Description
Hearty “Creamy Sausage Rigatoni” brings Italian comfort straight to your kitchen with rich, bold flavors dancing through each perfectly twirled pasta bite. Robust sausage and silky sauce create a luxurious meal that connects you with classic Mediterranean culinary traditions.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 pound (454 grams) Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
- 12 ounces (340 grams) rigatoni pasta
Dairy and Cream:
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
Seasonings and Additional Ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley, chopped, for garnish
Instructions
- Prepare rigatoni according to package guidelines, carefully preserving a half cup of starchy cooking liquid before draining the pasta completely.
- Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over moderate temperature, then introduce sausage and methodically fragment into rustic crumbles until achieving a rich golden-brown exterior and thorough internal cooking.
- Introduce finely chopped garlic to the sausage mixture, allowing aromatics to bloom and release their intense fragrance for approximately one minute.
- Cascade marinara sauce, velvety cream, aromatic Italian herbs, and fiery red pepper flakes into the skillet, gently integrating ingredients and allowing the mixture to gently simmer and develop complex flavors for five minutes.
- Introduce cooked rigatoni directly into the robust sauce, carefully adjusting moisture levels by incorporating reserved pasta water to create a silky, cohesive texture.
- Generously fold in freshly grated parmesan cheese, then delicately season with salt and ground black pepper, ensuring a harmonious balance of flavors.
- Elegantly finish the dish by scattering freshly chopped parsley across the surface, presenting a vibrant, inviting pasta creation perfect for immediate serving.
Notes
- Reserved starchy pasta water helps create a silky, clingy sauce that perfectly coats each rigatoni noodle.
- Choose spicy Italian sausage for an extra kick or mild sausage for a more subtle flavor profile.
- Adjust heavy cream amount to control sauce thickness, adding more for a richer texture or less for a lighter dish.
- Replace dairy cream with coconut milk for a lactose-free version, maintaining the creamy texture while adding a subtle nutty undertone.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 15 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 55 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 26 g
- Cholesterol: 80 mg