Description
A quick and flavorful weeknight pasta dish featuring rich, creamy sauce, savory Italian sausage, and a bright touch of lemon juice for balance.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Water for boiling pasta
Instructions
- Fill a large pot with salted water and bring to a rolling boil. Add rigatoni and cook 1-2 minutes less than package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water before draining.
- While pasta cooks, heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage, breaking it up, and cook until browned and crispy (5-7 minutes). Leave about 1 tablespoon of fat in the pan.
- Reduce heat to medium. Add minced garlic and red pepper flakes to the sausage. Stir for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in chicken broth to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Simmer for 2 minutes, then add heavy cream. Simmer gently for 3-4 minutes until slightly thickened.
- Add drained pasta to the skillet. Toss with sauce over low heat. Gradually add parmesan cheese, tossing until melted and glossy. Thin with reserved pasta water if needed.
- Remove from heat. Stir in lemon juice and parsley. Season with black pepper or salt to taste. Serve immediately.
Notes
Use bronze-die extruded pasta for better sauce adherence. Do not boil the cream vigorously to prevent separation. Save starchy pasta water to help emulsify the sauce. For a vegetarian version, swap sausage for smoked tofu or chickpeas seasoned with fennel and paprika.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate
- Calories: 650
- Sugar: 3
- Sodium: 800
- Fat: 35
- Saturated Fat: 18
- Carbohydrates: 55
- Fiber: 3
- Protein: 25
Keywords: creamy rigatoni, italian sausage pasta, weeknight dinner, easy pasta recipe, lemon cream sauce, comfort food