Easy Homemade Sausage And Squash Cavatelli Recipe to Try Today

Sausage and squash cavatelli offers a comforting culinary journey that revamps ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal.

Hearty flavors dance together in this rustic Italian-inspired dish, creating a symphony of textures and tastes.

Seasonal squash brings a subtle sweetness that complements the robust, savory sausage perfectly.

cavatelli pasta catches delicious sauce and ingredients in its unique shell-like curves, ensuring every bite is packed with flavor.

Home cooks appreciate how simple techniques can elevate weeknight dinners from mundane to magnificent.

Warm, inviting aromas will fill your kitchen as this dish simmers and melds its complex ingredients.

The combination promises a satisfying experience that balances nutrition and indulgence with remarkable ease.

Why Sausage and Squash Cavatelli Is So Filling

• Savor Hearty Comfort: This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a warm, satisfying meal that hugs your taste buds with rich, rustic flavors from perfectly browned sausage and tender vegetables.
• Master Quick Cooking Technique: The one-pan method creates deep flavor layers by using the same pan for sausage and vegetables, saving time and minimizing kitchen cleanup while building delicious caramelized notes.
• Customize with Ease: Home cooks can effortlessly swap ingredients like different squash varieties or sausage types, making this dish adaptable to seasonal produce and personal preferences without compromising the recipe's core deliciousness.
• Enjoy Balanced Nutrition: Packed with protein from sausage, vitamins from colorful vegetables, and satisfying carbohydrates from pasta, this recipe delivers a complete, wholesome meal in under 30 minutes with minimal cooking skills required.

What Goes Into Sausage and Squash Cavatelli

• Sausage: Provides rich, savory flavor and protein, choose fresh Italian-style sausage for best taste.

• Zucchini, Yellow Squash: Fresh summer vegetables that add color and light texture, select firm and bright-colored squash.
• Shallots: Adds mild onion-like sweetness and depth to the dish, look for firm and smooth shallots.
• Tomatoes: Brings moisture and bright acidity to balance the dish, choose ripe and firm tomatoes.

• Cavatelli Pasta: Traditional curved pasta that holds sauce well, select high-quality dried pasta.
• Olive Oil: Used for sautéing and adding smooth richness to the dish, choose extra virgin olive oil.
• Salt: Enhances overall flavor and seasons each component, use kosher or sea salt.
• Black Pepper: Adds subtle heat and complexity, freshly ground provides best flavor.
• Pasta Cooking Water: Helps create silky sauce consistency, save before draining pasta.

Step-by-Step: Sausage and Squash Cavatelli

Step 1: Prepare Sausage

Remove sausage from its casings. Break the meat into small crumbles, ready for cooking.

Step 2: Heat the Pan

Pour olive oil into a large shallow sauté pan. Heat the pan over medium-high temperature until the oil shimmers.

Step 3: Brown the Sausage

Add sausage crumbles to the hot pan. Cook until the meat is completely golden and crispy, stirring occasionally. Once done, transfer sausage to a separate plate.

Step 4: Chop Vegetables

• Zucchini
• Yellow squash
• Shallots

Dice tomatoes into small chunks.

Step 5: Sauté Vegetables

• Sliced zucchini
• Yellow squash
• Shallots

Cook for 5-8 minutes until vegetables become tender and lightly caramelized. Add tomatoes during the last minute of cooking to warm them through.

Step 6: Boil Pasta

Fill a separate pot with water. Add generous amount of salt. Bring water to a rolling boil. Add cavatelli and cook according to package instructions.

Step 7: Save Pasta Water

Before draining pasta, carefully reserve of pasta cooking water. This starchy liquid will help create a silky sauce.

Step 8: Combine Ingredients

• Cooked sausage
• Sautéed vegetables
• Drained cavatelli

Slowly add reserved pasta water to create a light, glossy coating.

Step 9: Season and Serve

Sprinkle salt and pepper to taste. Toss everything together until well combined. Serve hot and enjoy your delicious meal!

Cooking Tips for Sausage and Squash Perfection

• Select the Right Sausage: Choose a high-quality Italian sausage with robust flavor to elevate the entire dish's taste profile.
• Master Vegetable Browning: Ensure your pan is hot enough to create a perfect golden-brown exterior on zucchini and squash without making them mushy.
• Save Pasta Water Wisely: The starchy reserved water acts as a natural sauce binder, helping ingredients cling together beautifully.
• Control Cooking Heat: Maintain medium-high heat to caramelize vegetables and develop deep, rich flavors without burning.
• Balance Seasoning Carefully: Taste and adjust salt and pepper gradually, remembering that sausage already brings significant seasoning to the dish.

Keep Leftovers Fresh: Sausage and Squash Reheat Tips

• Refrigeration: Transfer leftover sausage and squash cavatelli to an airtight container within two hours of cooking. Seal tightly and store in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, keeping the dish fresh and delicious.
• Reheating: Warm the pasta in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of pasta water or olive oil to restore moisture. Stir gently to prevent sticking and ensure even heating. Alternatively, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.
• Freezing: For longer storage, freeze the dish in a freezer-safe container for up to 1 month. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating to maintain the best texture and flavor.

Delicious Pairings for Sausage and Squash Cavatelli

• Pair with Rustic Red Wine: Complement the rich, hearty sausage and cavatelli with a medium-bodied Italian red like Chianti or Sangiovese, which cuts through the dish's savory flavors and enhances the vegetable sweetness.
• Fresh Herb Garnish Boost: Sprinkle chopped fresh basil or parsley on top to add brightness and a zesty aroma that lifts the entire dish's flavor profile, creating a more vibrant eating experience.
• Crisp Side Salad Companion: Serve with a light arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette to provide a refreshing contrast to the warm, robust pasta, balancing the meal's richness with tangy, peppery notes.
• Crusty Bread Sidekick: Offer warm, crusty Italian bread to soak up the delicious pan juices and add a satisfying textural element that complements the soft pasta and tender vegetables.

Cavatelli Variations You’ll Love

• Spicy Sausage Squash Skillet: Kick up the heat by using hot Italian sausage and adding red pepper flakes during vegetable sautéing. Sprinkle fresh chili powder for an extra zesty flavor profile.
• Mediterranean Herb Cavatelli: Replace standard sausage with lamb sausage and incorporate fresh oregano, basil, and thyme. Swap zucchini for roasted eggplant and add crumbled feta cheese for a Greek-inspired version.
• Vegetarian Autumn Pasta: Substitute sausage with plant-based crumbles or roasted chickpeas seasoned with fennel seeds. Include butternut squash instead of zucchini to enhance the seasonal vegetable blend and create a hearty meatless option.
• Creamy Rustic Pasta Bowl: Stir in a splash of heavy cream or mascarpone cheese after combining ingredients to create a richer sauce. Garnish with fresh parmesan and chopped parsley for added depth and freshness.

Sausage And Squash Cavatelli Delight Recipe

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4.9 from 15 reviews

• Total Time: 35 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sausage and Squash Cavatelli Delight blends hearty Italian sausage with sweet roasted butternut squash over perfectly al dente pasta. Creamy sage-infused sauce and crispy sage leaves create a comforting autumn meal that welcomes you to savor each rich, complex bite.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound (1 lb) Italian sausage (3–4 sausage links)
• 1 box cavatelli pasta
• 1 large zucchini, sliced
• 1 large yellow squash, sliced

Aromatics and Vegetables:

• 1 large shallot, halved and sliced
• 2 plum tomatoes, halved and sliced (optional)

Seasonings and Garnishes:

• 2 teaspoons (2 tsp) olive oil
• 1 cup reserved pasta water
• ¼ cup fresh basil leaves, torn
• Parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt to taste
• Pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Warm of olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, preparing to transform the raw sausage into a flavorful foundation.
2. Extract the sausage meat from its protective casing, crumbling the protein directly into the heated skillet and sizzling until each morsel achieves a rich, golden-brown exterior with no trace of pink interior.
3. Transfer the perfectly cooked sausage to a separate plate, keeping the rendered fat and delicious browned bits within the pan to enhance subsequent cooking stages.
4. Drizzle an additional of olive oil into the same skillet, introducing thinly sliced zucchini, yellow squash, and delicate shallots to caramelize and soften over 5-7 minutes.
5. During the vegetable transformation, splash diced tomatoes into the skillet during the final moments, allowing them to gently warm and release their subtle juices.
6. Simultaneously, initiate pasta preparation by bringing a separate pot of water to a rolling boil, seasoning generously with kosher salt before adding cavatelli pasta.
7. Cook the cavatelli for 8-10 minutes or until achieving an authentic al dente texture, carefully preserving of starchy cooking liquid before draining.
8. Reunite the browned sausage, sautéed vegetables, and perfectly cooked pasta in a generous mixing bowl, gradually incorporating reserved pasta water to create a silky, cohesive sauce.
9. Conclude by seasoning the ensemble with freshly ground black pepper and kosher salt, ensuring a harmonious blend of flavors that celebrates each ingredient’s unique character.

Notes

• Quickly brown the sausage to develop a rich, caramelized flavor that enhances the entire dish’s depth.
• Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to create a silky, perfectly coated sauce without additional ingredients.
• Sauté vegetables at medium-high heat to achieve a golden-brown exterior while maintaining their tender, fresh texture.
• Use fresh seasonal squash varieties for maximum flavor and nutritional punch in this versatile one-pan meal.
• Select high-quality Italian sausage to provide a robust, savory foundation that elevates the entire recipe’s taste profile.
• Time management is crucial – multitask by cooking pasta while preparing vegetables to streamline the cooking process.

• Prep Time: 15 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 450 kcal
• Sugar: 4 g
• Sodium: 680 mg
• Fat: 22 g
• Saturated Fat: 8 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 12 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 45 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 65 mg