Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta Bake with Sausage

Cheesy butternut squash pasta bake with sausage, ricotta, goat cheese and kale makes the perfect cozy fall or winter dish.  Loaded with four cheeses and a hint of nutmeg it's the perfect cold weather family dinner!

A hot, cheesy pasta bake is probably one of the best comfort food dishes out there.

What better than butternut squash, sausage and goat cheese to make this pasta bake the ultimate cold weather comfort food?

Roasted butternut squash with hints of nutmeg tossed with sausage, sauteed kale, pasta and four cheeses: ricotta, goat cheese, mozzarella and Parmesan.

All baked until bubbly and slightly golden browned on the top.

My mouth is watering just thinking about it ;).

Butternut squash is probably one of my favorite winter ingredients.

Especially once roasted, it becomes slightly caramelized yet creamy and pairs perfectly with the spices in the sausage, the tanginess from the goat cheese, and the earthiness from the nutmeg.

My cheesy butternut squash pasta bake with sausage is the perfect cozy Sunday family dinner for those cool fall or winter days.

Butternut Squash Pasta Bake Ingredients:

• butternut squash
• olive oil
• nutmeg
• pasta (such as rigatoni or penne)
• onion
• ground Italian sausage
• garlic
• kale
• ricotta cheese
• goat cheese
• shredded mozzarella
• fresh grated Parmesan cheese
• milk
• sage
• Dijon mustard
• salt and pepper

Substitute the kale with spinach if you prefer.

You can also omit the goat cheese or substitute with cream cheese or gorgonzola for a stronger taste.

I prefer to use freshly grated Parmesan cheese for better flavor.

If you can't find ground sausage, you can also buy Italian sausage links and remove the meat from the casing by gently squeezing it out.

Feel free to use hot or mild Italian sausage.

How to make my butternut squash pasta bake with sausage:

1. Roast the butternut squash: preheat oven to 425 F.  Place cubed squash on large baking sheet.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with nutmeg, salt and pepper.  Bake 20-25 minutes, stirring halfway, or until squash is tender and slightly caramelized.  Remove and set aside.
2. While the butternut squash is roasting, cook the pasta according to package directions to “al-dente”.  Drain and drizzle with olive oil to prevent sticking.  Set aside.
3.  When squash is done cooking, turn oven down to 375 F.  Spray a 13 x 9" baking dish lightly with cooking spray, set aside.
4. In a large sauté pan, heat olive oil over medium-high heat.  Add onion, cook 2 minutes then add ground sausage.  Cook until sausage is no longer pink and lightly browned, using wooden spoon to crumble it.  Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.
5. Add kale, turn off heat, cover and cook until kale is wilted.
6. Meanwhile, in a medium bowl combine: ricotta, goat cheese, ½ cup mozzarella, Parmesan, milk, sage, ground nutmeg, Dijon, salt and pepper.
7. In a large bowl (or the same pan you cooked pasta), combine butternut squash, cooked pasta, kale and sausage mixture and cheese mixture.  Stir to combine.
8. Spread into13 x 9’ baking dish.  Top with remaining ½ cup of mozzarella cheese.  Cover with foil and bake 20 minutes, then remove foil and bake for additional 15-20 minutes or until cheese is melted and mixture is bubbling.

Make Ahead and Storage Instructions for Pasta Bake:

• This butternut squash and sausage pasta bake can be made up to 3 days ahead.  Prepare as stated in the recipe instructions up until the last step of baking.  
• Cover tightly with plastic wrap or foil and store in the fridge up to 3 days.  Before baking, pour additional ¼ cup of milk over the top and bake as per instructions.  The milk helps restore some of the moisture lost while refrigerating!
• You can also freeze the prepared casserole by covering tightly with plastic wrap and then foil to prevent freezer burn.
• When ready to bake, remove from freezer and remove plastic wrap.  Return the foil.  Allow to thaw slightly for 1-2 hours then bake as stated in the instructions.  You may need additional baking time until the pasta bake is fully cooked through.

For more family pasta recipes try:

Creamy Pasta with Sausage and Zucchini

Creamy Balsamic Mushroom Pasta with Spinach

Shrimp Pasta with Cherry Tomatoes, Rosé and Spinach

Don't forget to leave me a comment or star rating below if you give this recipe a try!  I always love to hear your feedback.