Macaroni with a creamy pumpkin sauce and tasty chunks of bacon make this dish a filling and delicious family hit!
My boys love pasta, so I am always looking for new and interesting ways to serve it. Although I have to admit, they would probably be happy with just buttered noodles every night if that is what I gave them!
But I am a little more interested in nutrition than they are, so buttered noodles every night is not an option.
I actually initially made this dish as Pumpkin Pasta…without the bacon! I wanted to create a dinner that contained the nutritional goodness of pumpkin yet also took advantage of my kids' love of pasta.
The first time I made it, however, it was kind of plain. The family liked it, but they didn’t love it.
So I set myself to the task of figuring out how to rev it up a bit. It needed more texture as well as a punch of flavor.
I mulled over the problem for a few days, when suddenly, while driving some kid to some activity, it hit me. BACON!
I love how creamy and pumpkin-y this dish turns out. The sage is a perfect compliment to the buttery sweetness of the pumpkin. And the bacon really provides a shot of flavor and texture to round out the experience.
The other great thing about this dish is that it is very filling! All that fiber from the pumpkin and the whole grain pasta will fill your tummy and keep you content for hours!
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Bacon and Pumpkin Pasta
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Bacon and Pumpkin Pasta
Ingredients
- 12 oz whole grain macaroni (1 package)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 cup chopped onion
- 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- 14.5 oz chicken broth (1 can)
- 15 oz pure pumpkin (1 can)
- 3/4 cup fat-free half & half creamer
- 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
- 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
- 1/2 teaspoon ground sage
- 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
- 1 cup roughly chopped cooked bacon (shortcut: buy precooked bacon recipe pieces)
- 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce (or to taste (optional))
Instructions
- Cook the macaroni according to package directions.12 oz whole grain macaroni
- While the pasta is cooking, make the pumpkin sauce.
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high, then add the onion and garlic. Cook for about 4-5 minutes.1 tablespoon olive oil, 1 cup chopped onion, 1 tablespoon minced garlic
- Stir in the chicken broth, pumpkin, and creamer. Add in the parmesan cheese, cinnamon, nutmeg, sage, salt, and pepper, and mix until well combined.14.5 oz chicken broth, 15 oz pure pumpkin, 3/4 cup fat-free half & half creamer, 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, 1/4 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon nutmeg, 1/2 teaspoon ground sage, 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper
- Simmer about 5 minutes.
- When the pasta is done, drain and place back in the pot, covering to keep warm.
- Combine pasta, bacon, and pumpkin sauce. Add optional sriracha sauce, if desired.1 cup roughly chopped cooked bacon, 1 teaspoon sriracha sauce
Nutrition
CHECK OUT ALL OF THIS WEEK’S #SUNDAYSUPPER RECIPES BELOW!
Many thanks to Erica from The Crumby Cupcake for hosting this fun event!
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Petra @ CrumblesAndKale
I absolutely love pumpkin-everything and this pasta both looks and sounds so delicious! The color of the pasta with the pumpkin is just stunning 🙂
kristin mccarthy
Holy.cow.
I would never think to pair these things together...and now I can't live without it.
I cannot wait to try this with a wide of squash!
Hi fall!....I am coming for ya!
pinning this one for sure
Maria
You got me at bacon and pumpkin, Kristin. What a perfect dish, especially for the fall! It can't come quick enough. Thanks for sharing this with us on #shinebloghop!
Amanda
Delish! Thanks for linking up to the Creative K Kids’ Tasty Tuesday, I can’t wait to see what you create next week!
Easy Peasy Life Matters
Love how healthly and yummy this is!!! 🙂
Easy Peasy Life Matters
*healthy
Kathryn Grace
One of my favorite fall foods is butternut squash ravioli, so when I saw this recipe, I thought, Yes! This is going to be good. Since we don't buy meat any longer, I'll have to see if I can find a way to get that extra flavor another way, although the thought of bacon surely does make my mouth water. Thanks for sharing your recipe on Helen's link party at The Lazy Gastronome. I plan to share it later this week on my social media sites as my pick for #RecipeOfTheDay. Sure to be a hit!
Helen at the Lazy Gastronome
Sounds like a great fall dish! Thanks for sharing on the What’s for Dinner link up and don’t forget to leave a comment at the party – Next week’s features that also leave a comment get pinned and tweeted!
Lauren @ Sew You Think You Can Cook
I'm perfectly content with a pasta dish sans meat but my husband doesn't consider it a meal. When in doubt, I always cook up some bacon!
Monica
This is the perfect dish in my book!
Hezzi-D
I'm so ready for pumpkin and this pasta dish sounds amazing!