Butternut Squash Cacio e Pepe

Preparation

1. Step 1

   Real Talk: If all you have is whole peppercorns and a pepper mill, measuring out pepper can be a bit tricky. Keep in mind that 1 tsp. is about 30 turns of the mill. Or place 1 tsp. peppercorns in a freezer bag (a regular bag may not hold up to all the abuse) and pound with a rolling pin or the bottom of a skillet until crushed. Or just add as much as you want!

   Step 2

   Preheat oven to 400°. Mix garlic and butter in a large bowl until garlic is evenly distributed. Add squash, sausage, cheese, salt, and pepper and toss until squash is evenly coated in garlic-butter mixture.

   Step 3

   Scrape into a medium heatproof skillet, cover tightly with foil, and bake 20 minutes. Remove foil and continue to bake until squash is tender and lightly browned around the edges, 20–30 minutes more.