Description
Hearty Italian Creamy Sausage Rigatoni brings robust flavors dancing across your palate with rich, velvety sauce coating perfectly al dente pasta. Savory Italian sausage and creamy parmesan create a comforting meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Protein:
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
Pasta and Dairy:
- 12 ounces (340 grams) rigatoni pasta
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1/2 cup (50 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
Aromatics and Seasonings:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 small onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil and cook rigatoni until al dente, approximately 8-10 minutes. Drain pasta and reserve.
- In a spacious skillet, warm olive oil over medium-high heat until shimmering. Crumble sausage into the pan, browning thoroughly and breaking into small, uniform pieces.
- Reduce heat to medium and introduce finely chopped onions and minced garlic. Sauté until vegetables become translucent and aromatic, releasing their essential flavors.
- Lower skillet temperature to gentle simmer. Pour in rich heavy cream and crushed tomatoes, creating a vibrant, creamy sauce. Stir ingredients to harmonize flavors.
- Incorporate grated Parmesan, dried oregano, red pepper flakes, kosher salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Allow sauce to gently bubble and thicken for 5-6 minutes.
- Fold cooked rigatoni into the sauce, ensuring each pasta tube is lavishly coated with the robust, creamy mixture.
- Transfer to serving dishes, garnishing with chopped fresh parsley and an additional sprinkle of Parmesan cheese for enhanced presentation and flavor complexity.
Notes
- Swap out regular pasta for whole wheat or gluten-free versions to accommodate dietary restrictions without compromising the rich, creamy texture.
- Use lean turkey sausage or plant-based sausage alternatives to create a lighter, healthier version of this indulgent dish.
- Control the spice level by adjusting red pepper flakes or using mild sausage for those with sensitive palates.
- For a dairy-free option, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk or cashew cream and use nutritional yeast instead of Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 739 kcal
- Sugar: 3 g
- Sodium: 726 mg
- Fat: 51 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 28 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 45 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 34 g
- Cholesterol: 109 mg