Description
This creamy sausage rigatoni is a one-pot comfort dish made with crumbled Italian sausage, rigatoni, creamy tomato sauce, and spinach, perfect for a cozy and satisfying dinner.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 15 oz Italian sausage, crumbled
- 8 oz rigatoni, uncooked
- 1 cup chicken broth
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 15 oz tomato sauce (such as marinara)
- 5 oz fresh spinach
- Salt and coarsely ground black pepper, to taste
- Red pepper flakes, to taste
Instructions
- Heat olive oil in a large, high-sided skillet over medium heat.
- Add the crumbled sausage and cook for about 5 minutes until browned, then drain any excess grease.
- Add rigatoni, chicken broth, heavy cream, minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and tomato sauce to the skillet.
- Bring everything to a boil, stir well, cover, and simmer for 10–15 minutes until the pasta is al dente, stirring occasionally.
- Once the pasta is almost done, stir in the fresh spinach and cook until wilted.
- Season with salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Swap mild for spicy Italian sausage—or mix both.
- Use turkey, chicken sausage, or plant-based Beyond Sausage for a lighter or vegetarian version.
- Stir in other veggies like mushrooms, bell peppers, cherry tomatoes, or broccoli.
- Try different short pasta shapes like penne or fusilli.
- Add a splash of red wine for depth before adding broth.
- Skip the tomato sauce and use canned tomatoes instead.
- Top with Parmesan, basil, or red pepper flakes to personalize.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
