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, as needed
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot, 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, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 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 the pasta cooking 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. Drain any excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
⏱️ 7 min
- 3
Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 6 min
- 4
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and the black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined and the sauce is creamy. Add the chopped fresh basil.
⏱️ 3 min
- 6
Add the drained rigatoni to the sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 2 min
- 7
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
For the Pasta
- 12 ounces rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt, plus more, as needed
For the Sauce
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot, 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, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes, optional
- 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 the pasta cooking 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. Drain any excess fat, leaving about 1 tablespoon in the pan.
⏱️ 7 min - 3
Add the diced yellow onion to the skillet with the sausage and cook until softened and translucent, about 5 minutes. Stir in the minced garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and cook for another minute until fragrant.
⏱️ 6 min - 4
Pour in the crushed tomatoes, 1 teaspoon of kosher salt, and the black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for at least 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld. Stir occasionally.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
Stir in the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese until well combined and the sauce is creamy. Add the chopped fresh basil.
⏱️ 3 min - 6
Add the drained rigatoni to the sauce. Toss to coat the pasta evenly. If the sauce is too thick, add some of the reserved pasta cooking water, 1/4 cup at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 2 min - 7
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.