Creamy Tomato & Sausage Pasta
Creamy Tomato & Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
For the Pasta and Sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or spicy
For the Creamy Tomato Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 2 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, optional
- 1 can whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, 28 ounce, crushed by hand or with a spoon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 pinch coarse salt, as needed
- 1 pinch cracked black pepper, as needed
- 1 pinch sugar
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil for the pasta. While the water heats, begin preparing the sausage.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of 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. Continue to cook until the sausage is browned and crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, remove the sausage from the pan and set aside, leaving any rendered fat in the skillet.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
If the skillet has excessive rendered fat, carefully drain some, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Add 2 tablespoons of fresh olive oil to the same skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped shallot, minced garlic, and red chili flakes. Sauté until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 3 min
- 4
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to deepen its flavor.
⏱️ 2 min
- 5
If using, add the sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet and mix well.
⏱️ 1 min
- 6
Pour in the can of whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, crushing them with your hands or a spoon as you add them to the skillet. Stir to combine.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Season the sauce with onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, a pinch of coarse salt, a pinch of cracked black pepper, and a pinch of sugar. Add the chopped fresh basil leaves. Stir everything together and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce cook down for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 15 min
- 8
While the sauce simmers, add the rigatoni pasta to the boiling salted water. Cook according to package directions until al dente.
⏱️ 10 min
- 9
Once the sauce has simmered, pour in the heavy cream and stir until fully incorporated.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Add the shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce. Stir continuously until the cheeses are melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 3 min
- 11
Return the cooked Italian sausage to the creamy tomato sauce and mix well.
⏱️ 1 min
- 12
Drain the cooked rigatoni pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the sauce and sausage. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until the pasta is well coated in the creamy tomato sauce.
⏱️ 2 min
- 13
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Tomato & Sausage Pasta
For the Pasta and Sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or spicy
For the Creamy Tomato Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 shallot, finely chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red chili flakes
- 2 1/2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1/4 cup sun-dried tomatoes, optional
- 1 can whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, 28 ounce, crushed by hand or with a spoon
- 1 1/2 teaspoons onion powder
- 1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
- 1/2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 pinch coarse salt, as needed
- 1 pinch cracked black pepper, as needed
- 1 pinch sugar
- 1/4 cup fresh basil leaves, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, grated, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil for the pasta. While the water heats, begin preparing the sausage.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
Heat 1 tablespoon of 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. Continue to cook until the sausage is browned and crispy, about 8-10 minutes. Once cooked, remove the sausage from the pan and set aside, leaving any rendered fat in the skillet.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
If the skillet has excessive rendered fat, carefully drain some, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Add 2 tablespoons of fresh olive oil to the same skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped shallot, minced garlic, and red chili flakes. Sauté until fragrant, about 2-3 minutes, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 3 min - 4
Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring constantly, to deepen its flavor.
⏱️ 2 min - 5
If using, add the sun-dried tomatoes to the skillet and mix well.
⏱️ 1 min - 6
Pour in the can of whole peeled San Marzano tomatoes, crushing them with your hands or a spoon as you add them to the skillet. Stir to combine.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Season the sauce with onion powder, garlic powder, oregano, a pinch of coarse salt, a pinch of cracked black pepper, and a pinch of sugar. Add the chopped fresh basil leaves. Stir everything together and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer. Reduce heat to low and let the sauce cook down for about 10-15 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 15 min - 8
While the sauce simmers, add the rigatoni pasta to the boiling salted water. Cook according to package directions until al dente.
⏱️ 10 min - 9
Once the sauce has simmered, pour in the heavy cream and stir until fully incorporated.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Add the shredded mozzarella cheese and grated Parmesan cheese to the sauce. Stir continuously until the cheeses are melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.
⏱️ 3 min - 11
Return the cooked Italian sausage to the creamy tomato sauce and mix well.
⏱️ 1 min - 12
Drain the cooked rigatoni pasta and add it directly to the skillet with the sauce and sausage. Mix all ingredients thoroughly until the pasta is well coated in the creamy tomato sauce.
⏱️ 2 min - 13
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped basil, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min