Name: Creamy One-Pot Pasta
Cook time: 25 minutes
Total time: 45 minutes
Yield: 4 servings
Ingredients: 3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil; 12 oz. Italian sausage (about 3 links), casings removed; 1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour; 2 cups milk; 1 cup heavy cream; 1½ cups finely grated Parmesan, divided; ½ large butternut squash (about 1 lb.), peeled, seeded, chopped into ½pieces; ½ lb. fusilli; 1 garlic clove, finely grated; 1 sprig sage; 2½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1½ tsp. Morton kosher salt; ¼ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg; Freshly ground black pepper

An overhead shot of creamy onepot pasta with sausage and squash with a wooden spoon in the pot.

Photo by Chelsea Kyle, Food Styling by Laura Rege

This creamy, cheesy pasta sauce is a great foil for the pound of butternut squash scattered throughout the dish. The best part? Both the pasta and the sauce are made in one pot—no separate pot of boiling water needed.

Recipe information

Total Time
45 minutes
Yield
4 servings

Ingredients

3 Tbsp. extra-virgin olive oil

12 oz. Italian sausage (about 3 links), casings removed

1 Tbsp. all-purpose flour

2 cups milk

1 cup heavy cream

1½ cups finely grated Parmesan, divided

½ large butternut squash (about 1 lb.), peeled, seeded, chopped into ½pieces

½ lb. fusilli

1 garlic clove, finely grated

1 sprig sage

2½ tsp. Diamond Crystal or 1½ tsp. Morton kosher salt

¼ tsp. freshly grated nutmeg

Freshly ground black pepper

Preparation

Step 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.
Step 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.
Step 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 →