Pumpkin Rigatoni with Sausage and Spinach

Serves: 8

Perfect comfort food for fall! Italian sausage and rigatoni mixed with a creamy pumpkin sauce is perfect for a fall evening.

Ingredients

• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• ½ cup yellow onion, diced
• 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, cut into 1” pieces
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp. kosher salt
• ½ tsp. ground black pepper
• ½ tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1¼ cup chicken stock
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 1 cup canned pumpkin
• 1⁄3 cup heavy cream
• 1 pound rigatoni pasta
• 6 oz. fresh spinach
• ½ cup fresh grated Parmesan cheese, plus more to garnish

Directions

1. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add in the onions and cook for 5 minutes, until starting to soften. Add in the Italian sausage and cook until no pink remains. Add in the garlic and cook for 1 minute.
2. Season the mixture with salt, pepper, and nutmeg.
3. Add in the wine and let it reduce down by half or until you can’t smell the wine any longer. Add in the chicken stock, pumpkin, and cream and bring mixture to a simmer. Reduce the heat and cook for 10 minutes on medium-low heat, stirring frequently.
4. While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according to the package directions just 1 minute shy of al dente. Drain pasta reserving 1 cup of the pasta water.
5. Stir the spinach into the sauce and cook for 2 minutes, until wilted. Add in ½ cup grated parmesan and stir to combine.
6. Add the drained pasta to the sauce and stir to coat. Taste for seasoning and adjust if needed. If the sauce is too thick, stir in a little pasta water.