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Spicy Sausage Rigatoni with Creamy Vodka Sauce

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A quick and easy pasta dish featuring spicy Italian sausage and rigatoni in a luscious creamy vodka sauce, perfect for cozy dinners and weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 ounces rigatoni pasta
  • 1 pound Italian spicy sausage, casings removed
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
  • 3 large garlic cloves, minced
  • 1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/4 cup vodka
  • 1 cup heavy cream
  • 1 can (14 ounces) crushed tomatoes
  • A handful fresh basil, chopped
  • 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
  • Salt and black pepper to taste

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Add rigatoni and cook according to package instructions (11-13 minutes) until al dente. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking. Drain and set aside, reserving 1/2 cup pasta water.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add spicy Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Transfer sausage to a bowl, leaving drippings in the pan.
  3. In the same skillet, add chopped onion and sauté for 3-4 minutes until translucent. Add minced garlic and crushed red pepper flakes; cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
  4. Stir in tomato paste and cook for 2 minutes to deepen flavor.
  5. Pour in vodka carefully and simmer for 3-4 minutes until mostly reduced.
  6. Add crushed tomatoes and heavy cream. Stir well and simmer for 8-10 minutes until sauce thickens slightly.
  7. Return browned sausage to skillet, stir to coat. Add chopped basil, season with salt and pepper. Simmer for 5 minutes to marry flavors.
  8. Add cooked rigatoni to skillet and toss gently to combine. Add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time if sauce is too thick.
  9. Sprinkle grated Parmesan over pasta and stir until melted and incorporated.
  10. Serve immediately with extra Parmesan and fresh basil garnish.

Notes

Cook tomato paste thoroughly to avoid raw taste. Brown sausage well for smoky depth. Simmer sauce gently to prevent cream curdling. Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to control heat. Use reserved pasta water to adjust sauce consistency.

Nutrition

Keywords: spicy sausage rigatoni, creamy vodka sauce, pasta recipe, quick dinner, easy pasta, Italian sausage pasta

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