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Creamy Sausage Rigatoni

creamy sausage rigatoni - featured image
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A cozy, one-pan Italian pasta dinner featuring tender rigatoni, savory Italian sausage, and a luscious tomato-cream sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings, this comforting dish is easy to make and always a crowd-pleaser.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz dried rigatoni pasta
  • 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed (mild or spicy)
  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 cup tomato puree
  • 1 cup heavy cream (or half-and-half for lighter version)
  • 2 cups chicken broth (low-sodium or homemade)
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese (plus more for serving)
  • 1 tsp salt, or to taste
  • 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
  • 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning (or dried basil and oregano)
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil, torn (optional)

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Spoon off excess fat, leaving a bit for flavor.
  2. Add chopped onion and cook for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute until fragrant.
  3. Pour in tomato puree and chicken broth, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Stir in Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using). Bring to a gentle simmer.
  4. Add dried rigatoni, making sure it’s mostly submerged in the liquid. Cover and simmer on medium-low for 14-16 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and has absorbed most of the sauce. Add more broth or water if needed.
  5. Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Mix until the sauce is creamy and glossy. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  6. Remove from heat and sprinkle torn basil leaves over the pasta. Gently toss to combine.
  7. Serve hot, topped with extra Parmesan and basil if desired. If the sauce thickens too much, stir in a splash of cream or broth before serving.

Notes

Brown the sausage well for maximum flavor. If cooking pasta separately, reserve some pasta water to loosen the sauce. Add cream over low heat to prevent curdling. Taste and adjust seasoning before serving. For gluten-free, use GF pasta; for vegetarian, use plant-based sausage and vegetable broth. Leftovers keep well for up to 3 days in the fridge or 2 months in the freezer.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy sausage rigatoni, Italian pasta, one pan dinner, comfort food, easy pasta recipe, weeknight meal, sausage pasta, tomato cream sauce

Find it online: https://tomyumy.com/creamy-sausage-rigatoni-recipe-easy-one-pan-italian-dinner/