Description
Craving ultimate comfort? This Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni delivers! Juicy browned sausage and firm rigatoni blend into a sauce-hugging delight. Get the full recipe & nutritional breakdown.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage (mild or hot)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese, plus more for serving
Instructions
- Step 1: Cook the rigatoni pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the starchy pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
- Step 2: While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until fully browned. Drain any excess fat and set the cooked sausage aside.
- Step 3: In the same skillet, add the chopped yellow onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until fragrant.
- Step 4: Stir in the undrained diced tomatoes and the cooked Italian sausage. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer and cook for 5-7 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld and the sauce to thicken slightly.
- Step 5: Reduce the heat to low. Stir in the heavy cream and 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy. If the sauce appears too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water, one tablespoon at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Step 6: Add the drained rigatoni pasta to the creamy sausage sauce and toss gently to coat all the pasta evenly. Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
- Store any delicious leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days; the sauce may thicken, but that's easily fixed!
- To revive your creamy pasta, gently reheat portions on the stovetop over low heat or in the microwave, adding a splash of milk, broth, or even water to bring the sauce back to its smooth, luscious consistency.
- Round out this comforting dish with a crisp green salad tossed in a bright vinaigrette, or serve alongside some warm, crusty garlic bread to soak up every last bit of that amazing sauce.
- Ensuring the Italian sausage is thoroughly browned before draining the fat is key to developing rich, savory flavors that will elevate your entire dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: food recipes
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 640
- Sodium: 520mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Protein: 2g