This butternut squash pasta is simple, cozy, and comes together with just 5 ingredients. The squash cooks on the stovetop, then gets added directly to the pasta making this a perfect one-pot and approachable weeknight dinner.
It's quick to make, easy to clean up, and holds up well for meal prep. A no-stress pasta dish you'll NEED to keep in your rotation.
This pasta is really a hard one to stop at seconds. Like my one pot garlic parmesan pasta, this one is packed with yummy parmesan cheese, and also comes with tender chunks of butternut squash, and a sage-butter sauce. Flavor bomb times 100.
TL; DR Recipe Summary
- 👩🏼🍳Cook Level: Beginner/Easy
- ⏱️ Cook Time: 20-25 minutes.
- 😋 Taste: nutty, creamy, buttery, smooth, tangy.
- 🍽️ Best Served With: This would go perfectly with juicy and pan fried chicken cutlets or flaky sheet pan salmon. Adding some Italian turkey meatballs into it isn't a bad move either.
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Tips and Key Reminders
- Be sure to cook the pasta al dente so that it does not fall apart when tossed in the butter and with the butternut squash. Overcooked pasta can get very mush and tasteless. You want a little resistance when you chew it.
- Remember to let the butternut squash simmer and steam a little on the stove, so be sure to have moments where you cover the frying pan to give the slight browning at the bottom; it will also help the cooking along a little bit.
- Use enough butter to give the pasta a little extra sauce at the bottom of the pan. In one of my first go-rounds, I did not use enough butter and the pasta tasted dry. Use the recommended amount, trust me. You want the butter flavor!
The Main Ingredients
- Butternut Squash - It's slightly sweet, a little nutty, and when roasted or cooked down until fork tender, it's amazing with pasta.
- Farfalle Pasta - To be honest I just love the look of bow tie pasta with sage and butternut squash. It just fits, but obv please use whatever pasta you want here, but preferably with grooves.
- Sage - Fresh sage is magical in pasta recipes like this. It gives an earthy flavor and aroma, and lifts the flavors from the squash too.
- Parmesan - The parmesan cheese really adds and elevates a ton of flavor with that cheesy, creamy, nuttiness.
Be sure to check out the recipe card at the end of this post for more information about quantities, measurements, and specific cooking instructions.
How to make butternut squash pasta
Step 1: Preheat a large frying pan to medium heat. Pour in the olive oil and toss the butternut squash in. Let sauté on a medium to medium high heat for 18-20 minutes or until softened. Remove the butternut squash and set aside.
Step 2: In the same pan that the butternut squash was cooked, melt 12 tablespoon of butter and toss in some sage leaves. Melt the butter, then add in the pasta, pasta water, and butternut squash.
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the farfalle to al dente. Once the pasta is done cooking, strain and set aside, leaving ¼ cup pasta water.
Step 3: Bring the heat to a low simmer and toss to combine. Sprinkle in the parmesan cheese, and stir until fully incorporated and it becomes thick. Plate with fresh sage and a crack of fresh black pepper.
Step 4: Bring the heat to a low simmer and toss to combine. Sprinkle in the parmesan cheese, and stir until fully incorporated and it becomes thick. Plate with fresh sage and a crack of fresh black pepper.
Simple Swaps and Substitutions
- Truly you could swap out the pasta for just about any pasta type and shape you want. My only suggestion is that I would stick to pasta shapes that have grooves or little cups in it to catch the sauce and oil from the sautéed squash.
- If you want to use yellow squash and zucchini those vegetables work really well in this dish also.
- Ditch the sage and throw in thyme or rosemary if you'd prefer those herbs instead.
Butternut Squash Pasta FAQs
Add to an airtight container and store in the fridge for up to 4 days.
Be sure to salt the pasta water before boiling and cooking the pasta, that will for sure add flavor to the pasta. Other than that, you can add a drizzle of olive oil, a dollop of pesto, some crumbled sausage, or even fresh burrata.
Yes, gluten free pasta works just as well as the regular pasta. Be sure to read the directions and follow along with the recommended cook time, or even a minute less to prevent it from breaking apart.
You've got to try these other delicious pastas:
Butternut Squash Pasta Recipe
Equipment
- large pot
- medium frying pan
Ingredients
- 16 oz Farfalle Pasta bow tie pasta
- 2 cups Butternut Squash cubed
- 3 tablespoon Olive Oil
- 12 tablespoon Butter
- ¼ cup Pasta Water
- ⅓ cup Parmesan Cheese
- 1 oz Fresh Sage
Instructions
- Preheat a large frying pan to medium heat. Pour in the olive oil and toss the butternut squash in. Let sauté on a medium to medium high heat for 18-20 minutes or until softened. Sprinkle with garlic powder. Remove the butternut squash and set aside.
- Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to boil and cook the farfalle to al dente. Once the pasta is done cooking, strain and set aside, leaving ¼ cup pasta water.
- In the same pan that the butternut squash was cooked, melt 12 tablespoon of butter and toss in some sage leaves. Melt the butter, then add in the pasta, pasta water, and butternut squash.
- Bring the heat to a low simmer and toss to combine. Sprinkle in the parmesan cheese, and stir until fully incorporated and it becomes thick. Plate with fresh sage and a crack of fresh black pepper.
Rachel says
Finally a recipe worthy of butternut squash. This has great flavor that screams fall. My kids devoured it too!