Creamy One-Pot Pasta
This creamy, cheesy pasta sauce is a great foil for the pound of butternut squash hidden within. The best part? Both the pasta and the sauce are made in one pot—no separate pot of boiling water needed.
Ingredients
- 3 tbsp.extra-virgin olive oil
- 12 oz.italian sausage (about 3 links), casings removed
- 1 tbsp.all-purpose flour
- 2 cupsmilk
- 1 cupheavy cream
- 1 ½ cupsfinely grated parmesan, divided
- ½ largebutternut squash (about 1 lb.), peeled, seeded, chopped into ½pieces
- ½ lb.fusilli
- 1garlic clove, finely grated
- 1 sprigsage
- 2 ½ tsp.diamond crystal or 1½ tsp. morton kosher salt
- ¼ tsp.freshly grated nutmeg
- freshly ground black pepper
Directions
- 1
Heat oil in a medium heavy pot over medium-high. Cook sausage, breaking up into about 1" pieces with a wooden spoon, until well browned, 5–7 minutes. Add flour and cook, stirring constantly, until evenly distributed, about 1 minute.
- 2
Combine milk, cream, and 2 cups water in a large bowl or glass measuring cup. Stirring sausage mixture constantly, slowly stream in milk mixture; bring to a simmer. Add 1¼ cups Parmesan and cook, stirring constantly, until cheese is melted. Add squash, pasta, garlic, sage, salt, and nutmeg and toss to combine, making sure pasta is covered with liquid. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and bring to a bare simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, until pasta is cooked through, squash is beginning to break down, and sauce is reduced and glossy, about 20 minutes.
- 3
Pluck out and discard sage. Transfer pasta to a platter. Top with remaining ¼ cup Parmesan and a few cranks of pepper. Editor’s note: Head this way for more of our best sausage recipes →