Indulgent Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni
A comforting dish featuring rigatoni pasta combined with rich Italian sausage and a creamy sauce.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 45 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Non-Vegetarian
Ingredients
Scale
- 8 ounces rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) canned tomatoes
- 1/4 teaspoon red chili flakes
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring it to a rolling boil. Add the rigatoni and cook for about 8-10 minutes until al dente, stirring occasionally.
- Reserve 1 cup of the pasta water, then drain the rigatoni in a colander. Set it aside while you prepare the sauce.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the diced onion and cook for about 4-5 minutes until it’s translucent, stirring frequently.
- Stir in the minced garlic and sauté for another minute until fragrant.
- Crumble the Italian sausage into the skillet, cooking it until browned, about 6-8 minutes.
- Pour in the canned tomatoes, breaking them up with a spoon. Let the mixture simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Add red chili flakes, salt, and pepper to taste. Mix well.
- Lower the heat slightly and gradually pour in the heavy cream while stirring continuously.
- Stir in the grated Parmesan cheese until it melts into the sauce.
- Add the cooked rigatoni to the skillet, tossing it gently to coat.
- Plate the creamy pasta and sprinkle more Parmesan on top. Finish with fresh basil.
Notes
For balanced flavor, use a mix of spicy and mild sausage. Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.