Best Spicy Squash Pasta Recipes

SPICY BUTTERNUT SQUASH PASTA WITH SPINACH

Steps:

• Bring a large covered pot of heavily salted water to a boil.
• Meanwhile, in a 12-inch ovenproof skillet with high sides and a tight-fitting lid (or a Dutch oven), heat the oil over medium-high until shimmering. Add the squash and season with salt, cumin and red-pepper flakes. Cook, stirring every minute, until squash becomes browned in spots and feels just tender, 6 to 8 minutes.
• Meanwhile, heat the oven to 400 degrees. Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook, uncovered, until not quite al dente, 3 to 4 minutes less than the package instructions. (It should be a little too firm to the bite.) Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and drain. If the pasta is done before the squash, then stir in a drizzle of olive oil so that it doesn't stick together.
• When the squash is just tender, add the broth. Bring to an active simmer, cover and cook, stirring occasionally, until the squash is soft and easily mashable, 10 to 12 minutes. Turn off the heat, then use a potato masher or the back of a wooden spoon to crush about half of the butternut squash and leave the rest chunky. Season the squash to taste, keeping in mind that salty Parmesan will be added soon.
• Add the cooked pasta to the skillet along with 1 cup reserved pasta water and 1/2 cup grated Parmesan, stirring vigorously to combine. Stir in the spinach one handful at a time until it shrinks down a little.
• Sprinkle the top with the remaining 1/4 cup Parmesan, the mozzarella and jalapeño, then place in the oven, on a sheet pan if you are worried about dripping. Cook until the top is melted and browned in spots, 12 to 15 minutes. Drizzle with olive oil, top with parsley and serve.

SPICY CHICKEN AND BROCCOLI WITH SQUASH PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
• Place chicken thighs and sausage links on the baking sheet. Season chicken lightly with salt and pepper.
• Bake in the preheated oven until chicken is no longer pink in the center, about 25 minutes. Cool until easily handled, 5 to 10 minutes. Pull chicken apart. Slice sausage links.
• Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add broccoli; cook and stir for 3 minutes. Stir in tomatoes, cherry peppers, jalapeno pepper, and garlic; cook until tomatoes soften, about 3 minutes. Stir in chicken and sausage slices.
• Cut yellow squash into noodles using a spiralizer. Add to the skillet. Drizzle remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil over squash; toss with tongs until heated through, about 1 minute. Season with salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Melt butter on top.

SPICY SQUASH PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. If using pumpkin or calabaza, cut into wedges; if using butternut squash, cut in half. Remove seeds; reserve for another use. Drizzle with oil; season with salt and pepper. Place squash, cut side up, on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 10 minutes. Flip squash; bake until very tender, 40 to 50 minutes more. Let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Scoop flesh into a medium bowl; discard skins.
• Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, a large pinch of salt, red pepper flakes, and 3/4 teaspoon each thyme, sage, and rosemary. Cook, stirring, until garlic is golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add squash; cook, stirring and mashing with a spoon, until heated through.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt. Add pasta; cook until al dente. Drain well.
• Heat remaining oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cooked pasta, parsley, and remaining thyme, sage, and rosemary. Season with salt. Toss to combine; cook until heated through.
• Divide pasta evenly among serving bowls. Top with squash mixture and ricotta, dividing evenly. Garnish with parsley; drizzle with oil. Serve with Parmesan.

SPICY SUMMER SQUASH AND PASTA

Steps:

• Cook noodles according to package directions.
• Saute onion in olive oil with hot pepper and garlic for 5 minutes.
• Add squash and dried herbs. Continue cooking for another 5 minutes, or until squash is softened but not mushy.
• Add tomatoes and beans, add salt and pepper to taste, and cook until heated through.
• Serve squash sauce over noodles and top with fresh herbs and cheese.

SPICY SQUASH WITH PASTA

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Line a baking sheet with a Silpat (French nostick baking mat). Season squash with salt and pepper, and place, cut side up, on baking sheet. Bake 10 minutes. Turn cut side down, and bake until tender when pierced with the tip of a knife, 20 to 30 minutes more. Remove squash from oven, and let stand until cool enough to handle, about 10 minutes. Scoop out flesh, discarding skins; set aside.
• Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add salt. Add perciatelli, and cook until al dente, according to manufacturers' directions.
• Meanwhile, in a medium skillet, heat 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat, add garlic, a large pinch of salt, red-pepper flakes, 1/2 teaspoon thyme, 1/2 teaspoon sage, and 1/2 teaspoon rosemary. Cook until garlic is golden and fragrant about 5 minutes. Add reserved squash, and heat through.
• In a second large skillet, heat remaining 2 tablespoons oil over medium heat. When pasta is done, drain well, and add to pan with oil. Add parsley and remaining 1/4 teaspoon each of thyme, sage, and rosemary. Season with salt, and toss to combine.
• Place ricotta in a large dollop in the center of the serving platter. Top with squash mixture. Cover with pasta. Sprinkle with Parmesan cheese, and serve immediately.

ONE-PAN SPICY CORN AND SQUASH PASTA

Steps:

• Heat oil in large skillet sprayed with cooking spray on medium heat. Add onions; cook 5 min. or until crisp-tender, stirring frequently. Add squash and zucchini; cook and stir 2 min. Add broth, milk and pasta; stir.
• Bring to boil; cover. Simmer on medium-low heat 16 to 18 min. or until pasta is tender.
• Add cream cheese spread; cook and stir 2 to 3 min. or until completely melted. Add corn and Parmesan; cook 2 to 3 min. or until heated through, stirring frequently.

SPICY SQUASH PASTA

Steps:

• 1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees. If using pumpkin or calabaza, cut into wedges; if using butternut squash, cut in half. Remove seeds; reserve for another use. Drizzle with oil; season with salt and pepper. Place squash, cut side up, on a rimmed baking sheet lined with parchment paper. Bake 10 minutes. Flip squash; bake until very tender, 40 to 50 minutes more. Let cool slightly, about 10 minutes. Scoop flesh into a medium bowl; discard skins. 2. Heat 2 tablespoons oil in a medium skillet over medium heat. Add garlic, a large pinch of salt, red pepper flakes, and 3/4 teaspoon each thyme, sage, and rosemary. Cook, stirring, until garlic is golden and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Add squash; cook, stirring and mashing with a spoon, until heated through. 3. Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add a pinch of salt. Add pasta; cook until al dente. Drain well. Heat remaining oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add cooked pasta, parsley, and remaining thyme, sage, and rosemary. Season with salt. Toss to combine; cook until heated through. 4. Divide pasta evenly among serving bowls. Top with squash mixture and ricotta, dividing evenly. Garnish with parsley; drizzle with oil. Serve with Parmesan.