Description
This creamy, savory Rigatoni Pasta recipe features tender rigatoni noodles tossed in a rich tomato and Italian sausage sauce, enhanced with garlic, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese. Perfect for a quick yet hearty weeknight dinner, this dish combines bold flavors with a velvety cream sauce for ultimate comfort.
Ingredients
Pasta
- 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
- 1/2 cup pasta water (reserved)
Sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 pound ground Italian sausage
- 28 ounce can crushed tomatoes
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/4 cup fresh chopped basil, plus more for garnish
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Black pepper, to taste
Garnish
- Shredded Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Cook the pasta: Boil a large pot of salted water and cook the rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water before draining and set aside.
- Heat olive oil: In a large sauté pan over medium-low heat, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil to prepare for the sauce.
- Sauté garlic and seasoning: Add minced garlic and Italian seasoning to the pan. Cook while stirring constantly for 30 to 60 seconds, ensuring the garlic doesn’t brown or burn.
- Cook the sausage: Add the ground Italian sausage to the pan and increase heat to medium-high. Crumble and cook until the sausage is browned and fully cooked through.
- Add tomatoes and cream: Stir in the crushed tomatoes, heavy cream, fresh basil, and season with kosher salt and black pepper. Let the sauce simmer for a few minutes until it’s warmed through and flavors meld.
- Toss pasta with sauce: Add the cooked rigatoni to the sauce along with a splash of reserved pasta water. Toss everything together to coat the pasta evenly with the creamy sauce.
- Garnish and serve: Top the pasta with additional fresh basil and shredded Parmesan cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy!
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Notes
- Reserve pasta water to help loosen and bind the sauce to the noodles.
- Ensure garlic doesn’t burn to avoid bitterness in the sauce.
- Use mild or spicy Italian sausage based on your heat preference.
- Fresh basil enhances flavor, but dried basil can be used if fresh is unavailable.
- Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper to taste before serving.
- Parmesan cheese adds a salty, nutty finish—feel free to add more to taste.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 10 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
