Rigatoni Pasta Recipe

Rigatoni to rival any restaurant on your table in 30 minutes! This Rigatoni recipe is destined to become a family favorite! It’s easy, comforting, creamy and most importantly, ridiculously delicious! This Rigatoni recipe is busting with hot Italian sausage, sweet bell peppers and spinach smothered in a hearty, flavor bursting tomato cream sauce. This rigatoni is creamy addictive comfort food you can’t live without and bonus it’s make-ahead friendly, freezer friendly and easy to customize with your favorite veggies!

📝 Ingredients

• 1 lb rigatoni
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 pound Hot Italian sausage (casings removed)
• 1 small onion (chopped)
• 2 bell peppers ((orange or yellow) chopped)
• 6-8 garlic cloves (minced)
• 1/4 teaspoon red chili pepper flakes. (OPTIONAL for spicy)
• 1 1/2 cups canned crushed tomatoes in puree (no salt/seasonings added)
• 1 14.5 oz. can fire roasted diced tomatoes, (undrained)
• 1 tablespoon tomato paste
• 1/2 teaspoon sugar (to taste)
• 2 tsp EACH chicken bouillon, dried basil
• 1 tsp EACH dried oregano,dried parsley
• 1/2 tsp EACH dried thyme,salt, pepper
• 3/4 cup heavy cream
• 2 cups chopped spinach

👨‍🍳 Instructions

1. 1Cook rigatoni according to package directions in salted water. Drain and set aside.
2. 2Meanwhile, heat oil in a large pan over medium high heat. Once hot, add sausage and onions and cook while breaking up sausage.
3. 3Once the sausage is almost cooked through, add bell peppers, garlic and optional red pepper flakes and cook for an additional 2 minutes. Discard excess grease (if there is any).
4. 4Stir in crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes, tomato paste and all seasonings. Gently simmer for 8 minutes, stirring occasionally.
5. 5Stir in heavy cream and warm through. Stir in spinach and allow to wilt, about 1-2 minutes. Stir in pasta until well coated. Taste and season with additional salt, pepper and/or red pepper flakes to taste.
6. 6Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan Cheese and parsley if desired.