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Creamy Sausage Rigatoni Dinner Idea

This creamy one-pot rigatoni is packed with bold Italian sausage, spinach, tomato sauce, and garlic in a luscious cream sauce. It's an easy, weeknight pasta dinner that's ready in 30 minutes — and all made in one pan!
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 854
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 tbsp olive oil
  • 15 oz Italian sausage, crumbled
  • 8 oz rigatoni, uncooked
  • 1 cup chicken broth
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning or Herbs from Provence
  • 15 oz tomato sauce or marinara
  • 5 oz fresh spinach
  • salt and black pepper to taste
  • red pepper flakes to taste

Equipment

  • Large deep skillet
  • Lid
  • Wooden spoon

Method
 

  1. Heat olive oil in a large, deep skillet over medium heat.
  2. Add crumbled sausage and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 minutes. Drain excess grease.
  3. To the same skillet, add rigatoni, chicken broth, cream, garlic, seasoning, and tomato sauce. Stir and bring to a boil.
  4. Cover with lid and cook for 10–15 minutes, stirring occasionally, until pasta is al dente and sauce thickens slightly.
  5. Stir in spinach and cook until wilted, or let wilt off heat with lid on for about 4 minutes.
  6. Mix well and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes as desired. Serve hot.

Notes

Salt Tip: Italian sausage can already be salty — taste before adding extra salt.
Spinach Trick: To preserve texture and color, let it wilt gently off heat under the lid after cooking.
Thicker Sauce? Simmer uncovered for a few more minutes at the end if desired.