Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 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 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 pasta 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 as it cooks, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of rendered fat in the pan.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 6 min
- 4
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 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 12 min
- 5
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined and the cheese has melted. Return the cooked Italian sausage to the sauce.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Add the drained rigatoni pasta to the sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Stir in the fresh chopped basil. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately, garnished with additional 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 pasta
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound sweet Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1/2 yellow onion, finely diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 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 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 pasta 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 as it cooks, until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the sausage from the skillet with a slotted spoon and set aside, leaving about 1 tablespoon of rendered fat in the pan.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Reduce the heat to medium. Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 6 min - 4
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 10 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 12 min - 5
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined and the cheese has melted. Return the cooked Italian sausage to the sauce.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Add the drained rigatoni pasta to the sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash or two of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Stir in the fresh chopped basil. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary. Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
⏱️ 2 min