Description
A comforting and creamy Italian dish featuring rigatoni pasta and Italian sausage, perfect for busy weeknight dinners.
Ingredients
Scale
- 2 tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 large Onion (diced)
- 4 Garlic Cloves (minced)
- 1 1/2 lbs. Italian Sausage (or substitute with turkey sausage, chicken sausage, or plant-based sausage)
- 2 28-ounce cans Whole or Crushed Tomatoes
- 1/4 cup Fresh Basil (chopped or 1 tablespoon dried basil)
- 1/4 cup Fresh Oregano (chopped or 1 tablespoon dried oregano)
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes (adjust to taste)
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
- 1 1/2 cups Heavy Cream (substitute with coconut milk or cashew cream for a dairy-free version)
- 1 1/2 cups Grated Parmesan Cheese (or dairy-free cheese alternative)
- 1 lb. Rigatoni Pasta
Instructions
- In a large pot or Dutch oven, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an extra minute until fragrant.
- Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned.
- Pour in the whole or crushed tomatoes. If using whole tomatoes, blend until smooth before adding.
- Add the chopped basil, oregano, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Stir well to combine.
- Let the sauce simmer for about 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Meanwhile, cook the rigatoni pasta in salted boiling water according to package instructions until al dente, then drain.
- Reduce the sauce heat to low and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan until creamy and well-combined.
- Add the cooked rigatoni to the sauce and toss gently to coat evenly.
- Serve hot, garnished with extra Parmesan or fresh herbs if desired.
Notes
This recipe is great for meal prep; consider making a double batch and freezing leftovers for quick meals. Feel free to add vegetables like spinach or bell peppers for extra nutrition.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 550
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 600mg
- Fat: 35g
- Saturated Fat: 14g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 90mg
Keywords: Italian, Pasta, Comfort Food, Creamy, Sausage, Weeknight Dinner