Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Recipe

Taylor Kiser | Food. Faith. Fitness.

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce is a nice change from the traditional! You'll love the sweet, savory flavors that come out of this sauce.

It’s pumpkin season!

Which means you’re already ready for low carb sugar free pumpkin pie right? I know Thanksgiving is still PRETTY far away but is it wrong to be dreaming of pumpkin pie in September?

I hope not.

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Photo

BUT, have you pushed yourself OUTSIDE of the pumpkin-is-for-sweet recipes box and tried savory pumpkin recipe? A slow cooker pumpkin stew with some whole wheat pumpkin dinner rolls would make a DELISH fall dinner.

Or, if you’re more of a carb queen (like yours truly!) you are going to fall head over taste buds in LOVE with this pumpkin pasta sauce recipe! ßCan pretty much taste the cozy fall feels THROUGH THE SCREEN!

Pumpkin is Healthy!

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Picture

Aside from being ultra-delicious and extremely versatile, pumpkin is an amazingly nourishing food that tastes good and is good for you!

  1. It’s considered a superfood which means it’s nutrient-dense and packs a wallop of antioxidants!
  2. Just 1/3 cup of pumpkin puree has 23-29% of your daily Vitamin A requirements which is important for your brain to function!
  3. It has the phytochemicals lutein and zeaxanthin that promote eye health. <– Clearly, I need to eat more, considering I’m legally blind.
  4. It improves joint health and inflammation.
  5. It can lower the risk of some cancers like lung and prostate.

Andddddd, now you and I are going to eat this healthy pumpkin pasta sauce on ALL the things am I right?

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Image

How to Make Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

Making this sauce could not be any easier and it will INSTANTLY make your meal feel like a 5-star restaurant kind of situation. I might even go as far as saying MARTHA STEWART, WATCH OUT.

Sautee

Sautee your onion and garlic in good quality olive oil until lightly golden brown. Stir them frequently so they don’t burn! They’re a key player in the flavor!

Mix

Mix in your almond milk, pumpkin puree, cream cheese, pumpkin pie spice and salt and bring to a bubbling boil!

Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Pic

Simmer

Once it’s boiling, reduce the heat and simmer until the sauce is thick and creamy.

Noodle it up

Add your cooked pasta into the sauce, garnish with sage and you are ready to EAT!

Pasta Options

Your pasta pairing opportunities are virtually endless when creamy pumpkin pasta sauce is on the menu.  You can use gluten free, whole wheat or “regular” pasta. I personally love chickpea pasta because of the chewy texture and extra protein, so that’s my go to!

File 1 - Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

Healthy Swaps

When it comes to making this pasta sauce there are 3 main ingredients that give it the silk-smooth creamy texture that the pasta-loving-person that I know you are needs to remember:

Milk – To make this a vegan pumpkin pasta sauce, and one that Mr. FFF can eat, I used unsweetened almond milk in here. You could PROBABLY use any unsweetened unflavored nut milk OR 2% dairy milk. Whatever works for you!

Cream cheese – Again, to make this dairy-free, we ate this sauce made with vegan cream cheese. You can use any kind, but make sure it has fat! Remember, fat=flavor and creaminess!

Pumpkin – DUH. Pumpkin is our VIP in the flavor department, but also adds smooth texture. Make sure you buy canned pumpkin puree not canned pumpkin pie filling! VERY DIFFERENT.

File 2 - Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

Meal Prep

This pumpkin pasta makes amazing meal prep! I’ve done it regularly for Mr. FFF and it holds up well in the refrigerator for a week.

Simply boil your pasta, toss it into your sauce and divide between your meal prep containers. If you’re not vegan and you have some extra cooked chicken breast laying around, it makes an awesome addition for a well-rounded meal!

The creamiest pumpkin pasta sauce is ready to hug your face with cozy fall flavors.

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Creamy Pumpkin Pasta Sauce Recipe

    4 Servings

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
  • 1/2 cup Onion, diced
  • 1 tablespoon Minced Fresh Garlic
  • 1 cup Unsweetened Almond Milk
  • 3/4 cup Canned Pumpkin
  • 1/2 cup Cream Cheese, at room temperature (regular or dairy free works)
  • 3/4 teaspoon Pumpkin Pie Spice
  • 1/2 teaspoon Salt
  • 8 ounces Short Cut Pasta, cooked to package directions (I like chickpea pasta)
  • Fresh Sage, sliced (for garnish)

Directions

  1. Heat the olive oil up in a large, high-sided pan on medium heat.
  2. Sautee the onion and garlic until lightly golden brown, about 2-3 minutes.            
  3. Add in all the remaining ingredients, except the sage and pasta, and whisk together. Bring to a boil.
  4. Once boiling, reduce the heat to medium low and simmer, stirring frequently, until the sauce begins to thicken and reduce. NOTE: if it gets too thick, thin it out with some pasta water!
  5. Toss in your cooked pasta and stir until coated.
  6. Divide between bowls, garnish with sage and DEVOUR!

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Published:
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Cooking Method:
Simmered
Category:
Healthy Eating
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Related Recipes:
Healthy Eating Recipes, Stealthy Healthy Recipes, Healthy Comfort Food Recipes, Pasta Recipes, Pumpkin Recipes, Sauce Recipes, Simmered Recipes
Recipe Yields:
4 servings
Prep Time:
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Total Time:
Related Post:
Published:
Author: Taylor Kiser
Recipe Yields: 4 servings
Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 10 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes

Nutrition Facts

Servings Per Recipe 4

Amount Per Serving
Calories from Fat 110
Calories 419

% Daily Value*
21%
Total Fat 14g
33%
  Saturated Fat 7g
33%
Sodium 791mg
18%
Total Carbohydrate 55g
5%
  Dietary Fiber 4g
  Sugars 2g
23%
Protein 11g

* Percent Daily Value are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
** Nutrition Facts are estimated based on ingredients and data provided by Fat Secret. Please consult a doctor if you have special dietary needs.
Taylor Kiser

About Taylor

Taylor keeps food, faith and fitness close to the heart on her blog of the same name. We're excited to have her as a Healthy Eating fanatic.

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