Pumpkin Mushroom Spaghetti Cozy (Printer-Friendly Version)

Creamy pumpkin and mushroom pasta with crispy bacon delivers rich comfort in under 30 minutes.

# Required Ingredients:

→ Pasta

01 - 340 g spaghetti (regular, whole wheat, or gluten-free)

→ Meat

02 - 6 slices thick-cut bacon

→ Vegetables

03 - 240 g mushrooms, sliced (cremini or button)
04 - 2 cloves garlic, minced

→ Sauce

05 - 240 ml canned pumpkin puree (not pumpkin pie filling)
06 - 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
07 - 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
08 - 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg (optional)
09 - Salt and pepper, to taste
10 - 120 ml heavy cream or half-and-half
11 - 50 g grated Parmesan cheese

→ Garnish

12 - Fresh parsley, chopped

→ Oil

13 - 2 tablespoons olive oil (optional, if needed)

# Step-by-Step Instructions:

01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the spaghetti until al dente. Reserve 120 ml of pasta water before draining.
02 - Cook the bacon slices in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp. Drain on paper towels, let cool, and crumble into bite-sized pieces.
03 - Discard excess bacon grease leaving about 15 ml in the pan. If pan is dry, add olive oil. Cook sliced mushrooms for 5–7 minutes until golden and tender.
04 - Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant. Stir in pumpkin puree, thyme, smoked paprika, nutmeg, salt, and pepper; warm for 2 minutes.
05 - Pour in heavy cream and add grated Parmesan. Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes until the sauce thickens and becomes silky smooth.
06 - Add cooked spaghetti to the sauce, tossing to coat thoroughly. Adjust consistency with reserved pasta water as needed.
07 - Plate the pasta and top with crispy bacon, chopped fresh parsley, and extra Parmesan if desired.

# Handy Cooking Tips:

01 - Use pure pumpkin puree rather than pumpkin pie filling for authentic flavor and sweetness.
02 - Cremini mushrooms provide richer taste but button mushrooms are a suitable substitute.
03 - For a lighter sauce, replace heavy cream with half-and-half or evaporated milk.
04 - When reheating leftovers, add a splash of milk or broth to restore creaminess.

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