Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot, casings removed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, medium, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 can
- 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 black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
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 1/2 cups 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 cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain off any excess fat and transfer the sausage to a plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
⏱️ 8 min
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 8 min
- 4
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon 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 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 12 min
- 5
Uncover the sauce and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Return the cooked Italian sausage to the pan. Add the cooked and drained rigatoni to the sauce.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water 1/4 cup at a time until the sauce reaches your desired consistency and coats the pasta beautifully. Stir in the fresh chopped basil.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
⏱️ 2 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot, casings removed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, medium, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1 can
- 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 black pepper, freshly ground
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
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 1/2 cups 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 cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Drain off any excess fat and transfer the sausage to a plate, leaving about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
⏱️ 8 min - 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 8 min - 4
Stir in the crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon 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 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 12 min - 5
Uncover the sauce and stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese. Return the cooked Italian sausage to the pan. Add the cooked and drained rigatoni to the sauce.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water 1/4 cup at a time until the sauce reaches your desired consistency and coats the pasta beautifully. Stir in the fresh chopped basil.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
⏱️ 2 min