Description
Creamy Parmesan Sausage Rigatoni is a rich and flavorful pasta dish featuring perfectly cooked rigatoni tossed in a savory cream sauce with browned Italian sausage, diced tomatoes, and a blend of aromatic herbs and spices. This comforting meal comes together quickly, making it ideal for weeknight dinners or gatherings.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Sauce
- 1.25 lbs Italian sausage
- 1 15-oz can petite diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1.5 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
Pasta
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta (uncooked)
- Salt for pasta water (liberally salted water recommended)
Instructions
- Cook the Pasta: Fill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Add a generous amount of salt to the water. Add 12 oz of rigatoni pasta and cook for 1 minute less than the package instructions to achieve perfect al dente texture. Drain the pasta well and set aside.
- Brown the Sausage: While the pasta cooks, remove casings from 1.25 lbs of Italian sausage if applicable. Heat a large skillet (at least 12 inches wide) over medium heat. Add the sausage and cook, breaking it up with a spoon until browned and cooked through. Do not drain the sausage fat as it will add flavor to the sauce.
- Prepare the Sauce: To the browned sausage in the skillet, add the entire can of petite diced tomatoes along with their juice, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (if using), 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, and 1/2 teaspoon salt. Bring the mixture to a boil and cook for about 3-4 minutes until the liquid is mostly reduced and the sauce has thickened slightly.
- Add Cream and Cheese: Lower the heat and stir in 1.5 cups heavy cream and 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese. Allow the sauce to simmer gently until it is creamy, well combined, and heated through. Adjust seasoning to taste if necessary.
- Toss Pasta with Sauce: Add the drained rigatoni pasta to the skillet with the creamy sausage sauce. Toss everything together until the pasta is thoroughly coated and heated through.
- Serve: Serve immediately, garnishing with additional parmesan or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
- For spicier heat, increase the red pepper flakes to taste or add fresh chili.
- Use freshly grated parmesan for the best flavor and texture in the sauce.
- If preferred, turkey or chicken sausage can be substituted for Italian sausage.
- To make the dish lighter, substitute half-and-half for heavy cream but creaminess will be reduced.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining to adjust sauce consistency if needed.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approximately 1/6 of recipe)
- Calories: 590 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 650 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 17 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 125 mg
