Description
Creamy Sausage Rigatoni is a comforting Italian-American pasta dish featuring rigatoni tossed in a rich and creamy tomato sauce with savory Italian sausage, garlic, and Parmesan cheese. This easy stovetop recipe delivers a deliciously hearty meal perfect for a weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
Meat and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauce
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 (15-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish
- ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook the rigatoni: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Brown the sausage: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon, and cook for 6 to 8 minutes until browned and fully cooked through.
- Sauté the aromatics: Add the diced onion to the skillet and sauté for 3 to 4 minutes until the onion becomes soft and translucent. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, cooking for another 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Simmer the sauce: Pour in the crushed tomatoes and tomato sauce. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer gently for 10 minutes to develop rich flavors.
- Create the creamy sauce: Reduce heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked rigatoni to the skillet and toss well to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce. Cook for an additional 1 to 2 minutes to heat everything through.
- Garnish and serve: Remove from heat, sprinkle with chopped fresh parsley, and serve hot for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- For extra heat, use spicy Italian sausage instead of mild.
- Substitute with chicken or turkey sausage for a lighter version.
- Add sautéed spinach or mushrooms to boost vegetable content.
