Description
Creamy Pumpkin Chicken Pasta is a cozy, 30-minute fall dish that combines tender spaghetti, savory chicken, and a velvety pumpkin-Parmesan sauce. It’s an easy, comforting meal perfect for chilly nights and packed with seasonal flavor.
Ingredients
- 1 (16 ounce) package spaghetti
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped (about 1 cup)
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (15 ounce) can pure pumpkin puree (not pie filling)
- 1 cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup half-and-half or heavy cream, at room temperature
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon minced fresh parsley or 1 teaspoon dried
- ½ teaspoon minced fresh rosemary or ¼ teaspoon dried
- ¼ teaspoon ground nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon kosher salt, plus more to taste
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper, plus more to taste
- 2 cups shredded or diced cooked chicken
- Optional garnish: extra parsley, rosemary, or Parmesan
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti until al dente, drain, and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add chopped onion and cook until soft, about 5 minutes.
- Add garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Whisk in pumpkin puree, chicken broth, cream, Parmesan, parsley, rosemary, nutmeg, salt, and pepper. Stir until smooth and warmed through, without boiling.
- Add cooked spaghetti and chicken to the skillet. Toss to coat and heat through, about 2–3 minutes.
- Adjust seasoning to taste. Garnish with additional parsley, rosemary, or Parmesan if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use fresh pumpkin puree (1¾ cups) as a substitute for canned.
- For a thinner sauce, add pasta water or extra broth as needed.
- Make vegetarian by omitting chicken and using vegetable broth.
- Add sautéed mushrooms, spinach, or squash for extra vegetables.
- Red pepper flakes add gentle heat if desired.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 580mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 10g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 50g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 95mg
