Creamy Sausage Mushroom Rigatoni is a simple Italian pasta recipe that makes for an easy and delicious dinner in less than 30 minutes! This meal is is pure comfort food that the entire family will love.
Creamy Sausage Mushroom Rigatoni
The secret to perfectly cooked pasta:
Throughout the years, I’ve learned of a few simple tips to get the best tasting pasta.
First, you want to make sure you use plenty of water. Not enough water will leave you pasta tasting too starchy. A good rule of thumb is to ensure you have the water level an inch or two above the level of your pasta.
Salt is a key component when cooking pasta. It is much better to salt the water and infuse it into the pasta during the cooking process, rather than to overly salt later. I will typically add about a tablespoon of kosher salt per pound of pasta.
Finally, you must keep the water boiling. As soon as the pasta is added to the water, the boil will subside but it will quickly come back. You want to maintain the most vigorous boil possible without having it spill over the edge of the pot.
Variations of Creamy Sausage Mushroom Rigatoni:
Rigatoni is a favorite pasta of mine because of it’s ability to hold the sauce inside the tube, but this Creamy Sausage Mushroom Rigatoni recipe can really be made with any type of pasta. Homemade pasta would be ideal, but don’t be afraid to use any kind of pasta you already have in your pantry. No need for an extra trip to the store!
Add some green! Raw spinach added to the sauce when the sausage is added back in would be a great variation on this recipe. Not only will it add more fiber and vitamins, but that vibrant green spinach will wilt down to add just the right amount of flavor and color.
This meal could easily transform into a Keto meal if you swap the rigatoni pasta for some zucchini zoodles.
Instead of pork and all of the Italian sausage seasonings, you can easily use ground beef to turn this meal into something more reminiscent of a beef stroganoff .
If you don’t have heavy cream, you could use half and half, whole milk, or even lowfat milk. Because the heavy cream thickens on its own as it cooks, you may need to make a roux out of butter and flour before adding the half and half or milk if you want it to thicken, though.
What to serve with Creamy Sausage Mushroom Rigatoni:
I’m a big fan of serving a fresh green salad with pretty much every dinner recipe. Especially when serving a decadent pasta meal like this one.
I’ll never argue with a side of garlic bread or cheesy bread either!
Looking for more creamy pasta dishes?
- The Best Homemade Alfredo Sauce Ever!
- Asiago Garlic Alfredo Pasta
- Easy Pasta Carbonara
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Ingredients1x2x3x
- ▢ 16 ounces rigatoni
- ▢ 1 pound ground pork
- ▢ 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- ▢ ½ teaspoon fennel seed
- ▢ ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ▢ ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes more if you like heat
- ▢ 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- ▢ 16 ounces sliced mushrooms
- ▢ 1 diced shallot
- ▢ 2 cloves minced garlic
- ▢ 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- ▢ salt and pepper to taste
- ▢ grated parmesan for garnish
- ▢ sliced fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add 16 ounces rigatoni and cook to desired doneness 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In large heavy bottom skillet over medium high heat, cook 1 pound ground pork , 1 tablespoon smoked paprika , ½ teaspoon fennel seed , ½ teaspoon kosher salt , and ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes until sausage is browned and crumbly. This should take about 5-8 minutes. Remove from pan and set on paper towel lined plate.
- In same pan, melt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter . Add 16 ounces sliced mushrooms and 1 diced shallot . Continue cooking over high heat, stirring only occasionally, so that you get a nice brown sear. When mushrooms and shallot are just about done, add 2 cloves minced garlic , stir, and cook for another minute.
- Add 2 cups heavy whipping cream to mushroom mixture, stir well, and allow to come to a boil. Reduce heat until mixture is at a gentle simmer and allow to cook uncovered until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Add cooked sausage back into the cream sauce and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste .
- To serve, ladel mushroom sausage cream sauce over cooked rigatoni and top with grated parmesan for garnish and sliced fresh basil for garnish .
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Additional Info
Creamy Sausage Mushroom Rigatoni
Ingredients
- 16 ounces rigatoni
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
- ½ teaspoon fennel seed
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes more if you like heat
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- 16 ounces sliced mushrooms
- 1 diced shallot
- 2 cloves minced garlic
- 2 cups heavy whipping cream
- salt and pepper to taste
- grated parmesan for garnish
- sliced fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil over high heat. Add 16 ounces rigatoni and cook to desired doneness 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside.
- In large heavy bottom skillet over medium high heat, cook 1 pound ground pork , 1 tablespoon smoked paprika , ½ teaspoon fennel seed , ½ teaspoon kosher salt , and ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes until sausage is browned and crumbly. This should take about 5-8 minutes. Remove from pan and set on paper towel lined plate.
- In same pan, melt 1 tablespoon unsalted butter . Add 16 ounces sliced mushrooms and 1 diced shallot . Continue cooking over high heat, stirring only occasionally, so that you get a nice brown sear. When mushrooms and shallot are just about done, add 2 cloves minced garlic , stir, and cook for another minute.
- Add 2 cups heavy whipping cream to mushroom mixture, stir well, and allow to come to a boil. Reduce heat until mixture is at a gentle simmer and allow to cook uncovered until slightly thickened, about 10 minutes. Add cooked sausage back into the cream sauce and stir to combine. Add salt and pepper to taste .
- To serve, ladel mushroom sausage cream sauce over cooked rigatoni and top with grated parmesan for garnish and sliced fresh basil for garnish .
Nutrition
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Creamy Sausage Mushroom Rigatoni https://therecipecritic.com/creamy-sausage-mushroom-rigatoni/
