70+ Comforting Fall Pasta Recipes

September 03, 2019
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Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Victoria Cox
It's no secret that cool weather and cozy pasta dinners go hand-in-hand. Warm up with one of our favorite fall pasta recipes, featuring autumn vegetables like butternut squash, pumpkin, mushrooms, and more. Whether you're looking for a hearty lasagna for entertaining or a speedy pasta dinner that can be whipped up on a school night, we have you covered with some of our fall favorites. 
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Pumpkin-and-Turnip Green Lasagna

Photo: Greg Dupree; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
Pumpkin-and-Turnip Green Lasagna Recipe

TIP: Use no-boil lasagna noodles (we like Barilla brand), which will soak up moisture from the sauce and pumpkin.

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Butternut Squash and Parsnip Baked Pasta

Randy Mayor; Melanie J. Clarke
Butternut Squash and Parsnip Baked Pasta Recipe
This meatless dish combines two autumn vegetables that I love. It's warming, spicy, and very satisfying. It's homey enough to serve on weeknights and festive enough to serve during the holidays.

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Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallots

Randy Mayor; Jen Rotenstreich
Pasta with Roasted Butternut Squash and Shallots Recipe
Nutty cheese with caramelized roasted shallots and squash get just the right hint of herbs from sage. Serving over elegant pappardelle pasta gives it an elegant look and perfect bite to match the delicately roasted topping.
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Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro
Roasted Butternut Squash and Bacon Pasta Recipe
Whip up this outstanding pasta and squash casserole for an easy family meal. Mini penne pasta works well in this dish since it's about the same size as the squash. You can also use elbow macaroni, shell pasta, or orecchiette.

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Pumpkin-filled Pasta

Photo: James Carrier
Pumpkin-filled Pasta Recipe
Notes: Cremona fruit in mustard syrup is available at Italian food markets and upscale delicatessens. Instead of making the pasta (steps 2 and 3), you can use 48 to 50 gyoza (Japanese equivalent to potstickers) skins; moisten edges with water and press with fingers to seal. Do not dry (step 4); drape with plastic wrap as shaped. Cook filled gyoza only 2 to 3 minutes (step 5). If filling pasta or gyoza skins up to 1 day ahead, chill airtight; freeze up to 6 weeks. Or purchase about 3 pounds cheese-filled ravioli and serve with the sauce.

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Pasta with Mushrooms and Pumpkin-Gorgonzola Sauce

Photography: Becky Luigart-Stayner; Styling: Melanie J. Clarke
Pasta with Mushrooms and Pumpkin-Gorgonzola Sauce Recipe
Serve a light pasta dish with a luscious cream sauce. Chopped sage, Gorgonzola cheese, and canned pumpkin add robust flavor to the meatless main dish.
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Spinach and Butternut Squash Lasagna

Photo: Oxmoor House
Spinach and Butternut Squash Lasagna Recipe

This recipe has several steps, but the end result is worth the extra effort. Try making it on a weekend, and enjoy leftovers on a busy weeknight. The lasagna can be served as is for a hungry crowd, or easily transformed into baby food, as detailed in the above image, by processing the dish in a food processor.

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Whole-wheat Lasagna

Annabelle Breakey; Karen Shinto
Whole-wheat Lasagna Recipe
You can assemble and chill the lasagna a day ahead, but add 10 to 15 minutes to the baking time. You can also freeze the lasagna, wrapped well in plastic wrap, for up to 1 month and bake it frozen (add 1 1/4 hours to the oven time).

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Pumpkin-Pecan Lasagna

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Linda Hirst
Pumpkin-Pecan Lasagna Recipe
The toasted pecans add crunchy texture and earthy flavor.
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Pumpkin Ravioli with Pumpkin Seed Pesto

Pumpkin Ravioli with Pumpkin Seed Pesto Recipe

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Pumpkin Ravioli with Gorgonzola Sauce

Pumpkin Ravioli with Gorgonzola Sauce Recipe
For a new way to enjoy pumpkin this season, try these pumpkin ravioli with a rich yet mellow Gorganzola sauce.

You can assemble the ravioli a day ahead, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate. The ravioli will float when they are perfectly cooked. Pour a chilled chardonnay.

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Pumpkin Ravioli

Leigh Beisch
Pumpkin Ravioli Recipe
Pumpkin ravioli is a fall favorite but because it uses canned pumpkin, you can make it year round. This quick and easy ravioli recipe uses wonton wrappers in place of homemade pasta.
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Butternut Squash Ravioli with Pancetta and Sage

Photo: Karry Hosford
Butternut Squash Ravioli with Pancetta and Sage Recipe
Serve the ravioli with a green salad and baguette slices with our Sage, Bay, and Garlic Dipping Oil.

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Butternut Squash Ravioli with Spinach Pesto

Photo: Johnny Autry; Styling: Leigh Ann Ross

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Giant Butternut Squash Ravioli

Photo: Lisa Romerein; Styling: William Smith
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Butternut Squash Ravioli with Mushrooms

Photo: Iain Bagwell; Styling: Mary Clayton Carl
Butternut Squash Ravioli with Mushrooms Recipe
Thanks to store-bought ravioli, Butternut Squash Ravioli with Mushrooms comes together quickly. Offer this indulgent ravioli as a side dish or or as a meatless main dish.

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Pasta Primavera with Ham and Mushrooms 

Pasta Primavera with Ham and Mushrooms  Recipe

It's hard to beat pasta primavera. But it's even harder to beat a 20-minute pasta primavera that only requires one skillet. Use a frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrot mix to save time and add color, texture, and nutrition. This recipe is one to keep in your back pocket for busy afternoons when there's no time for prep. 

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One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards

Photo: Greg Dupree; Food Styling: Catherine Crowell Steele; Prop Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas
One-Pan Pasta with Chicken Sausage, Mushrooms, and Collards Recipe

Rather than boiling the noodles in a separate pot, we cooked them with the chicken stock and other ingredients. The starch from the pasta thickens the broth, making a surprisingly rich sauce without butter or cream.

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Creamy Three-Mushroom Pasta

Photo: Travis Rathbone
Creamy Three-Mushroom Pasta Recipe

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Winter Greens and Mushroom Pasta

Photo: Yuhnee Kim; Styling: Karen Shinto
Winter Greens and Mushroom Pasta Recipe

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Spaghetti with Brussels Sprouts

Photo: Annabelle Breakey
Spaghetti with Brussels Sprouts Recipe

Brussels sprouts are the new kale! Here they're quickly browned and still slightly crunchy. To save time, slice them with a mandoline or a food processor fitted with the slicing blade attachment.

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Penne with Brussels Sprouts and Crisp Bacon

Penne with Brussels Sprouts and Crisp Bacon Recipe
To trim Brussels sprouts, discard the tough outer leaves and trim off about 1/4 inch from stems. Don't trim too much from the stems, or the sprouts will fall apart.

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Spaghetti with Butternut Squash

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams
Spaghetti with Butternut Squash Recipe
Spaghetti with Butternut Squash adds seasonal flavor to a classic family-favorite meal—for under $1 a serving! This one-dish meal works equally well with linguine or penne.

 

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Creamy Carrot and Herb Linguine

Photo: Jennifer Causey; Food Styling: Margaret Monroe Dickey; Prop Styling: Mindi Shapiro Levine
Creamy Carrot and Herb Linguine Recipe

A quick dunk in the cooking water softens fresh carrot noodles (caroodles!) just enough that you can swirl them through the creamy sauce. The breadcrumbs disappear into the dish but still provide welcome texture.

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Squash-Stuffed Cannelloni with Roasted-Shallot Sauce and Hazelnuts

Photography: Karry Hosford
Squash-Stuffed Cannelloni with Roasted-Shallot Sauce and Hazelnuts Recipe
Spoon creamy butternut-squash seasoned with sage and chopped shallots onto traditional lasagna noodles, roll up, and top with a garlicky white wine sauce for an Italian-style dinner that's sure to impress guests.

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Rigatoni with Sweet Potato, Oregano, and Parmesan

Photo: Cyd McDowell
Rigatoni with Sweet Potato, Oregano, and Parmesan Recipe

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Rigatoni with Meaty Mushroom Bolognese

Photo: Brian Woodcock; Styling: Cindy Barr
Rigatoni with Meaty Mushroom Bolognese Recipe
A rich, meaty Bolognese can take hours on the stove, but this savory mushroom version is ready in just half an hour.
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Whole Wheat Rigatoni with Roasted Vegetables

Photo: © Kana Okada
Whole Wheat Rigatoni with Roasted Vegetables Recipe
The Good News: Tossed with sweet acorn squash and roasted tomatoes, this whole wheat pasta from Eric Chopin is packed with fiber and vitamins A and C. Olives and toasted pine nuts add heart-healthy fats.

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Mushroom Rigatoni Bake

Becky Luigart-Stayner; Jan Gautro
Mushroom Rigatoni Bake Recipe
A full cup of Italian Asiago cheese gives body and flavor to the velvety sauce, which is laced with sherry.

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Fettuccine with Chicken and Squash

Photo: Antonis Achilleos; Styling: Gerri Williams for James Reps 
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Chicken Fettuccine with Mushroom Brie

Leigh Beisch
Chicken Fettuccine with Mushroom Brie Recipe
Notes: For deeper mushroom flavor, stir hot mushroom slices sautéed in butter (see Note below) into the pasta, or spoon them over the top as a garnish. PREP AND COOK TIME: About 30 minutes.

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Fettuccine with Squash Ribbons

Photo: Colin Clark; Styling: Lindsey Lower 
Fettuccine with Squash Ribbons Recipe
Stirring olive oil into boiling water creates a quick emulsified sauce for this simple, summery pasta. For a refreshing side, cut half a peeled, seeded cantaloupe lengthwise into 4 wedges. Wrap 1/2 ounce very thinly sliced prosciutto around each wedge.

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Pappardelle with Mushrooms

Photo: Levi Brown; Styling: Tiziana Agnello
Pappardelle with Mushrooms Recipe
When this recipe first appeared in the magazine in October 2009, it was made with hollow bucatini noodles. For this version, we switched to ribbony pappardelle. In truth, any pasta would work well.
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Carrot Orzo

Photo: Jennifer Davick; Styling: Sissy Lamerton
Carrot Orzo Recipe

Though made with orzo rather than rice, this colorful dish is similar to a creamy risotto side. Topped with fresh Parmesan, chives and thyme, this pasta side is a tasty, vibrant side that is great for a crowd. Carrots loose their hard crunch while they boil, creating a smooth, soft textural bite, without turning the vegetable to mush. If you don't have orzo, you can substitute a pasta that you have on-hand, but we recommend sticking to orzo as it allows the carrot mixture to disperse throughout for mixed, plentiful bites.

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Pumpkin Sage Cream Farfalle

Pumpkin Sage Cream Farfalle Recipe
Homemade cream sauce to serve with grilled chicken for a complete meal.

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