Description
Hearty Creamy Sausage Rigatoni weaves Italian comfort through each pasta-laden bite, promising rich flavors that dance across hungry palates. Generous Italian sausage and velvety sauce invite you to savor a classic meal that feels like a warm culinary embrace.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 15 ounces (425 grams) Italian sausage, crumbled
- 5 ounces (142 grams) fresh spinach
Pasta and Liquid Ingredients:
- 8 ounces (227 grams) rigatoni, uncooked
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) chicken broth
- 1 cup (240 milliliters) heavy cream
- 15 ounces (425 grams) tomato sauce
Seasonings and Aromatics:
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- salt
- coarsely ground black pepper
- red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat until shimmering, creating an ideal cooking surface for the upcoming culinary process.
- Add crumbled Italian sausage to the skillet, breaking it down with a spatula while cooking for approximately 5 minutes until golden brown and fully cooked. Drain excess fat thoroughly.
- Introduce rigatoni, chicken broth, heavy cream, garlic, Italian seasoning, and tomato sauce directly into the skillet with the cooked sausage. Stir ingredients to ensure comprehensive integration.
- Elevate heat slightly to trigger a gentle boil. Cover the skillet and allow mixture to simmer for 10-15 minutes, stirring periodically to prevent pasta from adhering to the bottom.
- Monitor pasta’s texture, aiming for perfect al dente consistency. Continuous stirring promotes even cooking and prevents ingredient clustering.
- Incorporate fresh spinach into the skillet, allowing it to wilt on medium heat. For a more delicate approach, remove skillet from heat, layer spinach on top, and cover for 4 minutes.
- Assess sauce consistency, extending cooking time if a thicker texture is desired. The sauce should reach a luxurious, creamy state.
- Remove from heat and season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes. Perform a final thorough stir to harmonize all flavor profiles.
- Serve immediately, ensuring each portion captures the rich, creamy essence of the dish.
Notes
- Customize the pasta’s texture by adjusting cooking time, ensuring perfectly al dente rigatoni without becoming mushy or overcooked.
- Swap Italian sausage with plant-based alternatives like vegan sausage or crumbled tofu for a vegetarian-friendly version that maintains rich flavor profiles.
- Control sauce thickness by managing liquid ratios, using additional chicken broth to thin or extended simmering to create desired creamy consistency.
- Enhance nutritional value by incorporating extra vegetables like bell peppers, mushrooms, or zucchini during the sausage browning stage for added depth and nutrients.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 600
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 800 mg
- Fat: 38 g
- Saturated Fat: 16 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 20 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 50 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 25 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg