Creamy Sausage Rigatoni for Weeknight Dinner
A rich, savory rigatoni pasta dish tossed with creamy tomato sauce, seasoned Italian sausage, and fresh herbs. Ready in 30 minutes for an effortless comfort meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rigatoni
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt and black pepper, to taste
- Fresh basil or parsley, chopped
Instructions
- Cook rigatoni until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, drain, and set aside.
- Brown sausage in olive oil. Remove from pan.
- Sauté onion until soft. Add garlic and tomato paste; cook 1–2 mins.
- Stir in crushed tomatoes. Simmer 3–4 mins.
- Add cream and return sausage to pan. Simmer until thickened.
- Toss pasta with sauce. Stir in Parmesan and herbs. Adjust seasoning.
- Serve hot with extra cheese and fresh herbs.
Notes
- Use turkey sausage or plant-based sausage for variation.
- Add spinach or kale during final minutes for extra veggies.
- Store leftovers in fridge for up to 4 days.