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Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni Comfort Bowl

creamy Italian sausage rigatoni - featured image
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A quick and easy weeknight pasta dish featuring crispy Italian sausage, a rich cream sauce, and rigatoni that catches every bit of flavor. Ready in under 30 minutes with simple ingredients.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 12 oz rigatoni pasta
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • ½ cup chicken broth
  • ⅓ cup sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • ½ cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter
  • ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
  • ¼ cup fresh parsley, chopped
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook according to package directions until al dente (10-12 minutes). Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage (casings removed) and break it up with a wooden spoon. Cook for 6-8 minutes until deeply browned and crispy.
  3. Use a slotted spoon to transfer sausage to a plate. Leave about 1 tablespoon of rendered fat in the pan.
  4. Reduce heat to medium and add butter. Once melted, add minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
  5. Add sun-dried tomatoes and cook for 1 minute.
  6. Pour in chicken broth and scrape up browned bits from the bottom of the pan. Let simmer for 1-2 minutes until slightly reduced.
  7. Reduce heat to low and slowly pour in heavy cream, stirring constantly. Let simmer gently for 2-3 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  8. Add drained rigatoni to the skillet with the cream sauce.
  9. Add cooked sausage, ½ cup reserved pasta water, and Parmesan cheese. Toss everything together gently until well combined.
  10. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper as needed. If sauce is too thick, add more pasta water.
  11. Remove from heat, sprinkle with fresh parsley, and serve immediately.

Notes

Reserve more pasta water than you think you need. Use room-temperature cream to prevent curdling. Let the sauce rest for a minute before serving to allow it to thicken. For a vegetarian version, swap sausage for plant-based sausage or mushrooms. For a lighter version, use half-and-half and turkey sausage. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and fresh arugula for a brighter twist.

Nutrition

Keywords: creamy Italian sausage rigatoni, easy pasta recipe, weeknight dinner, comfort food, Italian sausage pasta, creamy pasta

Find it online: https://larameals.com/creamy-italian-sausage-rigatoni-comfort-bowl/