because it is easy to use and contains just real pumpkin puree. It has a slightly sweet and mild flavor that can be used to make many things including this delicious sauce.  Be certain to double check your can to make sure you are getting the plain canned pumpkin and not pumpkin pie filling which has spices and other ingredients added.

    Nutmeg- Frequently added to sweet pumpkin spices, nutmeg adds warmth and depth of flavor to this very simple sauce.

    How to Pumpkin Pasta Sauce and Toasted Breadcrumb Topping

    Start the water boiling for the pasta when you begin your prep. I usually start cooking the pasta around the same time I start the pumpkin pasta sauce.

    1- Make the crunchy breadcrumb topping.

    • Start by making the toasted breadcrumb topping. Heat a large saucepan on medium heat. Then, add butter and extra virgin olive oil.
    • Once the butter is melted, add minced garlic, sage leaves, and pumpkin seeds to bring out their flavor.
    • Then, add the breadcrumbs and lemon juice to the pan. Coat the breadcrumbs in the fats and toast them until they are a golden brown.
    • Next, remove the toasted breadcrumb topping and wipe out the pan.
    breadcrumb topping over pumpkin sauce pasta on black plate

    2-Sauté the onions and garlic.

    • In the same pan, start your pasta sauce. Add butter and olive oil to the heated pan.
    • Next, sauté the diced onion and minced garlic until the onion is fully cooked and translucent. Season the onions and garlic with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
    seasoned and sautéed onions and garlic

    3- Finish the pumpkin pasta sauce.

    • Then, add pumpkin to the pan along with heavy cream and ½ of a cup of reserved pasta water. Finally, add cooked, drained pasta to the pan and toss to coat. Add a little more reserved pasta water, if needed, to thin the sauce.
    • Serve with a generous amount of breadcrumb topping and freshly grated parmesan cheese.
    finished pumpkin pasta sauce

    FAQs

    What goes well with Pumpkin Pasta?

    Pumpkin pasta sauce has a mild, creamy flavor. To balance it out, I like to serve a side salad with a good crunch and an acidic vinaigrette. 

    A crusty loaf of bread is a nice addition to any pasta dish.

    What kind of pasta can I use with pumpkin pasta sauce?

    I recommend a wide noodle for creamy pumpkin pasta sauce. Fettuccini, linguine, and even tagliatelle, pick up the thick sauce nicely. If you prefer a tube shaped pasta, go with a cavatappi or rigatoni. 

    Why do you use reserved pasta water?

    Pasta water contains the starch from the cooked noodles which will help the sauce cling to your noodles. It should also be a bit salty and add some flavor as well.

    Diana's Tips for Success

    Storage and Reheating

    The toasted breadcrumb topping and pumpkin pasta sauce can be made ahead of time and kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up 3-4 days.

    The pumpkin sauce will be thick if you make it ahead of time because you won’t have added the reserved cooking water. 

    Reheat the sauce by adding it directly to the hot, drained noodles along with some reserved pasta water.

    Substitutions

    If you don't have heavy cream on hand. Add ¼ of a cup of cream cheese. Reserve an extra cup of pasta water when you make this substitution in case you need to thin the sauce down more.

    You can make this dish vegan by subbing out for non-dairy butter and using unsweetened Almond milk in place of heavy cream. The texture is a bit thinner, but almond milk is a better substitute than coconut milk because of it's neutral flavor.

    Close up pumpkin pasta with on black plate with bowl of breadcrumb topping

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    • Spinach Pesto Pasta
    • Genovese Basil Pesto Sauce
    • Classic Shrimp Scampi
    • Creamy Butternut Squash Soup
    • Roasted Delicata Squash, Beet, and Feta Salad

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    📖 Recipe

    pumpkin pasta sauce feature

    Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Topped with Sage Toasted Breadcrumbs

    The toasted breadcrumb topping, packed with pumpkin seeds, garlic, and sage, adds great crunch to a smooth and creamy pumpkin sauce.
    5 from 7 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Dinner
    Cuisine: Italian
    Prep Time: 10 minutes minutes
    Cook Time: 20 minutes minutes
    Total Time: 30 minutes minutes
    Servings: 6 Servings
    Calories: 474kcal
    Author: Diana Reis

    Ingredients

    • 1 Pound Pasta cooked according to package instructions
    • ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese optional

    Ingredients Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

    • 2 Cups Canned Pumpkin pure pumpkin
    • ½ Yellow Onion diced
    • 2 Cloves Garlic minced
    • ½ Cup Heavy Cream
    • ½-1 Cup Reserved Pasta Water
    • 1 Tablespoon Butter
    • 2 Tablespoon Olive Oil
    • ½ Teaspoon Nutmeg
    • Kosher Salt and Black Pepper to taste

    Ingredients Toasted Breadcrumb Topping

    • 1 Cup Breadcrumbs traditional, plain
    • 1 Tablespoon Butter
    • 2 Tablespoons Olive Oil
    • 2 Tablespoons Fresh Sage Leaves cut into ribbons
    • ½ Cup Pumpkin Seeds green pepitas
    • 1 Clove Garlic minced
    • Juice of 1 Lemon
    • Kosher Salt and Black Pepper to taste

    Instructions

    Sage and Pumpkin Seed Toasted Breadcrumbs

    • Start by making the crunchy topping.
    • Heat a large skillet on medium heat.
    • Then, add butter and olive oil.
    • Once the butter is melted, add minced garlic, sage leaves, and pumpkin seeds to bring out their flavor.
    • Then, add the breadcrumbs and lemon juice to the pan.
    • Coat the breadcrumbs in the fats and toast them until they are a golden brown.
    • Next, remove the toasted breadcrumb topping and wipe out the skillet.

    Easy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

    • In the same pan, start your sauce.
    • Add butter and olive oil to the heated pan.
    • Next, sauté the diced onion and minced garlic until the onion is fully cooked and translucent.
    • Season the onions and garlic with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
    • Then, add pumpkin to the pan along with heavy cream and ½ of a cup of reserved pasta water.
    • Add drained pasta to the pan and toss to coat.
    • Add a little more reserved pasta water if needed to thin the sauce.
    • Serve with a generous amount of breadcrumb topping and parmesan cheese.

    Notes

    Start the water boiling for the pasta when you begin your prep. I usually start cooking the pasta around the same time I start the pumpkin pasta sauce.
    What goes well with Pumpkin Pasta?
    This sauce has a mild, creamy flavor. To balance it out, I like to serve a side salad with a good crunch and an acidic vinaigrette. 
    A crusty loaf of bread is a nice addition to any pasta dish.
    What kind of pasta can I use with pumpkin pasta sauce?
    I recommend a wide noodle to hold this thick creamy sauce. Fettuccini, linguine, and even tagliatelle, pick up the thick sauce nicely. If you prefer a tube shaped pasta, go with a cavatappi or rigatoni. 
    Why do you use reserved pasta water?
    Pasta water contains the starch from the cooked pasta which will help the sauce cling to your noodles. It should also be a bit salty and add some flavor as well.
    Storage and Reheating
    Both the breadcrumb topping and  pumpkin pasta sauce can be made ahead of time and kept in air tight containers in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
    The pumpkin sauce will be thick if you make it ahead of time because you won’t have added the reserved pasta water. 
    Reheat the sauce by adding it directly to the hot, drained noodles along with some reserved pasta water.

    Substitutions

    If you don't have heavy cream on hand. Add ¼ of a cup of cream cheese. Reserve an extra cup of pasta water when you make this substitution in case you need to thin the sauce down more.
    You can make this dish vegan by subbing out for non-dairy butter and using unsweetened Almond milk in place of heavy cream. The texture is a bit thinner, but almond milk is a better substitute than coconut milk because of it's neutral flavor.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 474kcal | Carbohydrates: 46g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 27g | Saturated Fat: 11g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 38mg | Sodium: 308mg | Potassium: 336mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 13184IU | Vitamin C: 5mg | Calcium: 194mg | Iron: 4mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @DianDeliciousB or tag #DeliciousByDesign!

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    Comments

      5 from 7 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




    1. Anjali says

      October 17, 2022 at 11:59 pm

      5 stars
      This is such a delicious fall pasta recipe!! Made it for dinner tonight and it was super easy and family friendly too!

      Reply
    2. Ryan Allen says

      October 18, 2022 at 12:41 am

      5 stars
      The pumpkin noodles were such a hit for dinner last night. The breadcrumb topping was top notch. Thanks for sharing.

      Reply
    3. Beth says

      October 18, 2022 at 1:16 am

      5 stars
      I love that this recipe is easy and elegant - perfect for a casual dinner or to impress last-minute company! All in 30 minutes - perfect!

      Reply
    4. Glenda says

      October 18, 2022 at 1:46 am

      5 stars
      This is so crazy good! The sauce, even the crumb topping. I want this every day. lol Best Autumn dish I've had in a long time!

      Reply
    5. Michelle says

      October 20, 2022 at 12:54 pm

      5 stars
      Pumpkin and sage together is one of my favorite fall flavors. And the breadcrumb topping is divine

      Reply
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    I’m passionate about the family dinner table. Connecting with each other at the end of the day over a good meal creates strong family bonds and healthy long-lasting relationships. I want to help families and friends build those relationships.

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