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The Ultimate Creamy Sausage Rigatoni (One-Pan, 30-Minute Meal): Your New Weeknight Hero

The Ultimate Creamy Sausage Rigatoni (One-Pan, 30-Minute Meal): Your New Weeknight Hero
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Looking for a weeknight dinner that’s hearty, comforting, and on the table in just 30 minutes? This One-Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni is the answer. With Italian sausage, rigatoni pasta, a rich tomato-cream sauce, and fresh spinach, this dish tastes like restaurant-quality Italian comfort food but comes together easily in one pan at home.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 tablespoon olive oil

  • 15 oz Italian sausage, crumbled

  • 8 oz rigatoni pasta (uncooked)

  • 1 cup chicken broth

  • 1 cup heavy cream

  • 4 cloves garlic, minced

  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning (or Herbs de Provence)

  • 15 oz tomato sauce (marinara or tomato pasta sauce)

  • 5 oz fresh spinach

  • Salt and coarsely ground black pepper, to taste

  • Red pepper flakes, to taste

Instructions

  • Cook the Sausage
    Heat olive oil in a large deep skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook for 5 minutes, crumbling it as it cooks, until fully browned. Drain excess grease.

  • Add Pasta & Sauce Base
    To the skillet, add rigatoni, chicken broth, heavy cream, garlic, Italian seasoning, and tomato sauce. Stir well.

  • Cook the Pasta
    Bring mixture to a boil, then reduce to medium heat. Cover and cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring often, until rigatoni is al dente and the sauce is thickened.

  • Add Spinach
    Stir in spinach and cook 2–3 minutes until wilted. (Alternatively, cover pan off-heat for 4 minutes to let spinach wilt gently.)

  • Finish & Serve
    Season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Serve hot, topped with Parmesan if desired.

Notes

  • Use quality sausage: Mild or spicy Italian sausage both work—pick the one that matches your taste.

  • Keep it creamy: For a lighter sauce, swap half the heavy cream with half-and-half.

  • Spinach substitute: Try kale or arugula for a slightly different flavor and texture.

  • Extra cheesy: Stir in some freshly grated Parmesan before serving.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://biteseason.com/the-ultimate-creamy-sausage-rigatoni-one-pan-30-minute-meal-your-new-weeknight-hero/

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