Description
Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni is the ultimate cozy pasta dinner. With tender rigatoni, savory Italian sausage, and a rich tomato cream sauce, this dish brings restaurant-quality comfort to your weeknight table in just over 30 minutes. Hearty, flavorful, and family-friendly, it’s a creamy pasta recipe you’ll want to make again and again.
Ingredients
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 large onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1 ½ lbs Italian sausage (or 1 lb for lighter version)
(2) 28 oz cans whole or crushed tomatoes
¼ cup fresh basil (or 1 tbsp dried)
¼ cup fresh oregano (or 1 tbsp dried)
1 tsp red chili flakes
2 tsp salt
1 tsp black pepper
1 ½ cups heavy cream
1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
1 lb rigatoni pasta
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Sauté onion for 3–4 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Add sausage, breaking apart with a spoon, and cook 6–8 minutes until browned.
Stir in tomatoes, basil, oregano, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low.
Pour in heavy cream, stir, and simmer for 10 minutes to meld flavors.
Meanwhile, cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
Stir pasta and Parmesan into the sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
Serve hot with extra Parmesan and basil.
Notes
Use high-quality Italian sausage for the best flavor.
Reserve pasta water—it’s key to silky sauce.
Fresh herbs give the sauce a richer aroma.
Swap pasta shapes if desired—penne, fusilli, or ziti all work.
Adjust chili flakes to match your heat preference.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Main Course / Pasta
- Method: Stovetop simmer
- Cuisine: Italian-American