Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 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, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rigatoni and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 12 min
- 2
While the pasta cooks, 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 no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain 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, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min
- 4
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir well and bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it gently simmer for 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 15 min
- 5
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until fully combined and the cheese has melted into the sauce. Add the cooked and drained rigatoni to the skillet with the sauce.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Toss the pasta with the sauce until evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency. Stir in the fresh chopped basil.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Serve immediately, garnished with extra 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
- 12 ounces rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 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, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, or to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper, freshly ground, or to taste
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of generously salted water to a rolling boil. Add the rigatoni and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 12 min - 2
While the pasta cooks, 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 no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes. Drain 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, about 3-4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes, and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 5 min - 4
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, kosher salt, and black pepper. Stir well and bring the sauce to a simmer. Reduce heat to low, cover, and let it gently simmer for 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 15 min - 5
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until fully combined and the cheese has melted into the sauce. Add the cooked and drained rigatoni to the skillet with the sauce.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Toss the pasta with the sauce until evenly coated. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency. Stir in the fresh chopped basil.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min