Squash, Kale & Chicken Sausage Cavatappi
with Kale, Toasted Panko & Parmesan
- Wheat
- Milk
Dreaming about a piping-hot, creamy, soul-warming pasta dish? Well, that dream is now a reality. This delicious dish stars curly cavatappi, tender kale, and caramelized cubes of roasted butternut squash tossed in a rich and savory cream sauce. It’s topped off with crisp, buttery panko topping for a dish that’s guaranteed to satisfy all your carby cravings. (We’re all about making dreams come true.)
Ingredients
8 ounce
Butternut Squash
1 unit
Shallot
1 clove
Garlic
4 ounce
Kale
6 ounce
Cavatappi Pasta
(Contains: Wheat)
¼ cup
Panko Breadcrumbs
(Contains: Wheat)
4 ounce
Cream Sauce Base
(Contains: Milk)
1 unit
Veggie Stock Concentrate
1.5 tablespoon
Sour Cream
(Contains: Milk)
3 tablespoon
Parmesan Cheese
(Contains: Milk)
9 ounce
Italian Chicken Sausage Mix
Not included in your delivery
3 teaspoon
Cooking Oil
3 tablespoon
Butter
(Contains: Milk)
Salt
Pepper
Nutrition Values
Utensils
Cooking Steps
• Adjust rack to top position and preheat oven to 450 degrees. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Wash and dry produce. • Cut butternut squash into bite-size pieces if necessary. Halve, peel, and thinly slice shallot. Peel and mince or grate garlic. Remove and discard any large stems from kale; chop into bite-size pieces.
• Toss butternut squash on a baking sheet with a drizzle of oil, salt, and pepper. Roast on top rack, tossing halfway through, until browned and tender, 20-25 minutes. • Meanwhile, melt 1 TBSP butter (2 TBSP for 4 servings) in a large pan over medium heat. Add panko, salt, and pepper. Toast, stirring, until golden, 2-3 minutes. Transfer to a small bowl and set aside. Turn off heat; wipe out pan.
• Once water is boiling, add cavatappi and cook, stirring occasionally, until al dente, 9-11 minutes. Reserve 1 cup pasta cooking water (11⁄2 cups for 4 servings), then drain.
Open package of chicken* and drain off any excess liquid. Heat a drizzle of oil in pan used for panko over medium- high heat. Add chicken or sausage* and season with salt and pepper. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned and cooked through, 4-6 minutes. Turn off heat; transfer to a plate. Wash out pan.
• Heat a drizzle of oil in pan used for panko over medium-high heat. Add shallot and a pinch of salt; cook, stirring, until slightly softened, 2-3 minutes. • Stir in garlic and cook until fragrant, 30 seconds. • Reduce heat under pan to medium. Stir in kale and a splash of water; cook, stirring and adding more splashes of water as needed, until kale is tender and water has evaporated, 5-7 minutes.
Use pan used for chicken or sausage here.
• Add cream sauce base, stock concentrate, and 1⁄4 cup reserved pasta cooking water (1/3 cup for 4 servings) to pan with kale. Cook, stirring, until thickened, 2-3 minutes. • Remove pan from heat; stir in sour cream, Parmesan, and 2 TBSP butter (3 TBSP for 4) until melted and combined. Season with salt and pepper.
• Stir drained cavatappi and squash into pan with sauce until thoroughly coated. TIP: If sauce is too thick, add more pasta cooking water and a drizzle of olive oil. • Divide pasta between plates and top with toasted panko. Serve.
Stir chicken or sausage into sauce along with drained cavatappi.
Chicken Sausage is fully cooked when internal temperature reaches 165°.
Customer reviews
Review summary
Updated on Dec 2025- Flavor: Many loved the unique blend of flavors and textures, though some found it too sweet or heavy.
- Ease of prep: Several noted the recipe had many steps, suggesting streamlining the cooking process for fewer dishes.
- Suggestions: Consider adding more squash and kale for extra flavor and nutrition. Try spinach as an alternative to kale.
- Portions: This hearty dish makes plenty, with enough for leftovers or to feed four with a side salad.
- Texture: The panko topping added a nice crunch, but some found the squash texture inconsistent.
Reviews from our home cooks
Full of yummy flavors and textures! So hearty and filling, this can feed four with a thrown together side salad.
Did not see directions on what to do with the chicken sausage, so just cooked in a skillet added salt and pepper and incorporated in the end mixture.
This made a huge meal! The variety and balance of flavors was great.
This was so unique and delicious! It definitely needs more squash because it's so good.
The sausage by itself was salty but all mixed together it was very good
I'd add more kale. There was enough for leftovers, but not enough kale for it
The butternut squash sent to me was already soft and cooked through, so if I had baked them for 20-25 minutes like the recipe suggested, I would have burned them. I cooked them for 12 minutes.
Panko was nice texture but a lot of extra steps. Squash was weird texture sometimes.
I wish it had more squash and was creamier/saucier. Foundation for a winner though!
Tasted great! My cream sauce broke in the box so I had to make my own. But besides that, super yummy
