Description
A quick and comforting dinner recipe featuring creamy sauce, bold flavors, and hearty rigatoni pasta, ready in just 30 minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
- ¾ cup Parmesan cheese, grated
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil the pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup of pasta water before draining.
- Sauté the onions and garlic: Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
- Cook the sausage: Add the Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Cook until browned and fully cooked, about 6-8 minutes. Drain any excess grease if needed.
- Add the tomatoes: Pour the crushed tomatoes into the skillet and stir to combine. Let it simmer for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Make it creamy: Lower the heat and stir in the heavy cream. Let the sauce simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until it thickens slightly.
- Finish the sauce: Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese and reserved pasta water. This will make the sauce extra creamy and help it coat the pasta perfectly.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the cooked rigatoni to the skillet and toss until every piece is coated in the creamy sausage sauce. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- Serve: Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve warm.
Notes
[‘Don’t skip the pasta water—it helps bind the sauce to the pasta.’, ‘Use fresh Parmesan for better melting and flavor.’, ‘Let the sauce simmer after adding the tomatoes to meld the flavors.’, ‘Taste the pasta to ensure it’s perfectly al dente.’]
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 450
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 52
- Protein: 18
Keywords: Creamy Sausage Rigatoni, Comfort Food, Easy Dinner Recipe, Italian Pasta, Quick Dinner