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 Italian sausage, mild or hot, casings removed
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rigatoni pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water.
⏱️ 12 min
- 2
While the pasta is cooking, 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 off any excess grease.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, kosher salt, and black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
Stir in the heavy cream and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water into the sauce. Bring back to a gentle simmer.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Add the drained rigatoni pasta to the sauce. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated and the sauce has thickened slightly. If the sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
⏱️ 5 min
- 8
Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese, 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 Italian sausage, mild or hot, casings removed
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 28-ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rigatoni pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 1/2 cups of the pasta cooking water.
⏱️ 12 min - 2
While the pasta is cooking, 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 off any excess grease.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for 1 minute more until fragrant.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, kosher salt, and black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld, stirring occasionally.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
Stir in the heavy cream and 1/2 cup of the reserved pasta water into the sauce. Bring back to a gentle simmer.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Add the drained rigatoni pasta to the sauce. Add the grated Parmesan cheese and chopped fresh basil. Toss everything together until the pasta is well coated and the sauce has thickened slightly. If the sauce is too thick, add more reserved pasta water, 1/4 cup at a time, until desired consistency is reached.
⏱️ 5 min - 8
Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh basil and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min