Description
Looking for a comforting, easy recipe that feels like a restaurant-quality dinner? This Garlic Sausage Alfredo Rigatoni is your new go-to. It’s rich, creamy, and loaded with savory Italian sausage and garlic-infused Alfredo sauce. The rigatoni noodles trap the velvety sauce in every bite, making it the ultimate easy dinner, quick comfort food, and even a great meal prep idea. Whether you’re searching for dinner ideas, easy recipes, or just need something satisfying after a long day, this dish delivers big flavor with minimal effort.
Ingredients
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or spicy), casings removed
- 1 tbsp unsalted butter
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 1/2 cups heavy cream
- 1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
- Salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
- Reserved pasta water (as needed)
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook rigatoni until al dente according to package instructions. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
- In a large skillet over medium heat, cook sausage until browned and fully cooked, breaking it up as it cooks. Remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, melt butter over medium heat. Add minced garlic and sauté for about 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in heavy cream, stirring to combine with garlic. Simmer gently for 2–3 minutes.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese and continue to simmer until the sauce thickens.
- Return sausage to the pan and add the drained rigatoni. Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water a bit at a time to loosen the sauce if needed.
- Season with salt and pepper to taste. Sprinkle with parsley if using.
- Serve warm and enjoy!