Sausage with Rigatoni in Spicy Cream Sauce is pure comfort food and makes an easy and delicious weeknight meal. This recipe strikes a delightful balance between the acidity of the tomatoes and the indulgent creaminess of the sauce.
The flavor starts with onion and garlic which are sauteed with the sausage for maximum flavor.
A can of diced tomatoes and a can of tomato sauce are then added. I think it’s nice to have a few chunks of tomato in an otherwise creamy sauce. A tablespoon of tomato paste really ups the tomato flavor.
This recipe has the perfect balance between tomatoes and cream. A half a cup of cream makes it plenty rich and creamy, but doesn’t make it heavy.
A little salt, pepper, dried basil (you could use fresh), and red pepper flakes are all that’s needed for the sauce as far as seasoning.
Parmesan cheese is added last minute to the sauce for more flavor, plus it helps thicken the sauce. Use either hot or mild sausage. I usually go with hot.
Whenever I make this pasta dish, I think- I don’t cook rigatoni nearly enough! I love the chewiness and substance it has. This dish is the epitome of comfort food!
How To Serve Italian Sausage Rigatoni with Spicy Cream Sauce
This spicy sausage rigatoni dish tastes great topped with some chopped fresh basil, garlic bread, and a garden salad with Creamy Italian Dressing.
Variations
- Use penne or ziti in place of rigatoni.
- Use turkey sausage in place of Italian sausage.
- Leave the red pepepr flakes out if you don’t want it spicy.
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Italian Sausage Rigatoni with Spicy Cream Sauce
Ingredients
- 12 ounces Rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 pound Italian sausage Remove from casings if in casings, use either sweet or spicy
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can diced tomatoes, undrained
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large pan and cook onion until it starts to soften. Add sausage, and break it into pieces with a wooden spoon as it cooks.
- When sausage is no longer pink, add garlic and cook for 1 minute. Drain off any excess fat.
- Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, basil, salt, red pepper flakes, and black pepper and simmer until thickened, about 15 minutes.
- Meanwhile, cook pasta according to package directions. Drain and place drained pasta in a large bowl.
- Add cream and simmer another 5 minutes, Turn heat to low and stir in Parmesan cheese.
- Pour sauce over pasta and toss to coat.
Video
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Originally posted September 6, 2015.
This recipe is very good. I sautéed the onions & garlic after I browned the sausage. Then put sausage back in pan and added tomato paste then a cup of white wine & let it boil a couple minutes. Then put the tomatoes & sauce in.
Made this tonight and it was super yummy!! Could leftovers be frozen? Thanks for yummy recipes!
Leftovers could be frozen if you didn’t mix it with the pasta. Cooked pasta doesn’t reheat very well.
This is an excellent dish. Making it the second time tonight for my daughter whose home from college on spring break. I used a combination of mild and spicy sausage.
Really good. One of the best things I have made. Wife loved it.
So happy you and your wife enjoyed it Jim!
Made this for the first time tonight and it was OUTSTANDING! Puts any Italian restaurant to shame. Will definitely make again…..really soon. 🙂
I love this recipe! It reminds me of my favorite dish from my favorite Italian restaurant. I added one package of diced pancetta and it was heavenly. I cooked that first and removed it, then cooked the onions and sausage in the grease from the pancetta and added it back after the meat was browned. Highly recommend trying that 🙂
I will have to try that Amy! Thanks for the suggestion. It sounds amazing! 🙂
Looks like u topped it with cheese?
Made a double batch of this tonight for dinner. Followed the recipe exactly. Perfect for a cool fall evening. My husband and I both loved it. He told me he already can’t wait for the leftovers!
Just popping by to say I’ve tried probably a dozen recipes off your website, and they’ve never let me down! Keep up the amazing work!!
Thank you Andi! You brightened my day!! 🙂
Sooo good. I chopped up mushrooms and added extra tomatos. Sooo good. Thabk you for the recipe.