Description
Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni is a hearty and flavorful pasta dish with a rich tomato and cream sauce, loaded with Italian sausage and perfectly cooked rigatoni. Ideal for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
- 2 tbsp Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 large Onion, diced
- 4 Garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ lbs Italian Sausage (or 1 lb if you prefer less)
- 2 (28 oz) cans Whole or Crushed Tomatoes
- ¼ cup Fresh Basil, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried basil)
- ¼ cup Fresh Oregano, chopped (or 1 tbsp dried oregano)
- 1 tsp Red Chili Flakes
- 2 tsp Salt
- 1 tsp Pepper
- 1 ½ cups Heavy Cream
- 1 ½ cups Grated Parmesan Cheese
- 1 lb Rigatoni Pasta
Instructions
- Cook rigatoni pasta according to package instructions; drain and set aside.
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Sauté onion and garlic until softened.
- Add Italian sausage, breaking it into pieces, and cook until browned.
- Add whole or crushed tomatoes, basil, oregano, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer for 10–15 minutes. Blend the sauce if using whole tomatoes.
- Reduce heat and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until sauce is creamy and smooth.
- Toss in cooked rigatoni and mix to coat evenly with sauce.
- Serve hot, optionally garnished with extra Parmesan or fresh basil.
Notes
- Use high-quality Italian sausage for the best flavor.
- Adjust red chili flakes for desired spice level.
- Leftovers can be stored in the fridge for 2–3 days and reheated gently.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian