Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni Recipe
This creamy Rigatoni Pasta recipe combines perfectly al dente rigatoni with a rich sauce made from Italian sausage, crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, and fresh basil. It’s a comforting, flavorful dish that’s easy to prepare on the stovetop and garnished with freshly grated Parmesan cheese for added depth. Perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special family meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1/2 cup pasta water (reserved from cooking)
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil, plus more for garnish
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni and cook according to package directions until al dente, usually about 10-12 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water before draining.
- Heat Olive Oil and Sauté Garlic: While the pasta cooks, heat olive oil in a large sauté pan over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and Italian seasoning, cooking and stirring constantly for 30 to 60 seconds, ensuring the garlic does not brown or burn.
- Cook Italian Sausage: Increase heat to medium-high and add the ground Italian sausage to the pan. Break it up with a spatula and cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 6-8 minutes.
- Add Sauce Ingredients: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, chopped basil, and season generously with kosher salt and black pepper. Allow the sauce to cook for several minutes until warmed through and flavors meld, approximately 5 minutes.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the cooked rigatoni to the sauce along with a splash of the reserved pasta water. Toss everything gently to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy tomato sauce.
- Garnish and Serve: Serve the pasta hot garnished with additional fresh basil and a generous sprinkle of shredded Parmesan cheese. Enjoy immediately.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to help loosen and bind the sauce for better coating.
- Be careful not to burn the garlic as it can turn bitter.
- For a spicier version, consider adding red pepper flakes along with the Italian seasoning.
- This dish pairs well with a side salad or crusty bread.
Keywords: Rigatoni pasta, creamy pasta, Italian sausage pasta, easy pasta recipe, Italian dinner
