Creamy Sausage Rigatoni (Print)
This simple pasta combines tasty sausage, fresh spinach, and a creamy tomato sauce. Perfect for quick weeknight meals, and it's all done in half an hour!
# Ingredients:
→ Main Ingredients
01 -
1 teaspoon Herbs de Provence or Italian seasoning
02 -
Salt and freshly cracked black pepper, to taste
03 -
1 cup heavy cream
04 -
15 oz of crumbled Italian sausage (choose sweet or spicy based on what you like)
05 -
4 cloves of garlic, finely chopped
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8 oz uncooked rigatoni
07 -
5 oz fresh spinach leaves
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15 oz tomato marinara or plain tomato sauce
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1 tablespoon olive oil
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1 cup chicken broth
11 -
Crushed red pepper flakes (optional for extra spice)
# Steps:
01 -
Warm up olive oil in a big skillet set to medium. Toss in the sausage, breaking it apart as it cooks. Stir occasionally and let it brown, which should take about 5 minutes. Drain any grease before moving on.
02 -
With the sausage in the skillet, add the rigatoni, garlic, chicken broth, heavy cream, your dried herbs, and tomato sauce. Stir it all so the pasta gets evenly coated in the mixture.
03 -
Let it get to a gentle boil, then stir now and then so nothing sticks. Cover the skillet and simmer for 10-15 minutes. The pasta should be tender but still have a bite, soaking up all that flavorful sauce.
04 -
When the pasta is ready, throw in the spinach. Give it a good mix and let it wilt down, which shouldn’t take more than a couple of minutes. You can pop the lid back on if needed.
05 -
Let the sauce thicken if you prefer, by cooking uncovered for a bit. Add salt, pepper, and some red pepper flakes for a bit of heat (if you like). Keep in mind the sausage already has salt, so taste before adding more.
# Notes:
01 -
Rigatoni works best, but penne or ziti also get the job done. Long noodles like fettuccine aren’t the best choice.
02 -
Crank up the spice with hot Italian sausage and a good shake of red pepper flakes. For a milder result, sweet sausage is the way to go.
03 -
Swap out the sausage with cooked mushrooms or plant-based meat to make this dish friendly for vegetarians.
04 -
Top it off with some grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano before serving to add extra creamy flavor.
05 -
For a thicker sauce, use less chicken broth or leave the pan uncovered to let the liquid cook off.