Creamy Rigatoni Butternut Squash (Printable Version)

Tender squash and spicy sausage combine with Swiss chard in a creamy pasta with Parmesan.

# 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

# Step-by-Step Guide:

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 soften, approximately 6 to 7 minutes.
02 - Add diced red onion and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Incorporate spicy Italian sausage, breaking it into small pieces, and cook until browned, about 3 minutes.
03 - Stir in minced garlic, chopped Swiss chard, and red chili flakes. Cook until Swiss chard wilts, roughly 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, approximately 8 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
05 - Add drained rigatoni to sausage and vegetable mixture. Pour in reserved pasta water, crème fraîche, and grated Parmesan. Stir well to coat pasta with sauce, cooking an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Plate immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese.

# Additional Tips::

01 -
  • Comforting blend of savory, creamy, and spicy flavors
  • Quick and easy to prepare in 30 minutes
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 freshly grated Parmesan for the best flavor
  • Adjust the red chili flakes to control the spiciness level
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