Description
A hearty, one-pot pasta dinner featuring rigatoni tossed in a luscious tomato-cream sauce with savory Italian sausage, parmesan, and fresh basil. Perfect for cozy weeknights or casual gatherings, this comforting dish comes together quickly and is always a crowd-pleaser.
Ingredients
Scale
- 16 oz rigatoni pasta
- 12 oz Italian sausage, casings removed (mild or hot)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, freshly grated
- 1/2 cup reserved pasta water
- 1 tsp salt (or to taste)
- 1/2 tsp black pepper (or to taste)
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook until just al dente, about 10-11 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
- While pasta cooks, heat olive oil over medium-high in a large pot. Add sausage, breaking apart with a wooden spoon, and brown for 5-7 minutes until no pink remains and edges are crisp. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add diced onion and sauté for 3 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring often.
- Pour in crushed tomatoes. Stir well, scraping up any browned bits. Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Simmer for 5 minutes.
- Lower heat to medium-low. Stir in heavy cream and grated parmesan. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until sauce thickens slightly. Add reserved pasta water as needed for a silky consistency.
- Add drained rigatoni to the sauce. Toss gently to coat. Simmer together for 2-3 minutes so pasta absorbs flavor.
- Turn off heat. Stir in chopped fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, topped with extra parmesan and basil.
Notes
For gluten-free, use GF pasta. For dairy-free, swap cream and cheese for alternatives. Sear sausage well for best flavor. Add pasta water gradually for perfect sauce texture. Add veggies like spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrition. Leftovers keep well and can be frozen.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: About 2 cups per serving
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 7
- Sodium: 900
- Fat: 36
- Saturated Fat: 16
- Carbohydrates: 68
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 24
Keywords: creamy sausage rigatoni, one-pot pasta, comfort food, Italian pasta, easy dinner, weeknight meal, sausage pasta, rigatoni recipe