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Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta

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A rich and comforting pasta dish featuring savory Italian sausage, tender rigatoni, and a creamy parmesan sauce with sun-dried tomatoes and spinach.

Ingredients

  • ¾ pound rigatoni pasta
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • ½ pound mild Italian sausage
  • ¾ cup yellow onion, small diced
  • 1 tablespoon garlic, minced
  • ¾ teaspoon Italian seasoning blend
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus additional for cooking pasta
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
  • 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature
  • 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 ¾ cups heavy cream
  • ¾ cup julienned sun-dried tomatoes packed in herbed olive oil, drained
  • 1 ½ cups shredded parmesan cheese
  • 3 cups baby spinach, lightly packed
  • Chopped fresh parsley

Instructions

  1. Cook rigatoni in a large pot of salted boiling water for 9–11 minutes until al dente. Drain and set aside.
  2. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add olive oil, sausage, onion, garlic, Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  3. Cook for 9–11 minutes until sausage is browned and onions are soft and fragrant.
  4. Transfer sausage mixture to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease, then return to the skillet.
  5. Reduce heat to medium-low. Add butter and melt, then whisk in flour until absorbed. Cook for 1 minute until lightly golden.
  6. Slowly whisk in chicken broth until smooth. Add heavy cream and sun-dried tomatoes. Bring to a low boil, then reduce heat and simmer 5–7 minutes until thickened.
  7. Stir in parmesan cheese until melted, then add spinach and cook until wilted.
  8. Add cooked pasta and sausage mixture to the skillet. Toss to coat evenly. Remove from heat and garnish with fresh parsley before serving.

Notes

  • Use spicy Italian sausage for extra heat.
  • Substitute half-and-half for a lighter sauce, though it will be less rich.
  • Reserve a bit of pasta water to thin the sauce if needed.
  • Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
  • Reheat gently on the stovetop with a splash of broth or cream.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://yumfamilyrecipes.com/creamy-italian-sausage-pasta/