Description
Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni is a comforting one-pot pasta dish that combines the heartiness of Italian sausage with a creamy sauce and al dente rigatoni.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 2 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 2 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 2 cup fresh spinach
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Brown the sausage by heating the olive oil in a large pot or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until it’s browned and fully cooked, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage from the pot and set it aside, leaving the drippings behind.
- Sauté the aromatics by reducing the heat to low and adding the reserved sun-dried tomato oil to the pot. Sauté the diced onion and minced garlic for about 3 minutes, stirring frequently, until they’re fragrant and softened.
- Build the flavor base by stirring in the tomato paste and cooking for an additional 3 minutes, allowing it to caramelize and deepen in flavor. Then, add the chopped sun-dried tomatoes and stir to combine.
- Add liquids and pasta by pouring in the chicken broth and marinara sauce. Add the rigatoni, making sure the pasta is fully submerged. If needed, add a little more chicken broth to ensure the pasta is covered. Bring the mixture to a light boil, then reduce the heat to a simmer.
- Cook the pasta by covering the pot and cooking for approximately 15 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking, until the rigatoni is al dente and most of the liquid has been absorbed.
- Create the creamy sauce by stirring in the heavy cream and fresh spinach. Cook for about 3 minutes, or until the spinach has wilted and the sauce has become beautifully creamy. Season with Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Finish with cheese by turning off the heat and slowly stirring in the grated Parmesan cheese until it’s melted and fully incorporated. Finally, add the cooked sausage back to the pot and mix everything together.
Notes
Serve hot, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese and fresh parsley. Pairs well with garlic bread or a fresh green salad.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 900mg
- Fat: 32g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 80mg