I’m a busy student, and I'm always looking for a perfect quick dinner like this spicy-sweet pasta. Even better, it works when scaled up to feed a bunch of friends.
—Christine Yang, Syracuse, NY
Takes: 30 min. • Makes: 6 servings
3 cups uncooked gemelli or spiral pasta (about 12 oz.)
1 pkg. (12 oz.) fully cooked chorizo chicken sausage links or flavor of choice, sliced
1 cup canned pumpkin
1 cup half-and-half cream
3/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
11/2 cups shredded Manchego or Monterey Jack cheese
Minced fresh cilantro, optional
Cook pasta according to package directions. Drain, reserving 3/4 cup pasta water. Meanwhile, in a large skillet, saute sausage over medium heat until lightly browned; reduce heat to medium-low. Add the pumpkin, cream, salt and pepper; cook and stir mixture until heated through. Toss with the pasta and enough pasta water to moisten; stir in cheese. If desired, sprinkle with cilantro.
11/3 cups: 471 cal., 20g fat (11g sat. fat), 92mg chol., 847mg sod., 48g carb. (7g sugars, 3g fiber), 26g pro.