Try this quick, seasonal recipe for brown butter and sage sauce. It pairs perfectly with butternut squash pasta, gnocchi, ravioli, or pan-seared chicken. In these photos I used Trader Joe’s Fall Zucchette pasta.
I’m a cookbook author and home-cook who loves simple, flavorful weeknight dishes. Let’s make this easy fall pasta together.
Serve this pasta with a pan-seared chicken breast for an elegant, satisfying meal.
Quick look at cooking brown butter sage sauce…
This recipe makes enough to feed a family and is reliably popular every time I prepare it.
Quick look…
- Melt butter with fresh sage in a skillet for 2–3 minutes.
- Toss the al dente butternut squash pasta in the brown butter and sage.
- Finish with shaved Parmesan and freshly ground black pepper to serve.
If you’re new to making a simple pasta sauce, keep reading for a printable recipe and a step-by-step video.
Ingredients
Gather these ingredients for the brown butter and sage sauce:
- ½ cup salted butter
- 10 small fresh sage leaves
- 2 tbsp Parmesan, shaved
- ⅛ tsp freshly ground black pepper
- 1 lb butternut squash pasta (I used Fall Zucchette pasta)
How to cook brown butter and sage pasta sauce
Follow these simple steps and a few helpful tips to get a glossy, fragrant sauce.
- Melt the butter with sage: In a medium skillet over medium heat, melt the butter and add the sage leaves. Stir frequently for 2–3 minutes, until the butter turns golden-brown and the sage is fragrant. Watch closely so the butter doesn’t burn.
- Combine with pasta: Cook the pasta until al dente, reserve a little pasta cooking water, then turn off the heat under the skillet. Add the drained pasta to the brown butter and toss to coat. If the sauce seems dry, add a splash of reserved pasta water to loosen it and help it cling to the pasta.
- Finish and serve: Plate the pasta, top with shaved Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper. Serve immediately while warm.
For more from my kitchen, see my homemade pasta recipe.
I only publish recipes my family loves — this one consistently gets five-star feedback at home, and I think you’ll enjoy it too.
Are you a foodie, too?
If you try this brown butter and sage sauce, I hope it becomes a go-to for weeknights and holiday meals alike. It’s quick, seasonal, and full of buttery, herb-scented flavor.
Also try the butternut squash soup recipe for another comforting fall option.
Enjoy cooking — follow along on social media for more recipes and videos.
— Jenna
Brown Butter & Sage Sauce Pasta Recipe | Sip Bite Go
Video
Ingredients
- ½ cup salted butter
- 10 small fresh sage leaves
- 2 tbsp Parmesan, shaved
- ⅛ tsp ground pepper
- 1 lb butternut squash pasta
Instructions
- Melt butter with sage in a medium skillet over medium heat. Stir frequently 2–3 minutes until the butter is golden and aromatic.
- Turn off the burner, add al dente cooked pasta to the skillet, and toss to coat. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve topped with shaved Parmesan and freshly cracked black pepper.
Notes
Nutrition
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Fat: 23g
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Saturated Fat: 15g
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