Description
Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni Delight brings rich Tuscan flavors to your dinner table with hearty sausage and perfectly cooked pasta. Rich, velvety sauce and perfectly seasoned ingredients promise a satisfying meal you can savor with friends and family.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound sweet ground Italian sausage
Main Starch:
- 8 ounces (226 grams) rigatoni pasta
Dairy and Liquid Components:
- 1 ½ cups (360 milliliters) half and half
- ¾ cup (75 grams) grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup (120 milliliters) chicken stock
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 chopped onion
- 2 minced garlic cloves
- 1 cup fresh baby spinach
- 1 14.5 ounces (411 grams) can diced tomatoes, drained
Herbs and Spices:
- ½ teaspoon dried Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- ½ teaspoon salt
Cooking Oil:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) olive oil
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with water and bring to a rolling boil. Add rigatoni and cook for 8-10 minutes until al dente (453 grams or ). Drain pasta thoroughly and set aside in a colander.
- Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high temperature. Introduce ground Italian sausage and diced onions, breaking meat into small crumbles. Sauté for 6-7 minutes until sausage turns golden brown and onions become translucent.
- Reduce heat to medium-low and add minced garlic. Stir rapidly for 30-45 seconds until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
- Pour half-and-half cream and chicken broth into the skillet. Gradually whisk in grated Parmesan cheese, creating a smooth and creamy base. Allow mixture to simmer gently for 3-4 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Sprinkle red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, and salt into the sauce. Add drained diced tomatoes and fresh baby spinach. Gently fold ingredients together, allowing spinach to wilt naturally.
- Reintroduce the cooked sausage and onion mixture to the skillet. Incorporate cooked rigatoni, ensuring every pasta piece is generously coated with the rich, creamy sauce.
- Reduce heat to low and let the dish simmer for an additional 4-5 minutes, allowing flavors to meld and intensify. Serve hot, garnished with additional Parmesan cheese if desired.
Notes
- Perfectly balanced flavors blend sweet Italian sausage with creamy Parmesan sauce for a restaurant-quality meal at home.
- Quick 30-minute dinner solution that transforms simple ingredients into a luxurious, comforting pasta dish everyone will love.
- Choose high-quality ground Italian sausage for maximum flavor depth and ensure vegetables are fresh for best texture.
- Wilted spinach adds nutritional boost and vibrant color, making this recipe both delicious and slightly healthier than traditional cream-based pastas.
- Low and slow simmering technique helps develop rich, complex tastes by allowing ingredients to meld together beautifully.
- Customize heat level by adjusting red pepper flakes or swap spinach with kale for different nutritional profile and taste variation.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 620 kcal
- Sugar: 5 g
- Sodium: 890 mg
- Fat: 42 g
- Saturated Fat: 19 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 35 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 110 mg