Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Creamy Tomato Pasta with Italian Sausage
Ingredients
For the Pasta
- 1 pound rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, canned
- 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 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 for the pasta.
⏱️ 5 min
- 2
While the water heats, 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. 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
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, salt, and 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.
⏱️ 10 min
- 5
While the sauce simmers, add the rigatoni to the boiling salted water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min
- 6
Stir the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese into the tomato sauce. Add the cooked Italian sausage back into the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min
- 7
Add the drained rigatoni to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Stir in the fresh chopped basil.
⏱️ 2 min
- 8
Serve immediately, garnished with additional 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
- 1 pound rigatoni
- 1 tablespoon salt, for pasta water
For the Sauce
- 1 pound Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes, canned
- 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 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 for the pasta.
⏱️ 5 min - 2
While the water heats, 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. 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
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, salt, and 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.
⏱️ 10 min - 5
While the sauce simmers, add the rigatoni to the boiling salted water and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining the pasta.
⏱️ 10 min - 6
Stir the heavy cream and grated Parmesan cheese into the tomato sauce. Add the cooked Italian sausage back into the sauce. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water until it reaches your desired consistency.
⏱️ 3 min - 7
Add the drained rigatoni to the sauce and toss to coat evenly. Stir in the fresh chopped basil.
⏱️ 2 min - 8
Serve immediately, garnished with additional grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
⏱️ 1 min