Creamy Pumpkin Marinara – Easy Fall Pasta Sauce
This creamy pumpkin marinara blends sweet pumpkin, tangy tomatoes, and warm spices for a cozy pasta sauce. Perfect for beginners, it’s quick, affordable, and packed with fall flavor.
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 yellow onion chopped
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- ½ teaspoon salt divided
- 2 cloves garlic minced or pressed
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ¼ teaspoon dried tarragon
- ¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 can 15 oz diced or crushed tomatoes
- 1 can 15 oz pumpkin purée
- 1 to 2 tablespoons butter
- 1 to 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar
- Freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Finely grated Parmesan optional, for garnish
- Fresh parsley chopped (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add onion, bell pepper, and ¼ teaspoon salt. Cook 6–8 minutes until tender.
- Stir in garlic, oregano, tarragon, and cinnamon. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Add tomatoes and cook 1 minute, stirring. Stir in pumpkin purée. Simmer 5 minutes, then remove from heat.
- Transfer mixture to a blender. Add 1 tablespoon butter and 1 teaspoon vinegar. Blend until smooth and creamy.
- Season with black pepper and more salt if needed. Adjust butter/vinegar for richness or tang. Blend again.
- Toss with warm pasta and serve topped with parmesan and parsley, if desired.
Notes
For best results, blend until ultra-smooth to get that creamy pumpkin marinara texture. For a twist, stir in sautéed mushrooms for earthy depth.
Nutrition (per serving, estimated)
Calories: 210
Carbohydrates: 25g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 8mg
Sodium: 320mg
Fiber: 6g
Sugar: 8g
Calories: 210
Carbohydrates: 25g
Protein: 5g
Fat: 10g
Saturated Fat: 3g
Cholesterol: 8mg
Sodium: 320mg
Fiber: 6g
Sugar: 8g