Description
This Creamy Sausage Rigatoni is a quick and comforting one-pan pasta dish featuring Italian sausage, a rich tomato cream sauce, and tender rigatoni. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe delivers bold flavors and creamy textures in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rigatoni
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- ½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- ½ cup chicken broth
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 2 cups fresh spinach
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Cook rigatoni in salted water until al dente; reserve ½ cup pasta water and drain.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Brown the Italian sausage, breaking it into crumbles. Drain excess grease.
- Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes; sauté until fragrant.
- Pour in tomato sauce and chicken broth, stirring well. Let simmer for 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until smooth.
- Add cooked rigatoni and reserved pasta water, stirring to coat the pasta. Let it simmer until thickened.
- Stir in fresh spinach and let it wilt. Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
- Serve hot with extra Parmesan and fresh basil.
Notes
- Use hot Italian sausage for a spicier kick.
- Swap heavy cream for half-and-half for a lighter version.
- Add mushrooms or bell peppers for extra veggies.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American