This oven-baked pasta is the epitome of cold weather comfort food. It is so creamy and with flavors of pumpkin, sage, Italian sausage, Parmesan cheese, and cracked black pepper you will fall in love.
So let’s dig into this pan of hot, bubbly, cheesy pasta! You with me?

I had such a hard time naming this recipe! I wanted to keep it simple but it has so many delicious fall flavors that I wanted to include them ALL. It started as a simple pumpkin pasta bake but then I added fresh sage and spicy Italian sausage. And then cheese! Every pasta needs cheese and parmesan was the clear choice because of it’s nuttiness.
It still felt like it needed something so I added a healthy dose of cracked black pepper which gives it a peppery bite. Now you can see my predicament. By the end of it this pasta bake was now a Pumpkin, Sage, Sausage, Parmesan, and Black Pepper Pasta Bake. A little too long winded. But don’t underestimate the amount of flavor that is in this recipe.
For another delicious pasta bake, try this Chicken Bacon Ranch Casserole!

Pumpkin Pasta Bake Ingredients
- Penne Pasta- You can also use other pasta shapes (just don’t use long types like spaghetti and Fettuccini)
- Italian Sausage- I used chicken sausage but any variety works.
- Diced Onion and Minced Garlic
- Chicken Broth- You can also use vegetable broth and even low sodium varieties.
- Pumpkin Puree- Make sure you don’t accidentally buy pumpkin pie filling, we want unsalted pumpkin puree.
- Italian Seasoning
- Fresh Sage- Fresh is the best, I don’t recommend subbing this out for dried sage.
- Cracked Black Pepper and Salt
- Cream Cheese- Full fat works the best. I noticed reduced fat had a tendency to separate the sauce.
- Heavy Whipping Cream
- Parmesan Cheese

How to Make Pumpkin Pasta Bake with Sage and Sausage
This pasta bake does require a few steps before you can throw this in the oven, but don’t worry they are easy.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook your pasta for 8 minutes. We want it slightly underdone because it will continue to bake in the oven.
- Brown your sausage and then sauté your onions and garlic in the reserved grease.
- Add the cooked sausage, broth, pumpkin, Italian seasoning, sage, pepper and salt. Simmer and reduce.
- Whisk in the cream cheese, cream, and part of the Parmesan cheese until thickened.
- Add your partially cooked noodles to the sauce. Pour into your baking pan, top with the parmesan cheese, and pop it in the oven.
By the time the dishes are washed and the table is set, your pasta will be ready to eat!




A Special Topping: How to Make Fried Sage
Sage can be very pungent if you eat it raw. I recommend shallow frying it in a pan. This adds for a crunchy delicious topping!
All you need to do is heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat until hot. Drop a few sage leaves in at a time until they crisp up (about 5-6 seconds). Transfer to a paper towel covered dish. Crumble on top of your pasta when you are ready to serve.

Can You Freeze This Pumpkin Pasta Bake?
YES! This extends it’s shelf life exponentially and means you can enjoy it on busy days, lazy days, or take it to your neighbor. It will keep for up to 3 months if prepared and stored properly:
- Fully assemble (but do not bake) your pasta bake in an aluminum baking pan. Cover it with aluminum foil and then plastic wrap to keep the air from getting in. Freeze.
- When you are ready to eat it, thaw in the refrigerator overnight (do not thaw it out at room temperature).
- Bake the pasta dish as specified in the recipe card below.
TIP: Write in permanent marker the name of the dish, date it was made, and cooking instructions. There is nothing worse than a freezer full of unknown food.

More Pumpkin Recipes
Craving More Fall Inspired Recipes?
- Chicken Alfredo Soup
- Apple Butter BBQ Pork Sliders
- Pecan Upside Down Cake
- Caramel Apple Pie Dip
- Pecan Pie Dip
- Apple Crumble Tart
- Butterscotch Chocolate Chip Cookies
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Pumpkin Pasta Bake with Sage and Sausage
Equipment
- 9×13 Baking Dish
Ingredients
- 16 ounces Penne pasta; partially cooked
- 1 pound Italian sausage; I used chicken sausage
- 1 medium onion; diced
- 1 tablespoon garlic; minced
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth
- 12 ounces pumpkin puree
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 1 tablespoon sage
- 1 teaspoon black pepper; freshly cracked
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ block cream cheese
- ¾ cup heavy whipping cream
- 1 ½ cups parmesan cheese
- 8 fried sage leaves; for topping *see notes*
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 375 °F and center the oven rack. Lightly spray a 9×13 baking dish with nonstick cooking spray.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook your noodles for 8 minutes. Strain and do not rinse once done.
- In a large saucepan brown the Italian sausage until crumbly, about 5 to 10 minutes. Drain and set it aside. Reserve 1 tablespoon of the grease.
- In the same saucepan with the 1 tablespoon of grease sauté your onion for 5 minutes. Add the garlic and allow it to sauté until fragrant, about one minute.
- Add the Italian sausage, chicken broth, pumpkin puree, Italian seasoning, sage, pepper, and salt. Bring the mixture to a boil and simmer on low. Allow the mixture to reduce for about 8 minutes
- Whisk in the cream cheese, heavy whipping cream, and a ½ cup of the parmesan cheese. Continue to whisk until it becomes creamy and slightly thickened.
- Add your slightly cooked Penne pasta to creamy mixture. Stir until all the Penne is evenly coated.
- Transfer to the baking dish and top with the remaining parmesan cheese.
- Cover with aluminum foil and bake for 25 minutes then uncovered for an additional 10 minutes.
- Top with fried sage leaves *see notes* and serve.
Video
Notes
- Covered and in the refrigerator for up to 7 days.
- Freeze fully assembled for up to three months.
- Heat 1/4 cup of olive oil in a small skillet over medium-high heat until hot.
- Drop a few sage leaves in at a time until they crisp up (about 5-6 seconds).
- Transfer to a paper towel covered dish.
- Crumble on top of your pasta when you are ready to serve.
Metric conversions are calculated automatically. I cannot guarantee the accuracy of this information.
If you make my Pumpkin Pasta Bake with Sage and Sausage, don’t forget to leave this recipe a rating, comment, or like. Tag me on social media using the hashtag #EntirelyElizabeth when sharing your own personal photos making this recipe. I would love to see your version and know your thoughts!
Pumpkin and pasta combined?! Uhm yes please! This is the perfect fall pasta dish, I love it!
Seriously an epic combination! Enjoy!
~Elizabeth
Always looking for tasty new pasta recipes, this looks super yummy! Can’t go wrong with pumpkin and sage, yum!
Hope you enjoy it!
~Elizabeth
Talk about comfy cozy! These flavors are amazing!
Thank you!
~Elizabeth
We made this recipe last night. It was so creamy and good. Definitely a recipe to keep.
Love to hear that! Enjoy!
~Elizabeth
This is the perfect dish to make to celebrate the flavors of fall!
Thanks so much! Hope you enjoyed it.
~Elizabeth
Looks absolutely delicious! I agree with what you said about making sure that the pumpkin purée is not a pumpkin pie filling, or else that will ruin this amazing recipe!
I can’t wait to taste it ?
Hope you enjoy it!
~Elizabeth
I’ve been looking for a pumpkin pasta recipe and I’m so glad I found this one. It has all of the flavors I want in a fall dish. Thanks for sharing this one!
You’re welcome! Enjoy!
~Elizabeth
Ive never tried pumpkin in a pasta, and looking forward making this recipe! It looks so good.
Awesome! Enjoy,
~Elizabeth
Yum! Gave me all the Thanksgiving feels!?
Awesome! So glad!
~Elizabeth
This is such a delicious and flavourful dish… love the recipe
So glad to hear! Thank you for sharing.
~Elizabeth
Love the combination of flavors! Sage is one of my favorite herbs and is perfect with pumpkin!
Agreed! Sage is so wonderful.
So glad you enjoyed it!
~Elizabeth
10 out of 10 flavor combination.
Awesome! So glad you like it! YAY!
~Elizabeth
Such a comforting fall dinner! I love the use of pumpkin and the sausage added the perfect combination of flavors.
So glad you think so! Thank you for taking the time to rate and share your thoughts with me.
~Elizabeth
This pasta bake is my new favorite dinner for the family! It’s so easy to make and soo delicious! I love the use of sage in this. The flavor combination with the pumpkin was on point!
YAY! So glad you think so! Thank you for sharing your thoughts!
~Elizabeth
I can’t get enough of this pasta bake! I love the flavors of sage and sausage together and how earthy of a flavor it was! I could eat this every day!
Yay! So glad to hear that! Thank you!
~Elizabeth
I made the pasta bake tonight it was amazing the flavors were great!! I use turkey sausage couldn’t find chicken sausage. I will be making it again!
So glad you enjoyed it! Turkey sausage sounds great!
~Elizabeth