Creamy Rigatoni Butternut Sausage (Printable)

Rich rigatoni blended with butternut squash, spicy sausage, Swiss chard, and a velvety Parmesan sauce.

# What You'll Need:

→ Vegetables & Sausage

01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 3 cups peeled and diced butternut squash
03 - 1 small red onion, diced
04 - 12 ounces spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 bunch Swiss chard, stems removed and chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

→ Pasta & Sauce

09 - 8 ounces rigatoni
10 - 1/4 cup crème fraîche
11 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving

# Directions:

01 - Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add diced butternut squash and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and beginning to tenderize, about 6 to 7 minutes.
02 - Add diced red onion to the pan and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Add spicy Italian sausage, breaking into small pieces, and cook until browned, approximately 3 minutes.
03 - Stir in minced garlic, chopped Swiss chard, and red chili flakes. Cook until Swiss chard is wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Keep mixture warm over low heat.
04 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook until al dente, about 8 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water, then drain.
05 - Add drained rigatoni to the sausage and vegetable mixture. Pour in reserved pasta water, crème fraîche, and grated Parmesan. Stir well to coat pasta in sauce and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Tender butternut squash adds natural sweetness
  • Spicy Italian sausage provides a flavorful kick
02 -
  • Do not overcook the butternut squash it should be just tender before combining
  • Reserve extra pasta water to loosen the sauce if desired
03 -
  • Use high quality Parmesan for best flavor
  • Don’t skip reserving pasta water it helps create a silky sauce
Return