Baked Pumpkin Ziti
This cozy fall baked pumpkin ziti is made with ground sausage, fire roasted tomatoes, and delicious pumpkin puree. It is creamy and packed full of flavor.
why you’ll love this baked pumpkin ziti
This baked pumpkin ziti is the quintessential fall dish! It is earthy and delicious. The thyme and pumpkin create a magical combination of flavors that warm your heart and your tummy. Bonus points that it feeds a crowd and is super easy to make! The heavy cream and chicken broth add a richness that is so nice. We are big pasta fans at our house and this is definitely a wonderful way to enjoy a family favorite that compliments the changing seasons!
Ingredients for baked pumpkin ziti
- 2 lbs ground sausage
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic, minced
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp each: thyme, basil, oregano
- 2 cans fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 Cup tomato sauce
- 1 Cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
- 1- 30 oz can pumpkin puree
- 1/2 Cup parmesan cheese
making baked pumpkin ziti
To begin making this delicious pasta, start by browning your ground pork sausage in a skillet. I like to use breakfast style sausage rather than italian sausage because it is more earthy and less sweet. Chop the onion and add it to the skillet to soften as the sausage is browning.
While your sausage is browning, go ahead and cook the ziti to al dente according to package instructions. Drain it and set it to the side.
Next, mix together the pumpkin puree, fire roasted tomatoes, salt, pepper, and seasonings in a large mixing bowl.
Then, add in the tsp of white wine vinegar.
Drain the browned, cooked sausage and add it in to the pumpkin- tomato mixture.
Then stir in the chicken broth and heavy cream.
Give it a good stir so that everything is nicely incorporated. Add the cooked ziti noodles and stir to blend. Transfer the pasta mixture into a large 9 X 13 baking dish.
Once you have transferred the pasta into a large baking dish, sprinkle the 1/2 Cup of parmesan over the top of the pasta and place into the preheated oven to bake uncovered for 25 minutes.
I like to serve this pasta with a big green salad or side of green beans.
faq and substitutions for baked pumpkin ziti
Can I use homemade pumpkin puree? Yes! Absolutely! You can use canned pumpkin OR homemade pureed pumpkin interchangeably in this recipe.
Can I use a different type of pasta than ziti? You can use any type of pre cooked pasta in this recipe. We also like to use macaroni noodles, linguinne, and spaghetti noodles.
Is this dish spicey? No. The fire roasted tomatoes do not add enough spice on their own to make the dish spicey.
I can’t find fire roasted tomato. Can I use regular diced tomato? You can. But the fire roasted does contribute to the overall flavor of this dish. So just be aware that the flavor will change slightly.
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Baked Pumpkin Ziti
Ingredients
- 2 lbs ground sausage
- 1 Tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion chopped
- 4 cloves of garlic minced
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp each: thyme basil, oregano
- 2 15 oz cans fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 Cup tomato sauce
- 1 Cup heavy cream
- 1 tsp white wine vinegar
- 1- 30 oz can pumpkin puree
- 1/2 Cup parmesan cheese
Instructions
- To begin making this delicious pasta, start by browning your ground pork sausage in a skillet. I like to use breakfast style sausage rather than italian sausage because it is more earthy and less sweet. Chop the onion and add it to the skillet to soften as the sausage is browning.
- While your sausage is browning, go ahead and cook the ziti to al dente according to package instructions. Drain it and set it to the side.
- Next, mix together the pumpkin puree, fire roasted tomatoes, salt, pepper, and seasonings in a large mixing bowl.
- Then, add in the tsp of white wine vinegar.
- Drain the browned, cooked sausage and add it in to the pumpkin- tomato mixture.
- Then stir in the chicken broth and heavy cream.
- Give it a good stir so that everything is nicely incorporated. Add the cooked ziti noodles and stir to blend. Transfer the pasta mixture into a large 9 X 13 baking dish.
- Once you have transferred the pasta into a large baking dish, sprinkle the 1/2 Cup of parmesan over the top of the pasta and place into the preheated oven to bake uncovered for 25 minutes.
- Serve with a green veggie or big fresh salad and enjoy!
I was Thinking what to do with all the pumpkin puree I got and this pasta looks goo. Makes me want to cook it for tonight.
Hope you like it!