Description
“Date Me” Creamy Sausage Rigatoni Pasta is a rich and flavorful Italian-inspired dish featuring savory Italian sausage cooked with onions, garlic, and a blend of tomatoes and herbs. Simmered with heavy cream and Parmesan cheese, this hearty pasta combines silky sauce and perfectly cooked rigatoni for a comforting and satisfying meal that serves six.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Sauce and Sausage:
- 2 Tablespoons Extra-Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 large Onion, diced
- 4 Garlic Cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 lbs Italian Sausage (can reduce to 1 lb for less sausage)
- 2 (28-ounce) cans Whole or Crushed Tomatoes
- 1/4 cup Fresh Basil, chopped (or 1 Tablespoon dried basil)
- 1/4 cup Fresh Oregano, chopped (or 1 Tablespoon dried oregano)
- 1 teaspoon Red Chili Flakes
- 2 teaspoons Salt
- 1 teaspoon Pepper
For the Creamy Pasta:
- 1 1/2 cups Heavy Cream
- 1 1/2 cups Grated Parmesan Cheese (1 cup for sauce, 1/2 cup for garnish)
- 1 lb Rigatoni Pasta
Instructions
- Sauté aromatics and sausage: Heat a large pot over medium heat and add olive oil. Sauté diced onions for 7-8 minutes until softened, then add minced garlic and Italian sausage. Cook for an additional 7-8 minutes until the sausage starts to brown.
- Cook the pasta: In a large pot, bring water to a rolling boil over high heat. Add generous salt to the water, then add rigatoni and cook according to package instructions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Prepare the tomato sauce: Add the canned tomatoes to the sausage mixture. If using whole tomatoes, blend them until smooth before adding. Stir in fresh basil, oregano, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Bring the mixture to a boil then reduce heat to simmer.
- Add cream and cheese: Stir in heavy cream and 1 cup of grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce. Lower the heat to medium-low and let the sauce simmer gently to meld flavors.
- Combine pasta and sauce: Add the drained rigatoni to the sauce and mix until fully coated. For a thicker sauce texture, continue simmering the sauce for 10 more minutes before adding pasta.
- Finish and serve: Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Serve hot, topped with the reserved 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese and additional fresh basil for garnish.
Notes
- You can adjust the amount of sausage for a milder or meatier flavor.
- If whole canned tomatoes are used, blending ensures a smooth sauce base.
- The sauce simmers longer if you prefer a thicker consistency.
- Reserve some Parmesan cheese for garnish to enhance flavor and presentation.
- Fresh herbs can be substituted with dried if fresh are unavailable.
