Creamy Sausage Rigatoni – Easy & Comforting Pasta Dinner
Creamy sausage rigatoni is a rich, comforting pasta dish made with browned Italian sausage, garlic-infused cream sauce, and rigatoni pasta coated in melted Parmesan cheese.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 4-6 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy), casings removed
- 1 small yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp tomato paste (optional)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp dried oregano or Italian seasoning
- ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt & black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook rigatoni in salted water until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
- In a skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until browned. Remove excess grease.
- Add diced onion; cook 3–4 minutes. Add garlic and tomato paste, cooking 1–2 minutes.
- Stir in heavy cream. Simmer for 5–6 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add Parmesan and cooked pasta. Toss to coat. Use pasta water to adjust consistency.
- Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh herbs and extra cheese if desired.
Notes
- Add spinach or mushrooms for extra nutrition.
- Substitute half-and-half for a lighter sauce.
- For meal prep, store in the fridge for up to 3 days.