Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni (Print)
Rigatoni pasta enveloped in creamy tomato sauce, featuring hearty Italian sausage and aromatic Parmesan.
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
680 grams Italian sausage, casings removed
02 -
30 millilitres extra-virgin olive oil
03 -
1 large onion, diced
04 -
4 garlic cloves, finely minced
05 -
2 cans (795 grams each) whole or crushed tomatoes
06 -
60 millilitres fresh basil, chopped (or 15 millilitres dried basil)
07 -
60 millilitres fresh oregano, chopped (or 15 millilitres dried oregano)
08 -
5 millilitres red chili flakes
09 -
10 millilitres salt
10 -
5 millilitres ground black pepper
11 -
360 millilitres heavy cream
12 -
150 grams grated Parmesan cheese
13 -
450 grams rigatoni pasta
# Steps:
01 -
Heat olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, for 7–8 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
02 -
Add Italian sausage to the pot, breaking it into small pieces with a spoon. Cook for 7–8 minutes until deeply browned and fully cooked.
03 -
Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni for 9–11 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
04 -
Add whole or crushed tomatoes to the sausage mixture. If using whole tomatoes, blend until smooth before incorporating. Stir in chopped basil, oregano, red chili flakes, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 5–7 minutes.
05 -
Stir in heavy cream and 100 grams of Parmesan cheese. Simmer on medium-low heat for 5–7 minutes, stirring until well combined. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
06 -
Add drained rigatoni to the sauce. Gently toss until the pasta is fully coated. For a richer, thicker sauce, continue to simmer for up to 10 minutes for further reduction.
07 -
Transfer pasta to serving plates or bowls. Top each portion with remaining Parmesan and extra fresh basil if desired. Serve immediately.
# Additional Notes:
01 -
For best flavor, use premium Italian sausage and freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
02 -
To deepen the richness of the sauce, extend the final simmering time by 5–10 minutes.