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    Home » Recipes » Recipes

    Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

    Author: Lindsey Janeiro, RDN Published: Oct 1, 2019 · Updated: Dec 3, 2021 · 6 Comments

    This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy.

    Jump to Recipe - Print Recipe
    pictures of pumpkin pasta sauce in a jar and on pasta with text "pumpkin pasta sauce"

    This savory pumpkin recipe pairs pumpkin with hints of garlic and thyme for a delicious pumpkin pasta sauce. Enjoy it with pasta or veggie noodles for a healthy comfort food dinner.

    An ivory rustic, ceramic bowl with spiral shaped pasta tossed in pumpkin pasta sauce and garnished with parsley.

    This post may contain affiliate links.

    If y'all recall, it's pumpkin palooza week here on NTF! A couple of days ago I shared a simple pumpkin chia pudding recipe that my family has been loving for yummy, easy snacking! Yesterday we did a deep dive into the nutrition and health information on all things pumpkin. Today? We're switching gears and going in a more savory direction with this pumpkin pasta sauce.

    A glass jar of pumpkin pasta sauce on a marble surface against a white and blue broad striped kitchen towel.

    How to Make Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

    To make these pumpkin pasta sauce, you need the following ingredients:

    • 100% pumpkin puree
    • Yellow or sweet onion
    • Extra virgin olive oil
    • Garlic
    • Dried thyme
    • Broth
    • Salt and pepper to taste

    Dice the onion and then saute in extra virgin olive oil over medium heat until onions are starting to caramelize and turning a light golden brown (you can certainly caramelize them much longer for even greater depth of flavor!). Add minced onion and thyme and saute briefly.

    Combine caramelized onions and pumpkin puree in a blender with the broth. Puree briefly until a smooth sauce forms.

    Then just season the pumpkin sauce to taste. I typically add a generous pinch of black pepper and a small pinch of salt if I'm using an unsalted broth. Salt can totally elevate flavors in our meals, but we want to be cautious of using too much from a nutrition standpoint.

    That's it! From there you can combine your sauce with your favorite noodle or veggie noodle of choice! Or you can even make an autumn lasagna using this instead of tomato sauce, or even use it as a sauce for autumnal enchiladas with black beans, kale, sweet potato, mushrooms, etc.

    An up-close shot of spiral-shaped pasta tossed in pumpkin pasta sauce garnished with green parsley.

    Nutritional Highlights of Pumpkin

    Pumpkin is a pretty awesome little fruit - yup, that's right! Pumpkins have seeds, so technically they're botanically a fruit, although nutritionally they're more like a vegetable. They're packed with vitamins A, E, C, K, folate, iron, and fiber which can provide health benefits like improved immunity, lessened risk of certain cancers, better eye health, improved skin health, protect heart health, and more.

    Check out this pumpkin nutrition post to get a deep dive in all things pumpkin nutrition, health benefits, side effects, how to cook it, and how to freeze pumpkin.

    Part of Easy, Balanced Meal Solutions

    A 3-compartment glass meal prep container featuring pumpkin pasta, grilled chicken tenderloins, and steamed spinach.

    I find some of my nutrition coaching clients can get a little apprehensive about pasta, wondering how it (as one of their favorite foods!) can fit into a balanced diet. If you're unfamiliar with my nutrition philosophy, I believe in lots of micronutrient-rich, nourishing foods, including more produce (like the pumpkin in my pasta sauce!). But I also believe in sustainable lifestyle habits, and if you love pasta, it can absolutely be a part of your life.

    We often like a legume-based pasta, as they typically provide a decent amount of fiber and protein for a pasta. If you eat gluten (there's nothing wrong with it if your body tolerates it!), you can also use whole wheat pastas. You can also use veggie noodles (like zoodles, or zucchini noodles), or a mix a both of both zoodles and regular pasta.

    Here we tried Modern Table pasta and actually REALLY enjoyed it! Plus the spiral shapes were a big hit with even the baby. 😉

    You can also just focus on pairing your pasta as part of a balanced meal, like in the meal prepped lunch I showed above with leftover pumpkin pasta, leftover grilled chicken tenderloins, and some steamed spinach with a little squeeze of lemon.

    More Pumpkin Recipes

    For more pumpkin fun, check out these additional pumpkin recipes:

    • Healthier Pumpkin Muffins (coming later this week!)
    • Pumpkin Chia Pudding
    • Pumpkin Spice Buckwheat Granola
    • Collagen Pumpkin Protein Balls
    • Pumpkin Pie Crumble Bars
    • Pumpkin Falafel
    • Baked Pumpkin Oatmeal

    If you like this recipe be sure to comment and rate it below and share on Pinterest, Instagram, and Facebook. Live well!

    An ivory rustic, ceramic bowl with spiral shaped pasta tossed in pumpkin pasta sauce and garnished with parsley.
    Print Recipe
    5 from 7 votes

    Pumpkin Pasta Sauce

    This simple pasta sauce requires just five ingredients for a plant-based, flavorful fall sauce with notes of thyme, garlic, and caramelized onion.
    free from: gluten/ wheat, soy, egg, dairy, fish/ shellfish, tree nuts, peanuts
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time12 mins
    Total Time17 mins
    Course: Main Course, Sauce
    Cuisine: American
    Servings: 8
    Calories: 37kcal
    Author: Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, LDN

    Ingredients

    • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
    • 1 yellow or sweet onion, diced
    • 1 cup pumpkin puree
    • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
    • 1 tablespoon minced garlic
    • ¾ cup unsalted or low sodium vegetable broth
    • salt and pepper to taste

    Instructions

    • Heat olive oil in a medium-sized skillet over medium heat. Add diced onion and caramelize until lightly golden brown (about 9-10 minutes) stirring occasionally. Add minced garlic and thyme and saute 1-2 minutes.
    • Combine caramelized onions, pumpkin, and broth in blender. Starting at low speed and increasing to high, blend 30-60 seconds or until smooth. Season to taste with salt and pepper (I always add a pinch of black pepper and typically a pinch of salt when I use unsalted broth).
    • Enjoy this pasta over your noodles or vegetable "noodles" of choice! I find this to be the perfect amount of sauce for 16 ounces of pasta, but use as much or as little as you prefer. The sauce freezes well, so you can freeze half for another meal later.

    Notes

    The recipe makes 8 servings. One serving is a heaping quarter cup, and what I find to be a good amount for a two ounce serving of pasta.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 37kcal | Carbohydrates: 4g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 2g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Sodium: 9mg | Potassium: 102mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 4766IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 15mg | Iron: 1mg
    Text graphic that says, "Make this recipe? Tag @nutritiontofit on Instagram and use the hashtag #nutritiontofit."
    Pinterest image of an ivory shallow bowl of pumpkin sauce coated pasta spirals with text
    A glass jar of pumpkin pasta sauce with text saying "pumpkin pasta sauce"
    Pinterest image of up close spiral pasta noodles covered in pumpkin pasta sauce with green parsley and descriptive text.

    More Recipes

    • Maple Balsamic Brussels Sprouts
    • Pumpkin Crumble Bars
    • Turmeric Overnight Oats
    • Cherry Popsicles

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Shelley says

      July 08, 2020 at 8:34 pm

      Wow! This may be the best vegan pasta sauce I’ve ever made. So delicious! Followed the recipe exactly as written. Thank you so much for this!

      Reply
      • Lindsey Janeiro, RDN, LDN says

        July 19, 2020 at 6:14 pm

        Thanks so much, Shelley, I'm so glad you enjoyed it!

        Reply
    2. Jade says

      January 19, 2022 at 8:13 pm

      I was looking for a low calorie way to use up some leftover pumpkin puree and came across this and decided to give it a try. Instead of pasta I used it as a sauce to put on steamed veggies as an in between meals snack and it is really good! Will definitely be making it again when I need to use up pumpkin puree in the future!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        January 21, 2022 at 2:17 pm

        I LOVE that use for it, great idea! Thanks for sharing, Jade!

        Reply
    3. Hua Lina says

      June 04, 2022 at 2:30 am

      Thank you so much for the recipe!!
      We tried it, added half a bell pepper just for some crunch, and it turned out great!!

      Reply
      • Lindsey says

        June 06, 2022 at 3:33 pm

        Love that bell pepper addition, great idea! Thank you!

        Reply

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