Published: / 86 Comments
Recipe Print
This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please see our affiliate policy.
Creamy Butternut Squash and Spinach Tortellini - perfect holiday recipe for Christmas or Thanksgiving. It will work great as a holiday side dish or main dish. Or, if you love butternut squash, you can make it anytime of year!
You will love the flavorful creamy sauce prepared with freshly made butternut squash puree and spiced up with lemon pepper, nutmeg and paprika! It makes thisCreamy Butternut Squash and Spinach Tortellini very special.
This is one of those truly seasonal recipes - perfect in the Fall and in the Winter when the fresh butternut squash abounds! This dish is great on its own, as a meatless entree, it's also great with grilled chicken.
If you like this butternut squash and spinach tortellini, you might enjoy these recipes:
Creamy Tortellini with Bacon and Brussels Sprouts
Creamy Chicken, Asparagus, and Bacon Tortellini
Creamy Mozzarella, Sausage, Spinach, and Tomato Tortellini
Pesto Chicken, Tortellini, and Veggies
4.79 from 93 votes
Butternut Squash and Spinach Tortellini
This is a great recipe to make during the holidays (Christmas or Thanksgiving). Easy and healthy holiday side dish or main dish. Butternut Squash and Spinach Tortellini in a creamy sauce.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 20 minutes mins
Total Time 30 minutes mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings
Calories per serving 274 kcal
Author: Julia
Ingredients
- 1 cup butternut squash puree
- 1 cup half and half
- ¼ teaspoon nutmeg
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon lemon pepper seasoning
- 2 cups tortellini uncooked
- 8 oz spinach , uncooked, fresh
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
Add 1 cup of butternut squash puree, 1 cup of half and half, ¼ teaspoon of nutmeg, a pinch of paprika, and ¼ teaspoon salt to the large skillet, on medium heat. While heating, stir all the ingredients to combine. Add about ¼ teaspoon of lemon pepper seasoning - don't add all of it at once, add a little and add more, to your taste. Add the spinach on top of the mixture, cover with the lid, remove from heat. Let the spinach wilt in the pan, covered, off heat.
While the spinach wilts, bring the medium pan of water to boil, add 2 cups of uncooked tortellini, and cook according to the package instructions (usually 7 - 10 minutes in boiling water). Once the tortellini is cooked, drain the water.
Add cooked and drained tortellini to the skillet with the butternut squash sauce and spinach and stir to combine. If the sauce is too thick, add more half and half to thin it. Also, taste and add more salt, nutmeg and lemon pepper, if desired.
Serve topped with chopped fresh parsley.
Notes
WHAT IS HALF AND HALF? Half and half is the US milk product that combines half milk half cream to form a lighter cream.
To make 1 cup of half and half, combine ½ cup milk and ½ cup regular cream (heavy, or whipping cream).
Nutrition
Nutrition Information
Butternut Squash and Spinach Tortellini
Amount per Serving
Calories
274
% Daily Value*
Fat
11
g
17
%
Saturated Fat
5
g
31
%
Cholesterol
14
%
Sodium
447
mg
19
%
Potassium
529
mg
15
%
Carbohydrates
32
g
11
%
Fiber
4
g
17
%
Sugar
2
g
2
%
Protein
11
g
22
%
Vitamin A
9480
IU
190
%
Vitamin C
26.5
mg
32
%
Calcium
214
mg
Iron
3.3
mg
18
%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.
Nutrition Disclaimer:
The nutritional information on this website is only an estimate and is provided for convenience and as a courtesy only. The accuracy of the nutritional information for any recipe on this site is not guaranteed. It should not be used as a substitute for a professional nutritionist’s advice.
Tried this recipe?Be sure to leave a comment and provide a Star Rating below - I love your feedback and try to respond to every comment!
Want another delicious butternut squash recipe?
Check out this Thanksgiving Side Dish - Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Cinnamon Butternut Squash, Pecans, and Cranberries
« Winter Fruit Salad with Maple-Lime Dressing
Creamy Potatoes and Peas with Parmesan and Garlic »
Please share your comment and Star Rating in the comments section below.
I appreciate your feedback!
Reader Interactions
Comments
Jim PriceI can't use your site - the print function only prints one blank page. The email link section goes to GMAIL, which is NOT my default browser. EVERY other site on Pinterest works except yours. Happy computing!~
Reply
- Julia
Jim, I will check into that!
Reply
- Denise
Made it this Thanksgiving! An absolute hit with the family!
Reply
- Rebecca S
Heavy cream and half and half are not my belly's friends, can I use fat-free half and half or evaporated milk to get the creaminess in this recipe?
Reply
- Julia
Rebecca, I am not sure about fat-free stuff, but evaporated milk would work great here!
Reply
- Andrea
I changed the spices and somehow made a soup from this. Was excellent. Thank you!
Reply
- Daniela Thomson
The nutmeg was overwhelming...
Reply
- Chrissy
How long am I supposed to cook the purée mixture before adding the spinach? I’ve added my spinach and it’s not wilting.
Reply
- Julia
If the spinach is not wilting, heat the skillet with the butternut squash puree on low-medium heat, and stir the spinach in occasionally, until wilted.
Reply
- Mary
Is the purée and cream supposed to get totally smooth?
Reply
- Julia
Yes, the puree and the cream should be really smooth.
Reply
- Carol Irving
I wanted to like this. Mine was very blah. What could I do to make it more tasty?
Reply
- Julia
You can try adding more nutmeg, more paprika, more lemon pepper seasoning. Make sure to season the dish with enough salt. Salt helps bring out other flavors. Use Hungarian paprika. Or, use smoked paprika.
Reply
- Susan
Julia
can you add sliced sun dried tomatoes to this recipe or are they too strong a flavor?Thank you -- will try for Thanksgiving!
Reply
- Julia
Sun-dried tomatoes might be too strong for these flavors.
Reply
- Brekka
Would this taste good with chicken in it??
Reply
- Amber
I have some leftover smoked turkey that im thinking of picking and adding to this. Do you think it would compliment it well?
Reply
- Austin Layton
Great recipe! Very easy and my husband loved it.
Reply
- Julia
Thank you! 🙂
Reply
- Stacey
Is there a good substitute for lemon pepper seasoning?
Reply
- Julia
You can combine dried lemon zest, salt and black pepper to make your own lemon seasoning.
Reply
- Julia
The best solution is to make your own lemon pepper seasoning: combine dried lemon zest, salt, and black pepper.
Reply
- Angi
Instead of half and half, do you think using unsweetened organic coconut canned milk would work too?
Reply
- Julia
Yes, it will work! I have had several people comment on other similar recipes that coconut milk is a good alternative to half and half.
Reply
- Angi
Great thanks, trying it today.
Reply
- Julia
Enjoy! 🙂
Reply
« Older Comments
