Description
A comforting dish combining hearty Italian sausage with creamy sauce and rigatoni pasta, perfect for quick weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Scale
- 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 or Herbs de Provence
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 5 oz fresh spinach
- Salt and coarsely ground black pepper
- Red pepper flakes (optional)
Instructions
- Start by heating a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once the oil is hot, add the crumbled Italian sausage. Cook it until it is browned and cooked through, making sure to break it apart with a spatula as it cooks (about 5–7 minutes).
- Add minced garlic to the skillet and sauté for about a minute until fragrant. Then, pour in the chicken broth, heavy cream, Italian seasoning, and tomato sauce. Stir everything well to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a gentle boil, then add the uncooked rigatoni to the skillet. Stir well and lower the heat to a simmer. Cover the skillet and let it cook for about 12–15 minutes or until the rigatoni is al dente, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Once the pasta is cooked, add the fresh spinach to the skillet. Stir it in and allow it to wilt (about 2 minutes).
- Check the consistency of the sauce. If it is too thick, add a bit more chicken broth or a splash of water. If it’s too thin, let it simmer for a few more minutes without the lid to thicken it up.
- Season the dish with salt and coarsely ground black pepper to taste. Sprinkle red pepper flakes on top if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
Good sausage and fresh spinach will enhance the flavor. Watch the rigatoni to avoid overcooking.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 500
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 800mg
- Fat: 30g
- Saturated Fat: 15g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 40g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 20g
- Cholesterol: 70mg