15 Fall Pasta Recipes

Fall is such a lovely season. There are still some lingering aspects of summer, but the cooler weather makes us ready for cozy dinners and heartier meals. My clothes and our food are the first things to change with the seasons, and fall pasta recipes are on our dinner radar.

Autumn is such a great time for fresh, seasonal produce. Items from summer harvests can still be available, while cooler-weather produce is also appearing at markets. It’s a wonderful season for cooking with a mix of fresh fruits and vegetables.

Pasta is such a filling meal, it feels especially comforting as the weather gets cooler. With so many seasonal vegetables and herbs to choose from, you can easily create hearty pasta dishes that highlight the flavors of fall while keeping cooking simple and satisfying.

Fall Pasta Recipes

When it comes to fall produce, most people think pumpkins and apples. While both of those are absolutely right, they’re just the tip of the iceberg. Fall fruits and vegetables are numerous, and depending on where you live, some summer produce may still be available as well.

This is actually a great time to mix seasonal ingredients—beets with fresh corn, kale with sliced peaches, or sweet potatoes with tomatillos. Try roasted sweet potatoes with a simple roasted tomatillo salsa in a taco, and you’ll know what I mean. It’s fun to mix the flavors and textures of the fall harvest in all kinds of combinations, especially as different produce comes into season.

Below are some of the best seasonal fall vegetables and herbs for pasta recipes, but there are loads more great produce options this time of year. Farmers markets can be especially full of variety this time of year. And if you live in a place where farmers markets are seasonal, fall is a great time to take advantage of the variety of produce available.

What Are the Best Seasonal Fall Ingredients

• broccoli
• butternut squash
• cabbage
• kale
• leeks
• mushrooms
• onion
• pumpkin
• sage
• spinach
• sweet potato

15 Fall Pasta Recipes

Roasted Vegetable Pasta

A family favorite in our house for years, this roasted vegetable pasta is easy to make and packed with flavor. Roast a variety of veggies in the oven and add to cooked pasta with olive oil, seasonings, and goat cheese. Great for using up veggies and enjoying what’s in season!

This is a great one for a weeknight dinner. Get the veggies roasting and then pull everything else quickly together while they cook in the oven. It’s also delicious for leftovers – a cold lunch or reheated dinner.

Cabbage Pasta

I’ve been making this cabbage pasta recipe for years and we love it. Shreds of cabbage blend seamlessly with spaghetti or fettuccine pasta. Ground turkey adds more flavor than you’d expect and it all comes together with the addition of some yummy stock. Add some chili flakes for a perfect little pinch of heat!

My friend made this recipe once and told me her kids loved it–cabbage and all!!

Broccoli Pasta

An unexpected treat, this creamy vegan pasta uses cashews for the creaminess and the broccoli florets are a welcome brightness in this pasta. Great as a side dish or an entree, but it’s much more filling than you’d expect!

Apple Chicken Sausage Pasta

A quick and easy one pot dinner, chicken sausage pasta is the perfect option for a weeknight pasta meal or a late arrival home. Once the water boils, it’s just 15 minutes until it’s ready to serve! It’s so yummy—and there aren’t many dishes to clean up.

Pro Tip: I like to keep chicken sausage in the freezer for those impromptu meals when it just all needs to come together quickly!!

Pasta and Peas

Probably one of the first recipes I ever truly created from scratch is this pasta with peas recipe. It came on a whim with just a little food in the house.

Fresh spinach and peas (yep, from the freezer) are added to boiling pasta water for a quick heat. Top it with loads of lemon and parmesan and you’ll have a new go-to weeknight dinner. It’s a year-round favorite (not just a fall pasta recipe favorite)! This recipe truly comes together in under 30 minutes and can easily be made for a crowd!

Pumpkin Pasta

Made with canned or fresh puree, this pumpkin pasta is a cozy recipe to have on hand this season. Simple ingredients, including dried sage and nutmeg, and you’ll wonder how you made such a delicious homemade dinner so quickly!

Butternut Squash & Sausage Pasta

The ultimate fall pasta recipe, this pasta with butternut squash has roasted butternut squash cubes for a beautiful, hearty dish! Cooked chicken apple sausage roasts in the oven with the squash while the noodles cook on the stovetop. Mix it all together for a yummy autumnal dinner everyone will ask for again and again.

Mushroom Alfredo

Yep, that classic creamy comfort food recipe! This mushroom alfredo tastes decadent, but is actually super simple to make. Serve it as a side dish with grilled chicken or enjoy that hearty pasta dinner on its own!

Turkey, Kale, & Pesto Pasta

A delicious fall pasta recipe, ground turkey pasta is a great source of protein. Cooked turkey is mixed with shredded kale, sun-dried tomatoes, and your favorite pesto for a filling, flavorful dinner. See my pesto recipe here if you don’t have your own.

Brussels Sprouts Pasta

Crispy, flavor-packed sprouts are roasted to perfection and mixed into this vegetarian pasta (a great side dish for meat eaters too). This Brussels sprouts pasta recipe is flavored with smoked paprika, lemon, parsley, and parmesan for just the right balance of flavor. It’s topped with walnuts for that yummy crunch!

Tuna Pasta

This is another perfect dinner recipe when there isn’t much in the house or you don’t have much time. Tuna pasta recipe uses canned tuna for great protein and it’s brightened up with fresh lemon, garlic, and peas. And don’t skimp on the freshly cracked pepper. It’s the perfect finish.

Pea Pasta Sauce

Another easy one made with frozen peas, this pea pasta sauce is the bee’s knees for your autumnal pasta cravings. It pairs well with just about any roasted or sautéed vegetables and your protein of choice.

Creamy Penne with Chicken & Figs

This pasta bake is a warm, cozy meal. Creamy penne pasta with figs is a surprising combination that uses Monterey jack, chicken stock, and heavy cream for its sauce. Mix that with chopped dried figs, cooked chicken, and seasonings for a yummy dinner – suitable for a weeknight or a weekend gathering!

Mushroom Cauliflower Bolognese

Looking for another plant-based pasta recipe that everyone will love? Try this mushroom cauliflower bolognese. Cauliflower and mushrooms are pulsed to look like ground meat in a traditional bolognese. Tomatoes, prunes, and the right blend of seasonings come together to make the sauce.

Delicata Squash Pasta

Similar to the roasted veggie pasta above is this delicata squash pasta with goat cheese. This is a simple recipe that’s easy for a weeknight dinner, whether you serve it as a side or a main dish. The recipe calls for bucatini pasta, which is fun for kids–it looks like thick spaghetti, but it has a hole down the middle, so it’s like a tube noodle!

Which Pasta Shape Works Best For Fall Sauces?

There really isn’t one perfect pasta shape for fall sauces. The best pasta is often the one you already have in your pantry! But if you want to play around, different shapes can be fun with different sauces.

Long noodles like spaghetti and fettuccine work well with creamy or lighter sauces, while short shapes like penne, rigatoni, and cavatappi are great for thicker sauces and roasted vegetables. Shapes with ridges or little curves also do a great job holding onto chunky sauces, cheese, and bits of seasonal produce.

But don’t be afraid to mix things up. Try your favorite fall pasta sauce with a different shape than you normally would—you may find a new combination you love!

Make Ahead and Leftover Tips

Pasta is one of those dinners that can make busy nights a little easier. You can make the sauce ahead of time, freeze it for later, or turn leftovers into an easy lunch the next day.

Can You Freeze Pasta?

Yes! Cooked pasta can be frozen, although it’s best when it’s slightly undercooked to begin with. Toss it with a little olive oil to keep the noodles from sticking together, let them cool completely, and then freeze in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag.

For the best texture, I prefer freezing pasta and sauce separately when possible. This gives you more flexibility when you’re ready to eat and helps keep the pasta from getting overly soft.

Freezing pasta is a great way to help with meal prep!

Can You Freeze Pasta Sauce?

Most pasta sauces freeze really well. Tomato-based sauces, pesto, meat sauces, and many vegetable-based sauces can all be frozen for an easy future dinner.

Let the sauce cool completely before transferring it to a freezer-safe container. Leave a little room at the top for expansion, then thaw it in the refrigerator overnight or gently reheat it from frozen in a saucepan.

This is one of my favorite ways to make seasonal cooking work for a busy week—make extra sauce when you have the time and save it for a night when you don’t.

How to Reheat Pasta

The stovetop is a great way to reheat leftover pasta. Add the pasta to a skillet or saucepan with a splash of water or broth, cover it with a lid, and warm it gently over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally. The steam from the covered pan helps heat the pasta through while the extra liquid keeps it from drying out.

For creamy sauces, go especially low and slow so the sauce stays smooth. And if your pasta seems a little dry, don’t be afraid to add another splash of water, broth, or even a little olive oil.

Leftover pasta doesn’t have to feel like the same meal twice. Add a handful of fresh greens, roasted vegetables, herbs, or a little freshly grated cheese to give it a fresh spin.

Pasta Recipe Alternatives

I understand how easy pasta is for dinner—no matter the sauce or topping. We have a few ways to make things a little exciting, even if it’s your go-to recipe.

First, we love baked pasta. I usually do this with a tomato sauce, sautéed veggies mixed in, and then either ground meat or leftover chopped meat. Mix it all together on the stovetop, top with shredded cheese, and broil for a few minutes. It’s somehow just different enough to feel like a different meal.

If you have mac and cheese lovers in your house, fall produce like squash, pumpkin, and sweet potatoes are great mix-ins that don’t change the consistency. Start with a small addition if you’re unsure how it will be received.

I also like to play around with unexpected items in pasta like canned beans (chickpeas are an easy way to add protein). And have you ever had chopped nuts in pasta? I like to toast them so they’re a touch softer, but they’re a welcome crunch when everything else in the pasta dish is soft.

And then, as simple as this sounds, just changing up the pasta shape can be enough to make dinner feel a little more fun.

FAQs

What are the best pasta recipes for fall?

The best fall pasta recipes combine cozy pasta with seasonal ingredients like butternut squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, cabbage, kale, mushrooms, and broccoli. There are so many ways to mix these ingredients into pasta, from creamy sauces to roasted vegetables and hearty baked dishes.

What vegetables are good in fall pasta recipes?

There are plenty of great fall vegetables for pasta, including butternut squash, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, cabbage, kale, broccoli, mushrooms, leeks, spinach, and onions. You can mix and match what’s available at your local market to keep your pasta dinners seasonal throughout the fall.

What pasta shapes are best for fall sauces?

There isn’t one pasta or noodle shape that’s best for every fall sauce. Long noodles like spaghetti and fettuccine work well with creamy or lighter sauces, while short shapes like penne, rigatoni, and cavatappi are great with thicker sauces and roasted vegetables. But don’t be afraid to experiment with different shapes and see what you like best.

Can You Make Fall Pasta Gluten-Free?

Absolutely. Simply use your favorite gluten-free pasta in place of traditional pasta (we love Jovial). There are plenty of gluten-free options made from corn, rice, chickpeas, lentils, and other ingredients. Just be sure to check the other ingredients in your sauce if you need the entire dish to be gluten-free.

What should I serve with fall pasta?

A simple green salad or roasted seasonal vegetables are easy sides to serve with fall pasta. You can also serve pasta with crusty bread or a simple soup for a heartier meal. If your pasta already includes plenty of vegetables and protein, you may not need much on the side.

Can you freeze cooked pasta?

Yes! Cooked pasta can be frozen, although it holds up best when slightly undercooked. For the best texture, freeze pasta and sauce separately when possible.

Can you freeze pasta sauce?

Yes. Most tomato, pesto, meat, and vegetable-based pasta sauces freeze well. Cool completely before transferring to a freezer-safe container.

What is the best way to reheat leftover pasta?

Reheat pasta gently on the stovetop with a splash of water or broth to keep it from drying out. Creamy sauces are best reheated over low heat.

What can I substitute for seasonal vegetables in pasta recipes?

Pasta recipes are very forgiving, so don’t worry if you don’t have the exact vegetable called for. Look for vegetables with a similar texture or cooking time and make the swap. For example, you can often use sweet potato in place of squash or kale in place of spinach. It’s also a great way to use whatever produce you have on hand throughout the fall.

Fall is the perfect time to make pasta. From creamy sauces and roasted vegetables to hearty baked pasta dishes, there are so many ways to make a cozy dinner while cooking with the season. Pick a recipe, use what you have on hand, and enjoy!