Description
This creamy Italian sausage rigatoni is the ultimate comfort food—savory sausage, a silky tomato-cream sauce, and perfectly cooked pasta all come together in under an hour. Easy enough for weeknights yet elegant enough for entertaining.
Ingredients
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 yellow onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1–1½ lbs Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
2 cans (28 oz each) crushed or whole tomatoes
2 Tbsp fresh basil (or 1 tsp dried)
1 tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and black pepper, to taste
1½ cups heavy cream
1½ cups freshly grated Parmesan cheese
1 lb rigatoni pasta
Optional garnishes: fresh basil leaves, extra Parmesan cheese
Instructions
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until just al dente. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add onion and cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute more.
Add sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and no pink remains, about 7–8 minutes.
Stir in tomatoes, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer uncovered for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Lower heat and stir in heavy cream. Add Parmesan and stir until melted and creamy. Adjust thickness with reserved pasta water if needed.
Add rigatoni to the skillet and toss to coat. Let simmer together 2–3 minutes.
Garnish with fresh basil and extra Parmesan before serving.
Notes
Swap sausage with ground turkey or chicken for a lighter version.
To freeze: store sauce separately (without pasta) for up to 2 months.
Add spinach or mushrooms for extra veggies.
Adjust spice level with hot sausage or more red pepper flakes.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 portion
- Calories: 620kcl
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 36 g
- Saturated Fat: 18 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 46 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg
Keywords: rigatoni recipe, creamy pasta, sausage rigatoni, Italian pasta dinner, weeknight pasta