Fall Comfort Food: Cheesy Pumpkin Pasta Bake Recipe

Pumpkins are pretty much synonymous with Fall. Look, I know you've noticed this. As soon as summer starts winding down, social media gets inundated with memes about pumpkin-spiced this and pumpkin-spiced that. Well, THIS is a fun, new, tasty twist on pumpkin and how you use it in the kitchen.

THE HEALTH BENEFITS OF EATING PUMPKIN

The UK Cooperative Extension Office has a great pumpkin-inspired recipe in their 2025 Food and Nutrition Calendar. The October recipe is a Cheesy Pumpkin Pasta Bake. Sharayha Clingenpeel, from the Daviess County Cooperative Extension Office, served it up today in our weekly 'What's Cookin'?' segment. It's refreshingly delicious. Here's how to make it!

Get our free mobile app

CHEESY PUMPKIN PASTA BAKE

Nonstick cooking spray
2 cups dry penne pasta (or any short pasta such as bowtie)
1 1/2 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
1 small, sweet onion, diced
1 can (15 ounces) pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
1 cup low-fat milk
1 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, divided
1 teaspoon dried thyme
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
3/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
3/4 cup panko breadcrumbs

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Spray a 2-quart baking dish with nonstick cooking spray and set aside.
3. Cook pasta according to package instructions. Drain and set aside.
4. While pasta cooks, in a large skillet over medium heat, melt half of the
butter. Add the onion and cook until tender, about 3 to 5 minutes.
5. Reduce heat to low and add the pumpkin puree, milk, cheddar cheese,
1/4 cup parmesan cheese, thyme, salt, pepper, and nutmeg (if using) to the
skillet. Stir to combine until cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth.
6. Add the pasta to the sauce and gently combine. Pour into the prepared baking dish.
7. Melt the remaining butter in a small bowl and add Panko breadcrumbs. Stir to combine and sprinkle evenly over the pasta.
8. Bake uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes or until heated through.
9. Sprinkle with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan before serving. Refrigerate
leftovers within two hours.

Of course, the single best part of recipes developed by UK Cooperative Extension is the fact that they're designed to feed as many people as possible at a minimal cost. This Cheesy Pumpkin Pasta Bake costs an estimated $13.09. It makes 8 servings. That makes the cost per serving $1.64.