Description
Creamy Sausage Rigatoni delivers a hearty Italian-inspired meal packed with robust flavors and comforting textures. Savory Italian sausage mingles with al dente pasta, creating a rich sauce that promises to satisfy your dinner cravings in one delightful skillet.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 15 ounces (425 grams) Italian sausage, crumbled
- 8 ounces (227 grams) rigatoni, uncooked
- 15 ounces (425 grams) tomato sauce
- 5 ounces (142 grams) fresh spinach
Liquid and Cream Components:
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt to taste
- Coarsely ground black pepper to taste
- Red pepper flakes to taste
Instructions
- Warm of olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium temperature, creating a smooth cooking surface.
- Disintegrate the sausage into small, uniform crumbles directly into the heated pan, cooking for approximately 5 minutes until completely browned and no pink remains visible.
- Eliminate excess fat by carefully draining any accumulated grease from the cooked sausage.
- Introduce uncooked rigatoni pasta directly into the same skillet, combining with chicken broth, heavy cream (240 milliliters), minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and tomato sauce.
- Thoroughly blend all ingredients, ensuring even distribution of flavors and ingredients.
- Elevate the mixture to a rolling boil over medium heat, then reduce temperature and cover with a tight-fitting lid.
- Simmer for 10 to 15 minutes, gently stirring every few minutes to prevent pasta from sticking and ensure uniform cooking.
- Verify pasta texture, aiming for a perfect al dente consistency with slight resistance when biting.
- Gently fold fresh spinach into the creamy mixture, allowing it to wilt for 2 to 3 minutes while maintaining gentle heat.
- If a more robust sauce consistency is preferred, continue cooking and stirring for an additional 1 to 2 minutes.
- Remove from heat and season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste.
- Optional: Sprinkle red pepper flakes for an added layer of spicy complexity.
Notes
- Customize your pasta adventure by swapping Italian sausage with spicy chorizo or ground turkey for a personal twist.
- Creamy sauces love fresh herbs, so sprinkle chopped basil or parsley right before serving to elevate the dish’s brightness.
- Leftovers store beautifully in airtight containers for 3-4 days, making this recipe perfect for meal prepping during busy weeks.
- Vegetarian friends can replace sausage with plant-based crumbles or sautéed mushrooms without compromising rich, comforting flavors.
- Kitchen hack: Reserve a cup of pasta water before draining, which helps create silkier sauce if mixture becomes too thick during cooking.
- Cheese lovers can top each serving with freshly grated Parmesan or pecorino romano for an extra layer of deliciousness.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Boiling
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 685 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 905 mg
- Fat: 43 g
- Saturated Fat: 20 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 51 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 23 g
- Cholesterol: 105 mg