If for no other reason, making this recipe will give you an excuse to crack open a beer. Unfortunately, you’ll only be able to drink about half, because, well, the rest is the “secret” – not so secret any more ingredient in my One-pot Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni Pasta. I prefer to use a very hoppy beer, like an IPA. If incorporating alcohol, most recipes for a dish like this will typically call for red wine. But, for a casual tomato based sauce, I’ve found hoppy beers to be a funky alternative to red wine.

One-pot Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni Pasta is a rich and flavorful dish that combines the robust flavors of Italian sausage with a creamy and indulgent sauce.

The ridges of the pasta help capture and hold onto the sauce, ensuring each bite is filled with flavor. Rigatoni’s sturdy shape allows it to pair well with the substantial ingredients in the dish.

The star ingredient of this dish is Italian sausage, which adds a savory and robust flavor. Italian sausage is typically made from ground pork seasoned with herbs and spices like fennel, garlic, and paprika. It brings a delightful combination of flavors to the dish and provides a meaty texture.

The pasta is coated in a creamy sauce that brings the dish together. The sauce is often made with a combination of ingredients like heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, garlic, and herbs such as basil or oregano. It creates a luscious and velvety texture that complements the sausage and pasta.

One-pot Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni Pasta is a comforting and flavorful dish that brings together the best of Italian flavors. The marriage of savory Italian sausage, creamy sauce, and perfectly cooked rigatoni creates a satisfying and hearty meal that is sure to please pasta lovers. Whether enjoyed as a family dinner or served at gatherings, this dish is a crowd-pleaser that will leave everyone craving for more.

One-Pot Creamy Italian Sausage Rigatoni Pasta

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Course: MainsCuisine: ItalianDifficulty: Easy

Servings

servings

Prep time

minutes

Cooking time

minutes

This creamy cheesy Italian sausage rigatoni pasta is perfect for a quick weeknight meal without sacrificing flavor

Ingredients

1 pound 1 ground Italian sausage
16 ounces 16 rigatoni noodles
4 cups 4 tomato sauce
1 cup 1 beer (IPA)
3 tablespoons 3 tomato paste
1 small 1 red onion
1 medium 1 red bell pepper
3 cloves 3 garlic, minced
2 tablespoons 2 olive oil
1 tablespoon 1 fresh basil, chopped
1 tablespoon 1 fresh parsley, chopped
1 tablespoon 1 fresh oregano, chopped
2 cups 2 parmesan cheese, shredded
1/2 cup 1/2 heavy whipping cream

Directions

Using a large dutch oven or a large cooking pot, brown the Italian sausage over medium heat for 7-8 minutes. With a slotted spoon, remove the browned Italian sausage, leaving any brown bits and fat in the pot.
Add the diced onion and bell pepper to the dutch oven, and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Add the garlic and sauté for another 2 minutes.
Stir in the tomato paste until well combined and it begins to caramelize, 1-2 minutes. Deglaze the pan with the beer, stir it until it’s well combined, and let it reduce for 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the tomato sauce and turn the heat to high. As the mixture is coming to a boil, stir in the rigatoni noodles. Once the mixture reaches a boil, cover it and reduce the heat to low. Let it cook undisturbed for 10-12 minutes.
Stir in the browned Italian sausage, heavy whipping cream, parmesan cheese, and fresh herbs (basil, parsley, oregano). Mix until the cheese is completely melted and the texture is consistent. Cover the dutch oven and turn off the heat. Let it sit undisturbed for 10 minutes.
Mix well and serve!