Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Ingredients
For the Pasta and Sausage
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Sauce
- 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, 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 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 cup pasta water, reserved from cooking pasta
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 12 min
- 2
While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage (casings removed) and break it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet with a slotted spoon, leaving any rendered fat in the pan. Set the cooked sausage aside.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, 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, salt, and black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined and the cheese has melted into the sauce. Add the cooked Italian sausage back into the skillet.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Add the cooked rigatoni pasta to the sauce. Toss to coat evenly. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Stir in the fresh chopped basil. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. 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 and Sausage
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
For the Sauce
- 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, 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 teaspoon salt, or to taste
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper, or to taste
- 1/2 cup pasta water, reserved from cooking pasta
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the rigatoni pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta and set aside.
⏱️ 12 min - 2
While the pasta is cooking, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian sausage (casings removed) and break it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet with a slotted spoon, leaving any rendered fat in the pan. Set the cooked sausage aside.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, 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, salt, and black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low and let it cook for 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined and the cheese has melted into the sauce. Add the cooked Italian sausage back into the skillet.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Add the cooked rigatoni pasta to the sauce. Toss to coat evenly. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Stir in the fresh chopped basil. Taste and adjust seasonings as needed. Serve immediately, garnished with extra grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min