The Perfect Pasta Bake with Pumpkin Tomato Sauce Recipe

Creamy pumpkin tomato sauce elevates ordinary pasta into a comforting culinary adventure.

Seasonal ingredients dance together, creating a vibrant and warming dish perfect for chilly evenings.

Rich, velvety textures blend harmoniously, promising a delightful dining experience that satisfies deep hunger.

Mediterranean-inspired flavors weave through each hearty bite, delivering unexpected depth and complexity.

Robust spices add nuanced layers of warmth, elevating this simple yet sophisticated meal beyond traditional pasta preparations.

Nutritious and indulgent, this recipe balances wholesome ingredients with luxurious, mouthwatering appeal.

Unexpected combinations make this pasta bake an irresistible feast for adventurous home cooks.

Pro Tips for Baking Pumpkin Tomato Pasta

• Toast Walnuts Precisely: Watch carefully while toasting walnuts to prevent burning, removing them from heat when they turn golden and release a nutty aroma.
• Cook Pasta Strategically: Undercook pasta by 2 minutes before baking to prevent mushy texture, ensuring it finishes cooking perfectly in the sauce.
• Caramelize Tomato Paste Carefully: Allow tomato paste to darken and develop deep flavor by stirring constantly and cooking until it turns a rich, deep color.
• Choose Quality Cheese: Use freshly grated Parmesan and fontina for maximum melting and flavor, avoiding pre-shredded varieties that can block smooth melting.
• Create Crispy Topping: Ensure walnut-sage mixture is evenly distributed on top for a crunchy, flavorful final layer that adds textural contrast to the creamy pasta.

Store and Reheat Instructions for Pumpkin Pasta Bake

• Refrigerate: Transfer cooled pasta bake to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days.
• Freeze: Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and aluminum foil, then freeze for 2-3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
• Reheat: Warm individual portions in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Alternatively, bake in a preheated 350°F oven for 15-20 minutes, covering with foil to prevent drying out.

What to Serve with Your Pumpkin Tomato Sauce Pasta Bake

• Pair with Rustic Red Wine: Choose a medium-bodied Italian red like Chianti or Sangiovese to complement the rich, earthy flavors of pumpkin and mushrooms. The wine's acidity cuts through the creamy cheese and balances the nutty walnut topping.
• Match with Herbal Green Salad: Create a light arugula salad dressed with lemon vinaigrette to provide a fresh, peppery contrast to the warm, hearty pasta bake. The bright greens will cleanse the palate between bites of the rich dish.
• Serve alongside Crispy Garlic Bread: Prepare a crusty baguette toasted with garlic and olive oil to soak up the delicious sauce. The crunchy texture and garlicky flavor will enhance the overall dining experience and add an extra layer of comfort.
• Complement with Spiced Apple Cider: Offer a warm, slightly sweet beverage that echoes the autumn notes of pumpkin and sage. The subtle spices will harmonize with the dish's complex flavor profile and provide a cozy drinking option.

Fun Variations on the Classic Pumpkin Pasta Bake

• Spicy Chorizo Fusion: Replace mushrooms with spicy chorizo sausage, adding a rich meaty flavor and extra kick to the pasta bake. Swap spinach for kale and include smoked paprika for deeper complexity.
• Mediterranean Vegetable Blend: Incorporate roasted eggplant, zucchini, and bell peppers instead of mushrooms. Use feta cheese in place of fontina for a tangy Mediterranean profile and sprinkle with fresh oregano.
• Seafood Mediterranean Version: Add cooked shrimp or crab meat to the sauce before baking. Include lemon zest and replace some of the vegetable broth with white wine for a fresh, oceanic twist. Garnish with fresh parsley.
• Gluten-Free Protein Boost: Use gluten-free pasta and substitute almond flour for additional crunch in the walnut topping. Include quinoa or lentils for extra protein and swap regular cheese with dairy-free alternatives for a plant-based option.

Reasons to Love Pasta Bake with Pumpkin Tomato Sauce

• Savor Seasonal Comfort: Dive into a cozy autumn-inspired pasta bake that transforms simple ingredients into a heartwarming meal packed with rich, earthy flavors.
• Master Texture Symphony: Experience a delightful contrast between creamy pumpkin sauce, crispy toasted walnuts, and perfectly al dente pasta that creates an exciting mouthfeel in every single bite.
• Craft Gourmet Simplicity: Enjoy a restaurant-quality dish that looks impressive but requires minimal cooking skills, making it perfect for home cooks wanting to elevate their weeknight dinner game without complicated techniques.
• Celebrate Versatile Nutrition: Fuel your body with a balanced meal featuring protein-rich walnuts, nutrient-dense spinach, and vitamin-packed pumpkin that delivers incredible taste and health benefits in one delicious casserole.

What You Need for Pumpkin Tomato Pasta Bake

• Pasta: Classic pasta shape that holds sauce well, choose short shapes like penne or rigatoni for best results.
• Olive Oil: Provides smooth base for sautéing vegetables and adding rich flavor.

• Mushrooms, Onion: Earthy base vegetables that add depth and umami to the sauce.
• Spinach: Fresh green element that adds nutrition and color to the dish.
• Garlic: Aromatic that creates foundational flavor profile.
• Tomato Paste: Concentrated tomato flavor that helps thicken and enrich sauce.
• Red Pepper Flakes: Provides subtle heat and complexity.

• Sage, Oregano: Warm, aromatic herbs that complement the pumpkin and cheese.
• Walnuts: Crunchy topping that adds texture and nutty flavor.
• Parmesan, Fontina Cheese: Creamy, melting cheeses that create rich, smooth sauce.
• Pumpkin Purée: Adds autumnal flavor and creamy texture to the sauce.
• Vegetable Broth: Liquid base that helps create smooth, integrated sauce.
• Butter: Adds richness and helps toast walnuts.
• Salt, Pepper, Nutmeg: Essential seasoning that balances and enhances overall flavor.

How to Make Pasta Bake with Pumpkin Tomato Sauce Step-by-Step

Step 1: Prepare Oven and Pasta

Warm up the oven to 375°F. Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a boil. Cook pasta until slightly firm, about 2 minutes before fully done. Drain and set aside.

Step 2: Create Crunchy Walnut Topping

• Walnuts
• Chopped sage

Cook for 5 minutes until walnuts turn golden and smell fragrant. Sprinkle with salt. Transfer to a separate bowl.

Step 3: Build Flavor Base

• Mushrooms
• Onions

Cook until soft, about 8 minutes. Stir in tomato paste, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Cook 3-4 minutes until tomato paste darkens. Mix in spinach until wilted. Season with oregano, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and remaining sage.

Step 4: Create Creamy Sauce

• Pumpkin purée
• Parmesan cheese
• Fontina cheese

Stir until cheese melts and sauce becomes smooth. Add cooked pasta and coat thoroughly.

Step 5: Bake and Finish

Transfer pasta mixture to a greased 13×9 inch baking dish. Sprinkle remaining fontina cheese on top. Scatter walnut-sage mixture over cheese. Cover with foil and bake 15 minutes. Remove foil and bake additional 10 minutes until cheese turns golden and bubbly.

Serve hot and enjoy your delicious pasta creation!

Pasta Bake with Pumpkin Tomato Sauce Recipe

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4.7 from 38 reviews

• Total Time: 50 minutes
• Yield: 6 1x

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Description

Comforting Italian pumpkin pasta bake brings hearty autumn flavors to your dinner table. Rich roasted pumpkin and tangy tomato sauce meld beautifully with perfectly baked pasta, creating a soul-warming meal you’ll crave all season long.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 lb (454 g) dry pasta (mezzi rigatoni, shells, ziti, fusilli, or farfalle)
• 1 (15-ounce/425 g) can pumpkin purée
• 3 cups vegetable broth
• 8 oz (226 g) cremini (baby bella) mushrooms, sliced
• 3–4 handfuls fresh baby spinach

Dairy and Cheese Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons butter
• ½ cup (50 g) grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 ½ cups (170 g) grated fontina cheese, divided

Herbs, Spices, and Flavor Enhancers:

• 1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons finely chopped fresh sage, divided
• ½ cup (50 g) finely chopped walnuts
• 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
• 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• ¼ cup tomato paste
• ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg

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Instructions

1. Ignite the oven to a toasty 375°F, preparing a welcoming environment for the upcoming culinary creation.
2. Submerge pasta into a generously salted boiling water bath, allowing it to dance until just shy of complete tenderness. Carefully extract and set aside.
3. In a spacious skillet, gently transform butter into a silky medium, introducing walnuts and a whisper of sage. Toast until the nuts release their aromatic essence and achieve a golden complexion. Sprinkle with a delicate salt pinch, then transfer to a separate vessel.
4. Reawaken the skillet with a drizzle of olive oil, welcoming mushrooms and onions to caramelize and soften. Introduce tomato paste, garlic, and red pepper flakes, coaxing them to develop a rich, deep character.
5. Fold in spinach, allowing it to surrender and wilt gracefully. Harmonize the mixture with oregano, salt, pepper, nutmeg, and remaining sage, creating a symphony of flavors.
6. Cascade vegetable broth into the skillet, liberating any treasured browned bits clinging to the pan’s surface. Incorporate pumpkin purée, Parmesan, and fontina, stirring until a velvety sauce emerges.
7. Reunite the pasta with the luxurious sauce, ensuring each noodle is lavishly coated in the vibrant mixture.
8. Transfer the ensemble to a prepared baking dish, draping it with remaining fontina and crowning with the toasted walnut-sage mixture.
9. Envelop in foil and nestle into the heated oven for a gentle 15-minute transformation. Uncover and continue baking until the cheese bubbles with golden ambition, approximately 10 more minutes.

Notes

• Customize the heat by adjusting red pepper flakes for a mild or spicy kick.
• Toast walnuts carefully to enhance their nutty flavor without burning.
• Select ripe, fresh pumpkin purée for the most authentic and rich sauce texture.
• Undercook pasta slightly before baking to prevent mushy final texture.
• Create a crispy golden top by removing foil during the last baking stage.
• Use high-quality fontina and Parmesan for deeper, more complex cheese flavor.

• Prep Time: 25 minutes
• Cook Time: 25 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Baking
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 6
• Calories: 540
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 800 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 8 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 68 g
• Fiber: 6 g
• Protein: 20 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg