Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage, Sausage & Arugula

If there’s one thing Trader Joe’s loves more than pumpkin spice candles, it’s stuffing squash into unexpected foods. Enter: Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Ravioli. It shows up in the refrigerated case every fall, looking all innocent in its triangular glory, whispering “buy me, I’ll make you feel like Ina Garten for $3.49.”

The problem? Most people boil it, toss it with butter, and… that’s it. Which is fine if you’re a college student or you live exclusively on wine and vibes. But if you’re trying to put actual dinner on the table (for yourself, your kids, or the partner who swears they don’t like squash but will mysteriously eat three servings), the ravioli needs some help.

That’s where this hack comes in: Butternut Squash Ravioli with Brown Butter Sage, Sweet Italian Chicken Sausage, and Arugula. It’s fast, it’s fancy-ish, and it’s the kind of meal that looks like you tried way harder than you did.

Butternut Squash is pumpkins kissing cousin and frankly I like to cook with it more than with straight up pumpkin simply because most pumpkin lacks in flavor compared to butternut squash and the squash in this seasonal ravioli really shines and brings out all those deep fall flavors. You won’t find pumpkin spice flavors in this savory squash ravioli, just pure butternut squash flavors.

Quick Recipe Overview

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4-6 people
Cost per serving: $2-3
Difficulty: Beginner-friendly

---

Why This Recipe Works

• Sweet + Savory Balance: Butternut squash ravioli leans sweet. Pairing it with savory chicken sausage, nutty brown butter, and peppery arugula balances things out so it’s not dessert pasta.
• Brown Butter = Magic: Letting butter go golden with crispy sage is the ultimate cheat code. It tastes like you slaved away, but it’s literally 3 minutes of ignoring butter until it smells nutty.
• Protein Boost: The sausage turns a snacky pasta into a real-deal meal that won’t leave you raiding the pantry an hour later.
• Minimal Effort, Max Vibes: Dinner in under 20 minutes, but it feels like the kind of thing you’d order at a cozy fall bistro for $20 a plate.

---

🛒 Ingredients (all from Trader Joe’s, obviously)

• 2 packages Trader Joe’s Butternut Squash Ravioli (refrigerated case)
• 3 links Sweet Italian Pork Sausage (The raw version in the meat section)
• 4 tbsp Unsalted Butter
• 8–10 fresh Sage Leaves
• 1 bag of Trader Joe’s Arugula
• ¼ cup Toasted Walnuts, roughly chopped
• ¼ cup Parmesan Cheese, grated
• Salt & freshly ground black pepper, to taste

Vegetarian Option: Skip the sausage and sub in roasted butternut squash or sautéed mushrooms.

---

👩‍🍳 Step by Step Instructions

Step 1: Cook the Ravioli

Bring a large pot of salted water to a gentle boil. Cook ravioli per package directions (about 2–3 minutes). Drain toss with a drizzle of oil and set aside. You don’t need to cook ravioli very long.

Step 2: Brown the Sausage

Slice sausage into coins and sauté in a skillet over medium heat until golden brown. Remove and set aside. This picture looks a little weird because when I tried to cut the sausage it just mooshed into lumps. It didn’t effect how the recipe turned out.

Step 3: Make Brown Butter Sage Sauce

Make Brown Butter Sauce: In the same skillet, melt butter. Add sage leaves and let them crisp while the butter turns golden and nutty (2–3 minutes)

Step 4: Assemble

Add ravioli and sausage back to the skillet. Toss gently to coat in butter-sage sauce. Add arugula and stir until just wilted.

Step 5: Serve

Plate, sprinkle with walnuts and Parmesan, season with salt and pepper, and bask in the glow of being a weeknight dinner hero!

---

✨ Pro Tips & Variations

• Vegetarian Swap: Mushrooms or roasted butternut squash make a hearty, earthy replacement for sausage.
• Extra Greens: Out of arugula? Spinach or TJ’s Power Greens will do the trick.
• Crispy Topping: A sprinkle of TJ’s Crispy Onions adds crunch and makes you look like you belong on Food Network.
• Upgrade Factor: Drizzle TJ’s Balsamic Glaze before serving if you’re trying to impress someone.
• Other ravioli: Use one of several ravioli that Trader’s offers, but this blends well with the sage and the sausage.

---

🥂 Wine Pairing

Squash ravioli loves something crisp and not too sweet. Pair it with:

• TJ’s Coastal Sauvignon Blanc (bright, citrusy, keeps the richness in check).
• Or go full autumn and pour a dry hard cider. Bonus: cider in a wine glass feels festive and classy without actually being either.
• Trader Joe’s Bandol Rose – One of my favorite wines right now and such a great deal. Crisp, tart and full of cherry flavors. Perfect match.

---

Final Thoughts

This Butternut Squash ravioli dinner is the definition of a Trader Joe’s hack: you start with a seasonal product that feels like it should be fancier than it is, and you zhuzh it up with three more TJ’s staples. The result? A 20-minute meal that tastes like fall, looks like you tried, and keeps everyone from ordering pizza instead.

Rating: 9/10 – My whole family devoured it, and the only complaint was that I didn’t make a double batch.

So next time you’re staring down those cheerful little ravioli at Trader Joe’s, don’t just butter them up and call it good. Turn them into dinner.