Description
Hearty “Creamy Sausage Rigatoni” promises a comforting Italian-inspired feast for dinner lovers seeking bold flavors. Robust sausage and silky pasta create a perfect harmony that brings warmth to your evening meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 15 ounces (425 grams) Italian sausage (crumbled)
Pasta and Sauce:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) rigatoni (uncooked)
- 15 ounces (425 grams) tomato sauce
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
Herbs, Seasonings, and Aromatics:
- 4 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 5 ounces (142 grams) fresh spinach
- Salt (to taste)
- Coarsely ground black pepper (to taste)
- Red pepper flakes (optional, to taste)
Instructions
- Warm olive oil in a spacious, deep skillet over medium temperature until shimmering.
- Crumble sausage into the skillet and cook approximately 5 minutes, breaking meat into smaller pieces until completely browned and cooked through.
- Drain excess fat, keeping sausage in the pan.
- Add rigatoni, chicken broth, heavy cream, garlic, Italian seasoning, and tomato sauce directly into the skillet with sausage, stirring thoroughly to integrate ingredients.
- Increase heat to bring liquid to a rolling boil, then reduce to medium-low.
- Cover skillet and simmer for 12-14 minutes, stirring periodically to prevent pasta from sticking and ensure even cooking.
- Check pasta for al dente texture, then gently fold in fresh spinach leaves.
- Continue cooking 2-3 minutes until spinach wilts and becomes vibrant green.
- If sauce seems thin, continue simmering uncovered to allow natural reduction.
- Remove from heat and season with black pepper and optional red pepper flakes.
- Taste and adjust seasoning, being mindful of sausage’s inherent saltiness.
- Serve immediately, accompanied by crusty garlic bread for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Choose a high-fat sausage like sweet Italian or spicy chorizo for maximum flavor depth and richness.
- Remove sausage casings before cooking to ensure even crumbling and better texture integration.
- Opt for low-sodium chicken broth to control salt levels and prevent over-seasoning.
- Use whole milk or half-and-half as lighter alternatives to heavy cream for a less dense sauce.
- Swap spinach with kale or Swiss chard for varied nutritional profiles and slightly different taste experiences.
- Add grated Parmesan or pecorino cheese at serving for extra umami and creamy complexity.
- Keep stirring frequently to prevent pasta from sticking and ensure uniform cooking throughout the dish.
- Check pasta doneness by tasting a piece – it should be tender but still have a slight bite.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 17-22 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 547 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 710 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 11 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.3 g
- Carbohydrates: 37 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg