Description
A comforting and indulgent pasta dish featuring tender rigatoni, savory sausage, fresh spinach, and a creamy garlic parmesan sauce—perfect for a hearty weeknight meal.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup chicken broth
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 4 cups fresh spinach
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley or extra parmesan for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Cook rigatoni according to package instructions in salted water. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it apart, until browned and cooked through.
- Add garlic and red pepper flakes (if using) and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream and chicken broth. Bring to a simmer and cook for 3–4 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and spinach. Cook until cheese is melted and spinach is wilted.
- Add cooked rigatoni to the skillet and toss to coat evenly in the sauce. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley or extra Parmesan if desired.
Notes
- Use half-and-half instead of heavy cream for a lighter version.
- Substitute sausage with turkey sausage or a vegetarian alternative if preferred.
- Add mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes for extra flavor and texture.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 620
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 780mg
- Fat: 36g
- Saturated Fat: 16g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 28g
- Cholesterol: 95mg