Italian rigatoni with butternut squash, spicy sausage, Swiss chard, and a creamy Parmesan sauce for a flavorful meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Vegetables & Sausage
01 - 1 tablespoon olive oil
02 - 3 cups peeled and diced butternut squash
03 - 1 small red onion, diced
04 - 12 ounces spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 1 bunch Swiss chard, stems removed and chopped
07 - 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
08 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
→ Pasta & Sauce
09 - 8 ounces rigatoni
10 - 1/4 cup crème fraîche
11 - 1/3 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
# Steps to Follow:
01 - Heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium heat. Add diced butternut squash and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly browned and beginning to tenderize, about 6 to 7 minutes.
02 - Add diced red onion to the pan and sauté until softened, about 4 minutes. Add spicy Italian sausage, breaking into small pieces, and cook until browned, about 3 minutes.
03 - Stir in minced garlic, chopped Swiss chard, and red chili flakes. Cook until chard is wilted, about 3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Keep warm over low heat.
04 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook until al dente, approximately 8 minutes. Reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water, then drain pasta.
05 - Add drained rigatoni to sausage and vegetable mixture. Pour in reserved pasta water, crème fraîche, and grated Parmesan. Stir to coat pasta evenly, cooking for an additional 1 to 2 minutes. Adjust seasoning as needed.
06 - Serve immediately, garnished with extra Parmesan cheese.
