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
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2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
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1 large onion, diced
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4 garlic cloves, minced
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1 ½ lbs Italian sausage (or 1 lb for lighter version)
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(2) 28 oz cans whole or crushed tomatoes
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¼ cup fresh basil (or 1 tbsp dried)
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¼ cup fresh oregano (or 1 tbsp dried)
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1 tsp red chili flakes
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2 tsp salt
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1 tsp black pepper
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1 ½ cups heavy cream
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1 ½ cups grated Parmesan cheese
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1 lb rigatoni pasta
Instructions
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Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Sauté onion for 3–4 minutes, then add garlic and cook for 1 minute.
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Add sausage, breaking apart with a spoon, and cook 6–8 minutes until browned.
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Stir in tomatoes, basil, oregano, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Reduce heat to medium-low.
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Pour in heavy cream, stir, and simmer for 10 minutes to meld flavors.
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Meanwhile, cook rigatoni in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
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Stir pasta and Parmesan into the sauce. Add reserved pasta water as needed to loosen. Simmer 2–3 minutes.
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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