Description
Creamy Sausage Rigatoni is a comforting Italian-inspired pasta dish featuring tender rigatoni noodles tossed with savory Italian sausage and a rich, smooth Parmesan cream sauce. Perfectly seasoned with garlic, onion, and Italian herbs, this recipe is ideal for a hearty weeknight dinner that comes together quickly.
Ingredients
Scale
Pasta
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- Salt (for boiling water)
For the Sausage and Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
- 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream (substitute coconut milk for dairy-free)
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- ½ cup reserved pasta water (optional, for adjusting sauce)
Garnish
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Boil Pasta: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni pasta and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Before draining, reserve ½ cup of the pasta cooking water for later use.
- Brown the Sausage: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it apart with a spatula. Cook for 6 to 8 minutes until browned and fully cooked through.
- Sauté Aromatics: Add finely chopped onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until soft and translucent, about 2 to 3 minutes. Stir in minced garlic and sauté for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Make the Sauce: Pour in the heavy cream and sprinkle in Italian seasoning. Bring the mixture to a gentle simmer. Gradually stir in freshly grated Parmesan cheese, stirring constantly until the sauce is smooth and creamy.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Add the cooked rigatoni to the skillet and toss well to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy sausage sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add some reserved pasta water a little at a time until desired consistency is reached.
- Season and Serve: Taste the pasta and adjust seasoning with salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. Garnish with chopped fresh parsley. Serve the dish warm and enjoy.
Notes
- Reserve pasta water to adjust sauce consistency, as it helps the sauce adhere better to the pasta.
- For a dairy-free version, substitute heavy cream with coconut milk and Parmesan with a dairy-free cheese alternative.
- You can use mild or spicy Italian sausage depending on your heat preference.
- Make sure to remove casings from the sausage for easy browning and crumbling.
- Fresh parsley garnish adds color and a hint of freshness to balance the rich sauce.
