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Pumpkin cottage cheese pasta in a white serving bowl.

Pumpkin Cottage Cheese Pasta

Creamy, cozy, and packed with fall flavor, this pumpkin cottage cheese pasta is a quick and easy dinner made with canned pumpkin, blended cottage cheese, and warm spices. It's the perfect savory pumpkin recipe for weeknights or casual fall gatherings.
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Prep Time: 5 minutes
Cook Time: 15 minutes
Total Time: 20 minutes
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: American
Servings: 4
Author: Shilpa

Equipment

Ingredients

For the pasta:

  • 8 oz fettuccine or linguine
  • Salt for pasta water
  • Fresh sage leaves for garnish
  • Parmesan cheese for garnish

For the sauce:

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • 1 cup canned pumpkin purée not pumpkin pie filling
  • 1 cup full-fat cottage cheese
  • 2 tablespoons Parnesan cheese grated
  • ½ cup reserved pasta water plus more as needed
  • ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  • Cook pasta in a large pot of salted boiling water until al dente. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta water.
  • While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
  • In a blender, combine pumpkin purée, cottage cheese, Parmesan, nutmeg, and a splash of reserved pasta water. Blend until smooth.
  • Pour the sauce into the skillet and warm over low heat. Stir in more pasta water as needed to reach a creamy consistency.
  • Toss the cooked pasta with the sauce. Season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve immediately, garnished with fresh sage and Parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • Use full-fat cottage cheese for the creamiest texture and best flavor. Low-fat may result in a thinner, less rich sauce.
  • Don’t skip the grated Parmesan. Even just 2 tablespoons stirred into the sauce or sprinkled on top adds a savory, salty depth that balances the pumpkin.
  • A pinch of crushed red pepper flakes adds a gentle kick and keeps the sauce from tasting flat.
  • For more flavor, sauté finely chopped onion or shallot with the garlic before adding the sauce.
  • Stir in chopped fresh sage (about 1 teaspoon) directly into the sauce, not just as a garnish, to enhance the herb flavor.
  • Salt your pasta water generously; this is key to ensuring the final dish is well seasoned.

Nutrition

Calories: 324kcal | Carbohydrates: 48g | Protein: 15g | Fat: 9g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Trans Fat: 0.04g | Cholesterol: 57mg | Sodium: 182mg | Potassium: 326mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin A: 9641IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 83mg | Iron: 2mg
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