Baked butternut squash pasta is a creamy, cheesy, comforting dish that is full of all the flavors of fall.  The butternut squash and sage sauce is tossed with penne pasta, mozzarella, and Parmigiano Reggiano, and layered between more sauce before being baked until melty.

Black baking dish with baked butternut squash pasta.

When Fall arrives, I embrace it fully.  

I really enjoy the cooler weather and all the flavors and ingredients that are used predominantly this time of year.

Butternut squash is one of those ingredients.  I use it in so many dishes, like:

 

Sage is another favorite fall ingredient and it marries perfectly with the squash in this baked butternut squash pasta.

Aside from the flavor, I’m wild about the textures in this dish.

The creamy butternut squash-tomato sauce, and the melty cheese make this so darn comforting that it’s really hard to stop eating.  

Think of this as an autumnal version of meatless baked ziti, or pasta al forno.

Serve alongside a simple green salad, and you’ve got the perfect Fall dinner.

Ingredients shown: mozzarella, butternut squash, parmesan cheese, pasta, tomato paste, onion, and sage leaves.

How to make baked butternut squash pasta

Each number corresponds to the numbered written steps below.

  1. Begin by peeling 1 medium butternut squash.  If you’re having a hard time, microwaving the squash for 3-4 minutes will soften the hard outer skin.  Let it cool before beginning to peel again.

Baked butternut squash pasta recipe process collage group number one.

  1. Cube 5 cups worth of squash.  Any remaining bits can be saved for another purpose.  Dice a medium-sized onion, and chop a 1/4 cup worth of sage.
  2. In a large pan over medium-low heat saute the onion in 2 tablespoons of olive oil and 2 tablespoons of butter until soft (about 5 minutes).  Also, preheat the oven to 400f and set the rack to middle level.

Recipe process shot collage group number two.

  1. Add the diced butternut squash, 3 ounces tomato paste, 2 cups low sodium chicken stock, 1/4 cup chopped sage, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper.  Turn heat to medium, and give it all a stir for 1-2 minutes to incorporate.  Cover the pan, leaving the lid slightly ajar, and let the sauce cook for 20 minutes.
  2. While the sauce is simmering, boil the penne pasta in salted water (2 tablespoons kosher salt) until very al dente.  Also, shred 1/2 pound of mozzarella and grate 3/4 cup of Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.  After 20 minutes of simmering, stir the sauce and place a layer (about 1/4 of the sauce)  into a 9 by 13″ baking dish.

Recipe process shot collage group number three.

  1. Add most of the sauce into a large bowl.  Also, add the al dente pasta to the bowl along with 2/3’s of the shredded mozzarella and all of the grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese.  Mix well.
  2. Add the pasta into the baking dish.

Recipe process shot collage group number four.

  1. Top the pasta with the remaining butternut squash sauce and the remaining shredded mozzarella.  Cover the baking dish with a layer of parchment paper, then a layer of foil.  Bake the pasta for 20 minutes, then remove the covering and bake for 10 minutes longer.  If you want the top charred, broil for 1-2 minutes but watch very carefully.  Enjoy!

Baking dish with baked butternut squash pasta and block of Parmigiano Reggiano in background.

Top tips

  • If you don’t have parchment paper, drizzle some oil on the foil before placing it on the pasta.  This will help prevent the cheese from sticking to the foil.  
  • Using fried sage leaves as a garnish makes for a beautiful presentation.  Simply fry whole sage leaves for approximately 60-90 seconds in a 1/4″ layer of hot olive oil. 
  • Peeling butternut squash can be difficult.  The skin is quite hard and the shape is a bit unwieldy.  You can microwave the whole squash for 3 minutes which can help make the peeling process a bit easier.
Close up shot of baked pasta with crispy sage leaves.
Here you can see fried sage leaves. They give a nice look and a crunchy textural element to the pasta.

Favorite Fall dishes and drinks

If you are a sucker for fall flavors, just like me, you’ll love these dishes and drinks that showcase all the bounties of Autumn!

Large spoon holding pasta with cheese pulling and steam showing.

If you’ve enjoyed this baked butternut squash pasta recipe or any recipe on this site, give it a 5-star rating and leave a review.

Watch the video below where Jim will show you how to make this recipe with easy-to-follow instructions. 

Some people learn by watching.  If you’re that type of person, you can find most of our recipes on YouTube and our Facebook Page.

Baked Butternut Squash Pasta

5 from 15 votes
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 55 minutes
Total: 1 hour 5 minutes
Servings: 4
Creamy butternut squash sauce is tossed with penne pasta, sage, mozzarella, and Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, and baked until melty in this dish that celebrates the flavors of Fall.

Ingredients 

  • 1 pound penne or rigatoni, ziti, etc.
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium onion diced
  • 3 ounces tomato paste
  • 2 cups low sodium chicken stock
  • 5 cups butternut squash cubed
  • 1/4 cup sage chopped
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 3/4 cup Parmigiano Reggiano grated
  • 1/2 pound mozzarella cheese shredded, divided

Instructions 

  • Preheat oven to 400f and set rack to the middle level. Saute onion in the butter and olive oil over medium-low heat until soft (about 5 minutes).
  • Add in the tomato paste, chicken stock, butternut squash, chopped sage, salt, pepper, and cook partially covered over medium heat until the squash is fork-tender (about 20 minutes).
  • Meanwhile, cook pasta in salted water to very al dente. About 2 minutes less than the package instructions.
  • In a large bowl add half of the butternut squash sauce and the pasta. Add in the Parmigiano Reggiano cheese and 2/3's of the shredded mozzarella. Gently mix together.
  • Place a layer of butternut squash sauce into the bottom of a 9 by 13" baking dish. Add the pasta and top with the remaining sauce and the remaining shredded mozzarella.
  • Cover with parchment paper then foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the covering and cook for 10 more minutes. If you want the cheese browned broil for 1-2 minutes, but watch carefully to avoid burning. Let rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. Enjoy!

Notes

  • Microwaving the whole butternut squash for 3 minutes can help soften the hard skin and make peeling easier.
  • When cooking the sauce keep the lid slightly cracked to encourage a bit of evaporation and to help the hard squash soften more quickly.
  • Covering the pasta with a layer of parchment paper, then foil, prevents the cheese from sticking.  If you don't have parchment paper try wiping a bit of oil onto the foil to prevent sticking.
  • Fried sage leaves can be used as a garnish for a nice visual effect.  To cook, just fry the sage leaves for 60-90 seconds in a 1/4" layer of hot olive oil.
  • Leftovers can be saved for up to 3 days and can be reheated in the microwave until warm. 

Nutrition

Calories: 670kcal | Carbohydrates: 109.6g | Protein: 23.3g | Fat: 18.7g | Saturated Fat: 7.1g | Cholesterol: 27mg | Sodium: 836mg | Potassium: 833mg | Fiber: 8.4g | Sugar: 10.4g | Calcium: 221mg | Iron: 6mg

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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5 from 15 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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37 Comments

  1. Jaehne says:

    5 stars
    It took a lot longer for me(1 1/2 hours prep, so two hours total:-/. It was very good, I happened to do several additions / adjustmentsโ€”I only used one cup of mozzarella; used spaghetti and penne, and added lentils. It was very hearty, substantial, and yummy!

  2. Kristen A Berry says:

    Could I add crumbled sausage? THANK YOU for all of your wonderful recipes.

    1. Tara says:

      Absolutely!

  3. Phil Samartan says:

    Love your receipts and presentation from you and family. I do have one request, would you please include the ingredients in grams. Thanks

    1. Tara says:

      Hi Phil, thanks for the feedback. Many of our recipes do contain gram amounts, but it’s a manual process for us to add them and with over 500 recipes on our site, it will take time to update them all. When our cookbook comes out in 2025 it will contain both US volume and gram amounts.

  4. Shanel says:

    5 stars
    Iโ€™m so happy we tried this! Absolutely delicious and clear instructions. I donโ€™t normally make this type of dish but wanted something for my homegrown butternut squash. Fabulous!!!

    1. Tara says:

      We’re so happy you loved it, Shanel!

  5. Nanette says:

    Really looks delicious. I will try this recipe. I hope soon.

  6. Janine Regan says:

    5 stars
    Just the choice for a cold gray day. Family approved – delicious!

  7. Margaret says:

    5 stars
    This dish is delicious! I love the introduction of fried sage. Such a nice touch and taste. This is a winner that’s been added to our rotation for sure! Thank you!

    1. Tara says:

      Hi Margaret, thanks for the comment and so happy you enjoyed!

  8. Grace says:

    5 stars
    Let me first say, everything I have made from your recipes has been absolutely delicious and receives raves from my family. I truly think your dishes are fool-proof. And I almost never make any sort of alteration the first time I follow a new recipe. That being said, tomato sauce just kills me, so I left it out and added another cup of chicken stock and about 3/4 c of heavy cream, and I purรฉed everything once the squash was tender. I also added Italian sausage in an effort to recreate a wonderful dish I recently had at a restaurant. It was phenomenal. I canโ€™t even explain how amazing it was. And without your recipe, I would never have had a clue where to begin. Please never stop sharing your cooking! Youโ€™ve improved mine immensely.

    1. Tara says:

      Hi Grace, we’re so happy you enjoyed and thanks for the comment!

  9. Theresa Johnson says:

    5 stars
    I made this last night, and my husband and I were both blown away by how delicious it is. This one is going in our regular rotation. I wish I could give it more than five stars!

    1. Tara says:

      Hi Theresa, we’re so hpapy you enjoyed and thanks for the comment!

  10. Kim Gorsuch says:

    5 stars
    OMG this was so good. I love butternut squash and usually make soup with it. But I was looking for new recipes to shake it up a bit. This was fantastic. Itโ€™s just my husband and I so I split it into two casserole dishes. We ate one and froze one for later.

    1. James says:

      Hi Kim, thanks for the comment and so happy you enjoyed this one!

  11. Angela Jones says:

    5 stars
    You are the best cook on the internet !

    1. Tara says:

      Hi Angela, we really appreciate your comment and so happy you enjoyed the recipe. Thank you!

    2. Paula says:

      Can you make this ahead and finish baking later?

      Paula

      1. James says:

        Hi Paula, yes, you can make ahead and finish by baking later. Hope you enjoy!

  12. Susanamantha says:

    I have heard that some people think cilantro tastes like soap. That’s what I think of fresh sage. Dried sage I can use, but every time I try to use fresh sage, and I grow it in my herb garden, I can’t stand to smell it on my hands. Can you think of a good substitute for sage in this recipe?

    1. Tara says:

      Hi Susan, if you don’t like sage you can just completely omit it and it will still be good.

  13. Maureen Postlewaite says:

    Looking forward to trying this, I did notice in the video you cubed 2/3 of the mozzarella cheese and grated the rest. The printed recipe just calls for grating the mozzarella cheese. I do like the idea of the cubed cheese so will do it that way.

    Your videos are always interesting and very easy to relate to. I love how you go with the flow when you accidentally leave something out but toss it in later and encourage us to adjust seasonings, etc. to our own taste.

    1. Tara says:

      Hi Maureen, thanks for the comment and we’re so happy you enjoy the videos! We hope you enjoy the recipe with you make it and as far as the cheese, you’ll get great results whether shredded or cubed.

  14. Donna says:

    5 stars
    I made this tonight and it was delicious and thank you ๐Ÿ˜

    1. Jim says:

      Hi Donna, I’m so happy you enjoyed the soup! Thanks for the comment.

  15. Josephine says:

    Hello, I’m thinking of making this for Thanksgiving. Can the butternut squash be purรฉed into a smooth sauce. We prefer a smoother sauce. Can everything be assembled the day before and baked the next day?
    ThankYou

    1. Jim says:

      Hi Josephine, yes you can puree the squash if you’d like and assembling the day before baking should work out just fine. Hope you enjoy!

  16. Cheryl Gerkens says:

    5 stars
    Absolutely lip-smaking delectable! I love the variation of flavors. Great recipe, out of the ordinary.

    1. Jim says:

      Hi Cheryl, so happy you liked this one. Thanks for the comment!

  17. Jennifer says:

    5 stars
    Excellent!! Made this for a Halloween party and everyone was raving about it. You can also sub dairy-free cheese, I did for my mini-casserole. Thank you!

    1. Jim says:

      Hi Jennifer, thanks for the comment and so happy you all enjoyed it!

  18. Fran says:

    Looks absolutely fantastic !!!! How about some holiday desserts ???

    1. Jim says:

      Hi Fran. I’m running out of time this year, but hopefully, I’ll get up one or two.

      1. Clare Herrmann says:

        5 stars
        Oh my goodness, was this delicious! I loved the surprise bites that had the cubed mozzarella and the crispy top is addictive. Your videos are pleasant to watch and I always learn something. Thank you, Chef Jim!

        1. Jim says:

          Hi Clare. I’m happy to hear that you enjoyed it. Thanks for watching my videos and making the recipes.