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One Pot Creamy Tuscan Sausage Rigatoni

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This easy one-pot creamy Tuscan sausage rigatoni is packed with savory Italian sausage, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach, and a luscious parmesan cream sauce. It’s a cozy, crowd-pleasing Italian-inspired dinner that comes together in under 40 minutes with minimal cleanup.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 lb (450 g) Italian sausage (mild or hot)
  • 12 oz (340 g) rigatoni pasta
  • 1 medium yellow onion, diced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 cup (70 g) sun-dried tomatoes in oil, drained and sliced
  • 3 cups (710 ml) chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 1 cup (240 ml) heavy cream
  • 3/4 cup (60 g) parmesan cheese, freshly grated
  • 3 cups (90 g) fresh baby spinach, roughly chopped
  • 2 tablespoons (30 ml) olive oil
  • 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper, to taste
  • Optional: 1 cup (70 g) mushrooms, sliced
  • Optional: 1 teaspoon lemon zest
  • Optional: Ricotta, for serving

Instructions

  1. Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven or deep skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes.
  2. Add diced onion and sauté for 2 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  3. Add sun-dried tomatoes, Italian seasoning, and crushed red pepper flakes (if using). Stir to coat sausage and vegetables.
  4. Pour in chicken broth and heavy cream. Stir in rigatoni pasta. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to a gentle simmer. Cover and cook, stirring every few minutes, until pasta is al dente and most of the liquid is absorbed, about 12-14 minutes. Add more broth if needed.
  5. Check pasta for doneness. If not tender, cook another 1-2 minutes with a splash more liquid.
  6. Remove from heat. Stir in chopped spinach and grated parmesan cheese until spinach wilts and cheese melts, about 2-3 minutes.
  7. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and black pepper. Stir in lemon zest if desired.
  8. Serve immediately, topped with extra parmesan and a sprinkle of crushed red pepper if desired.

Notes

For best results, use freshly grated parmesan and good-quality heavy cream. Stir pasta often to prevent sticking and add extra broth if needed. Let the finished pasta rest for 5 minutes before serving for a thicker, more flavorful sauce. Leftovers reheat well with a splash of broth or cream. To make gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta and check sausage ingredients. For a lighter version, use turkey sausage and half-and-half.

Nutrition

Keywords: one pot pasta, creamy rigatoni, Tuscan sausage pasta, Italian dinner, easy weeknight meal, sun-dried tomato pasta, spinach sausage pasta, comfort food, family dinner, skillet pasta

Find it online: https://tempotaste.com/one-pot-creamy-tuscan-sausage-rigatoni-best-easy-italian-dinner-recipe/