Creamy Cheesy Sage Chili Pumpkin Chicken Pasta

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Amazingly delicious and easy rigatoni pasta tossed with creamy pumpkin puree seasoned with honey caramelized onions spiced with crushed Calabrian peppers, fresh chopped garlic and sage, and cooked chicken.

side view of the Creamy Cheesy Sage Chili Pumpkin Chicken Pasta on a wide round pasta bowl.

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Easy Spicy Chicken Pasta

Try a chicken pasta dish that can be served anytime with this Creamy Cheesy Sage Chili Pumpkin Chicken Pasta recipe, where the warm hues and rich flavors of the season come together in a harmonious dance on your plate.

The star of this delectable dish is the luscious creamy pumpkin sauce, a velvety concoction that brings a smooth, comforting essence to each bite with its vivid orange color and red speckles from the chili peppers.

Artistically: The Orange Period

Infused with earthy notes of sage and a hint of chili for a subtle kick, this delicious sauce envelops tender chicken, caramelized onions, and perfectly cooked pasta, creating flavors that satisfy even the most discerning palates.

Make this dish on busy weeknights for a satisfying, quick, easy, and decadent meal, with a creamy, cheesy, and savory bit in every mouthful.

Why Pumpkin?

It's not just about the seasonal offerings. Ever since my son was a baby back in the early 2000s, I’ve always snuck in vegetables like sweet potato and pumpkin into his favorite meals—especially mac and cheese! And I guess you could call this dish the grown-up version, with a little more sophistication but just as much comfort.

The Aromatic Sage

Sage is one of those herbs that instantly reminds you of fall. Its woodsy, earthy aroma is like a breath of fresh autumn air, making it a go-to for comforting, seasonal dishes. Sage not only smells like the essence of fall but also pairs beautifully with rich, savory ingredients—especially when caramelized, like in this dish with browned butter and onions.

It's the Perfect Contrast

In this recipe, the caramelized onions combined with the sweetness of honey and the kick of crushed Calabrian chili peppers create the perfect contrast, with sage bringing it all together. Its slightly peppery, minty flavor with a hint of lemon and eucalyptus cuts through the richness, elevating the dish to another level.

It's Like Aroma Therapy

Sage itself is a silvery-green herb with soft, velvety leaves that are just as beautiful as they are aromatic. When you rub the leaves between your fingers, they release an incredibly fragrant, slightly pungent aroma that almost smells like a mix of pine and citrus.

In terms of taste, sage is warm and savory, with a little bitterness that works perfectly with buttery, caramelized flavors, making it one of the best herb pairings for pasta and dishes where sweetness and spice come together.

Making Pasta Healthy

This pasta isn’t just delicious, it’s packed with healthy benefits! Pumpkin is loaded with fiber, vitamins A and C, and powerful antioxidants that support your immune system and promote healthy skin.

Sage offers anti-inflammatory properties, which can help reduce inflammation in the body, and chili peppers bring a metabolism-boosting kick, making this dish both flavorful and nourishing. It’s the perfect balance of comfort food and wholesome goodness!

Gourmet Dining Experience

Want to round out the dish? Serve it with a crisp green salad, perhaps tossed with a citrus vinaigrette or some warm garlic bread to soak up all that delicious sauce. This combination makes it an unforgettable, well-balanced dining experience!

For the Wine Enthusiast

For a perfect pairing with this flavorful Sage Chili Pumpkin Chicken Pasta, I recommend going with a light Chardonnay or a smooth Pinot Noir. Both wines complement the savory pumpkin and the hint of spice from the chili, adding just the right touch of elegance to the meal.

Why Chardonnay?

A Chardonnay pairs wonderfully with this pasta because its bright acidity and subtle hints of citrus, apple, and buttery notes complement the creamy richness of the pumpkin sauce, while its light oak undertones enhance the savory flavors of the sage and chicken. This balance helps to cleanse the palate, making each bite of the pasta feel fresh and flavorful.

Why Pinot Noir?

Pinot Noir is a great choice for this dish because its light body and bright red fruit flavors, like cherry and raspberry, perfectly balance the savory richness of the chicken and pumpkin. The gentle earthiness of the Pinot Noir also complements the sage, while its smooth tannins won't overpower the delicate pasta, making it a well-rounded pairing for this comforting, flavorful meal.

But For the Beer Enthusiast

animated chef maika with a stout beer glass in her hand in her chef attire.

As much as I enjoy a good wine pairing, I have to admit that I'm more of a beer person. When it comes to pairing beer with this Sage Chili Pumpkin Chicken Pasta, I suggest going with a Belgian-style Saison or a Hefeweizen.

The Saison!

A Saison’s crisp, refreshing body with hints of spice and fruit really balances out the creamy richness of the pumpkin and chicken, while its subtle peppery notes enhance the sage and chili. I suggest trying them from Saison Dupont, Boulevard Tank 7, and Ommegang Hennepin.

The Hefeweizen!

On the other hand, a Hefeweizen, with its smooth wheat texture and sweet notes of banana and clove, mellows the spice and adds a refreshing contrast to the dish without overpowering it. Both options bring a bright, refreshing finish, making each bite more enjoyable. Check out these out for a delicious pairing experience: Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier, Franziskaner Hefe-Weissbier (You'll need a translator), and Paulaner Hefe-Weißbier.

More Delicious Pasta Recipes to Try:

Ingredients with Steps

Start by boiling the rigatoni pasta in salted water. While the pasta cooks, season the boneless skinless chicken breast with kosher salt and ground black pepper. Then cook in olive oil. Remove the chicken, set it aside, and sweat the yellow onions with kosher salt until it becomes translucent.

While the onion cooks, chop the garlic cloves and sage leaves together. Add it to the onions and cook until tender. Next, add the crushed Calabrian peppers and honey. Finally, add the pumpkin puree and low-sodium chicken broth to make a creamy sauce. Add back the chicken, pasta, and grated Italian cheese off the heat and serve.

Culinary Glossary

This section provides concise definitions of key ingredients and techniques to enhance understanding and improve cooking skills related to this recipe.

Sage - A soft, velvety herb with silvery-green leaves. Sage has a strong, earthy, slightly peppery flavor with hints of lemon and eucalyptus. It’s often used in fall and winter dishes and pairs well with rich, savory ingredients like caramelized onions.
Calabrian Chili Peppers - Originating from the Calabria region of Italy, these small, bright red chili peppers are known for their spicy, smoky, and slightly fruity flavor. They add a nice heat to dishes without overpowering the other ingredients.
Pumpkin Purée - A smooth, thick paste made by cooking and blending the flesh of pumpkins. Pumpkin purée has a naturally sweet, earthy flavor and a creamy texture, making it perfect for adding richness to both savory and sweet dishes. In this recipe, it helps create a velvety sauce that pairs well with the other bold flavors like sage and Calabrian chili peppers.

See the pumpkin chicken pasta recipe card for quantities.

ingredients for the sage pumpkin chicken pasta in containers on a large round pizza pan

Using Fresh Pumpkin

Even though creating a smooth and velvety pumpkin puree will take longer, select a small sugar pumpkin renowned for its sweet and tender flesh. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Cut the pumpkin in half, scoop out the seeds and stringy pulp, and place the halves cut-side down on a baking sheet. Roast for about 45 to 60 minutes until the pumpkin is tender. Once cooled, scoop out the flesh and blend it in a food processor or blender until silky smooth.

Add a splash of water or broth for a creamier consistency. Your homemade pumpkin puree is now ready to add a rich, autumnal touch to various sweet and savory dishes.

Instructions with Pictures

Follow the instructions and cooking tips below using the step-by-step picture guide.

rigatoni pasta boiling in water in a pot on a stove top

Boil the pasta as 1 part pasta to 2 part salted water.

Get a Stainless Steel Pasta Pot.

cubed chicken being separated with a silicone wooden handle spatula in a large nonstick saute pan

You are not browning the chicken; you are just cooking the chicken to add to the end of the pasta. If you have time, you can brown the chicken pieces. Click here to learn how to dice the chicken.

Get the All-Clad Non-Stick Saute Pan.

cooked chicken chunks being removed from the large saute pan

After you remove the chicken, remove any debris since you will be cooking down the onion, which will take some time, or you don't want anything else to burn.

a cutting board with chopped sage and garlic mixed together in a pile next to a knife

Chopping the garlic and sage together is a quicker and more convenient way to break down the oil in the sage and infuse it with the garlic. Learn more on chopping herbs and garlic.

Get the Color-Coded Cutting Board Set.

herbed thinly sliced onions being sauteed in a large saute pan with a silicone spatula for the sage pumpkin chicken pasta recipe.

Thinly slicing the onion allows for quick cooking.

caramelized thinly sliced onion seasoned with chopped garlic, sage, and Calabrian peppers in a non-stick saute pan

Using honey sweetens the onion to give it a balance between spicy and savory.

sage pumpkin chicken rigatoni pasta in a nonstick large saute pan with grated cheese poured on top

Add the cheese off the heat to prevent it from sticking to the pan and spoon when tossing as it melts.

Substitutions

Dairy Free

Grated Italian Cheese - Use nutritional yeast for flavor.

Gluten-Free

Rigatoni Pasta - There are a lot of gluten-free pasta choices now; use your favorite type of pasta.

Vegetarian

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breast - Use a mixture of mushrooms, roasted chickpeas or tofu.
Low-Sodium Chicken Broth - Replace it with vegetable broth.

Convenience

Rigatoni Pasta - Use whatever pasta you have in the house, as long as it's wide and complements the thick, hearty sauce, such as penne pasta. For a healthier option, try whole wheat pasta.
Crushed Calabrian Peppers - Try red pepper flakes
Fresh Sage Leaves - Use dried sage; just use half the fresh unit amount. This will change the goal taste of the dish, but you can use Italian seasoning as a sage replacement.

Change Heat Level - Modify the pumpkin chicken pasta recipe's heat level to your liking and learn more about the Scoville Scale and Chili Pairings.

Variations

Traditional Creaming Method - Add heavy cream, coconut milk, or unsweetened almond milk with unsalted butter.
More Robust Falvor - If you have roasted garlic or garlic in confit, replace the raw garlic cloves with this. You can also splash the seasoned onions with dry white wine before adding the honey to deepen the flavor. In addition, for a more savory taste, use a chicken bouillon cube.
Chicken Sausage - Use Italian chicken sausage cut into 1-inch pieces instead of chicken breast.
Add Some Green - Add and wilt baby spinach before adding the chicken back.

Equipment

Paper Towels - Used to dry the chicken to prevent bubbly of the loose chicken protein.
Large Sauté Pan - You'll need a large pan to combine the chicken with the large rigatoni past and pumpkin cream sauce. To develop this recipe, I used the All-Clad Hard Anodized Nonstick 4-quart Sauté Pan, chef-trusted American-made; it can even go in the oven with temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit.

Kitchen Must Haves - Find other tools I use here.

Storage

Refrigerator - To store in the fridge, you can place the creamy pumpkin pasta recipe mixture in a shallow 2-inch container to cool down quickly. Then, store it in an airtight container. As a result, the meal will last up to three days.
Freezer - Follow the refrigeration process mentioned above. Then, place it in the freezer in a labeled, airtight container.

Airtight Food Containers - I interchange glass food storage containers with plastic clipping lids or wooden push-ins. I always suggest glass storage containers because they can be microwaved, they hold food without staining, and the glass keeps the food at a more stable temperature, keeping it fresher and longer.

Try the OXO Good Grips Smart Seal Glass Rectangle Food Storage Containers or the Pyrex Freshlock Glass Food Storage Containers.

Cooking Tip

Al Dente Pasta - Achieving perfectly cooked pasta begins with generously salting your boiling water, enhancing the pasta's flavor right from the start. To ensure an al dente texture, regularly check for doneness a minute or two before the suggested cooking time, as pasta continues to cook briefly even after draining, guaranteeing the right bite every time.

Your Cooking Tips Resource Guide - Become a better home cook with tips to help you cook more efficiently on the Cook's Notebook tab.

top view of the Creamy Cheesy Sage Chili Pumpkin Chicken Pasta in a round wide pasta bowl.

Frequently Asked Questions

What can I use if I don't have Calabrian chili peppers?

If you don't have Calabrian chili peppers, you can substitute them with red pepper flakes, fresh chili peppers, or even a mild chili paste for a similar spicy kick. Just adjust the quantity to match your spice tolerance.

Can I make this recipe vegetarian?

Absolutely! You can easily make this dish vegetarian by swapping the chicken for a plant-based protein like tofu, chickpeas, or even sautéed mushrooms. You’ll still get the same creamy, savory flavors from the pumpkin and sage.

How do I store and reheat leftovers?

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. To reheat, gently warm the pasta in a saucepan over low heat, adding a splash of milk or broth to keep the sauce creamy and prevent it from drying out.

Can I make this recipe gluten-free?

Definitely! Simply swap the pasta for your favorite gluten-free pasta variety. The sauce and other ingredients are naturally gluten-free, making it a great option for those with gluten sensitivities.

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