Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, canned
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil for the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min
- 2
While the water heats, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease and transfer the sausage to a plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of drippings in the skillet.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet and cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
⏱️ 15 min
- 6
While the sauce simmers, add the rigatoni pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min
- 7
Stir the cooked Italian sausage back into the tomato sauce. Pour in the heavy cream and stir until well combined and heated through.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Add the drained pasta to the sauce. Add the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta cooking water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
For the Pasta
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 yellow onion, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, canned
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a boil for the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min - 2
While the water heats, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease and transfer the sausage to a plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of drippings in the skillet.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chopped yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the skillet and cook for 1 minute more, until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, 1 tablespoon of kosher salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 15 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
⏱️ 15 min - 6
While the sauce simmers, add the rigatoni pasta to the boiling water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta cooking water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min - 7
Stir the cooked Italian sausage back into the tomato sauce. Pour in the heavy cream and stir until well combined and heated through.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Add the drained pasta to the sauce. Add the 1/2 cup of grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil. Toss everything together until the pasta is evenly coated. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta cooking water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min