Description
Hearty Italian cuisine reaches new heights with this creamy sausage rigatoni, where robust flavors dance through al dente pasta. Rich tomato sauce and tender sausage create a comforting meal you’ll savor with each delightful bite.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) rigatoni pasta
Proteins and Aromatics:
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Sauces and Seasonings:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook rigatoni for 8-10 minutes until perfectly tender yet firm.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature, then crumble sausage and sauté until golden brown and crispy.
- Introduce finely chopped onions and minced garlic to the skillet, allowing them to soften and release their aromatic essence for 2-3 minutes.
- Pour crushed tomatoes into the skillet, followed by rich heavy cream and a sprinkle of Italian seasoning, creating a luxurious sauce that will simmer and meld flavors for 5-7 minutes.
- Gently fold the cooked rigatoni into the creamy tomato mixture, ensuring each pasta tube is lavishly coated with the robust sauce.
- Incorporate grated Parmesan cheese, stirring thoroughly to enhance the sauce’s complexity and create a velvety texture.
- Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper, tasting and adjusting until the flavors are perfectly balanced.
- Garnish with vibrant chopped parsley for a fresh finish, then serve immediately while the dish remains piping hot.
Notes
- Swap out regular pasta for whole wheat or gluten-free rigatoni to accommodate different dietary needs without compromising the rich, creamy flavor.
- Remove casings from sausage and break into smaller pieces for more even distribution and better sauce integration throughout the dish.
- Keep the sauce simmering on low heat to prevent cream from separating and maintain a smooth, velvety texture that clings perfectly to the pasta.
- Try different sausage varieties like spicy Italian, chicken, or plant-based alternatives to create unique flavor profiles while keeping the core recipe structure intact.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 670 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 590 mg
- Fat: 45 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 26 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 38 g
- Fiber: 2.5 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg