Description
This Cheesy Pasta Bake with Pumpkin-Tomato Sauce is everything you want from a comforting, cozy dish. Creamy, cheesy, and filled with warm autumn flavors, it’s the perfect easy dinner for cold nights or holiday gatherings. Made with rigatoni, a velvety pumpkin-tomato sauce, and topped with melty mozzarella, parmesan, and toasted walnuts — it’s the ultimate in feel-good food. Whether you’re looking for quick dinner ideas, hearty vegetarian meals, or just delicious food ideas to impress, this easy recipe checks all the boxes.
Ingredients
12 ounces rigatoni pasta
1 tablespoon olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon fresh sage, chopped (plus extra leaves for garnish)
1 cup pumpkin puree
1 cup tomato sauce
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup chopped toasted walnuts
Instructions
1. Boil the rigatoni in salted water, cooking 1-2 minutes less than the package directions. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat olive oil in a saucepan, then sauté garlic and sage until fragrant.
3. Add the pumpkin puree and tomato sauce. Stir well and let simmer for 5–7 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Grease a baking dish and spread a thin layer of sauce on the bottom.
5. Layer half the pasta, more sauce, some mozzarella. Repeat with remaining pasta, sauce, mozzarella, and top with parmesan and walnuts.
6. Garnish with extra sage leaves and bake at 375°F for 25 minutes, or until bubbly and golden on top.
7. Let cool for 5 minutes before serving.
Notes
Use a ceramic baking dish to prevent over-browning and keep the sauce creamy.
Don’t skip the toasted walnuts — they add an essential crunch and balance the flavors.
Let it rest before serving to help the sauce set and flavors meld.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 620mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 9g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 35mg
Keywords: easy dinner, vegetarian pasta, pumpkin pasta, cheesy pasta bake, fall comfort food, pasta casserole, weeknight dinner