This yummy, hearty Rigatoni with Italian sausage pasta is the perfect easy dinner recipe for cool weather and busy weeknights. It's a rich, satisfying pasta recipe that you can make with simple ingredients in just 30 minutes!
This creamy Italian sausage pasta recipe has long been a family favorite – for my family, and for so many families who have tried it!
In fact, this flavorful rigatoni with Italian sausage pasta dish has been and continues to be one of the most popular recipes on the blog. For many good reasons!
This is an amazing dish when you are craving the ultimate comfort food. It's one of those rich, hearty dishes with incredible flavor that fills you up with warmth from the inside out.
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❤️ Why you'll love this recipe
Make this recipe, and you'll quickly see why it's one of our readers' favorite pasta dishes.
- Easy to make - the instructions are easy to follow and I've got step-by-step instructions below.
- Fast - most home cooks can make this in 30 minutes.
- A great pantry recipe - The recipe uses common ingredients you most likely have on hand.
- Versatile - you can adjust the seasonings and the heat to your family's particular taste preferences.
Be sure to check out all of our pasta recipes on the blog for more dinner ideas!
🍝 Ingredient notes
Let's talk about what you need to make this Easy, Hearty Italian Sausage Pasta. These are simple ingredients that are easy to find in any grocery store.
- Pasta - Rigatoni or any other cylinder-shaped pasta is best because it acts like a vessel for the rich pasta sauce and meat. I cook it until is just al dente so it doesn't become too soft.
- Italian sausage - use either bulk ground Italian sausage, or Italian sausage links with the casings removed.
- Garlic - I use three cloves, but you can use more or less depending on your taste preference.
- Onion - Use a small yellow onion for the best flavor.
- Tomatoes - You'll need both diced tomatoes and tomato paste to make the tomato sauce.
- Broth or wine - You can use either beef broth or red wine to add richness to the pasta sauce.
- Herbs - The recipe calls for dried oregano, fresh parsley, and fresh basil. But you can also use tarragon.
✅ Step-by-step instructions
A full list of ingredients and detailed cooking instructions are in the printable recipe card at the bottom of this post. Here are some step-by-step photos of the process to help you along the way.
First, cook pasta according to package directions.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Sauté onions and garlic for a couple of minutes, just until the onions are translucent.
- Add ground sausage to skillet and stir until fully cooked, about 5 minutes.
3. Add beef broth (you can also use chicken broth if you prefer) or red wine and scrap browned sausage bits off the bottom of the skillet.
4. Add diced tomatoes (undrained, with the juices), tomato paste, and dried oregano, and stir all ingredients well. Turn heat down to low heat and simmer for at least 10 minutes.
5. Add cooked pasta and ¼ cup reserved pasta water to the skillet and stir all ingredients until the pasta is coated with the sauce. If needed, add more reserve water to create a sauce consistency to your liking.
6. Remove from heat. Sprinkle parsley, basil, and/or cheese just before serving. Add salt and black pepper to taste.
💡Cooking tips and recipe FAQs
I have found rigatoni to be the best pasta shape to hold the sauce and flavors, but you can also use penne pasta, ziti, gemmeli, rotini, or even medium or large shells. Any pasta shape that acts like a vessel to hold the sauce is a great pick for this dish.
My kids like this dish mild, so the recipe, as written, is mild and not spicy. But you can easily add more spices & herbs for a punch of flavor and a little more kick. For example, add fresh tarragon or sage for an herbaceous fall flavor. Want it spicy? Add some red pepper flakes for a little spice.
Love cheese? Sprinkle parmesan cheese or asiago cheese on the cooked dish and place it in a 400 degree oven (middle rack) for about 7-8 minutes to melt the cheese.
To make this rigatoni with Italian sausage recipe dairy-free, you can use some of my favorite dairy-free food substitutions. Like this dairy-free grated parmesan alternative.
This pasta will keep for up to 2 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can either reheat it in the microwave the next day or over medium heat in a skillet. Adding a couple of tablespoons of water to soften the pasta and heat it more evenly.
🍽 Serving ideas
Pasta is versatile, and just goes with everything.
This pasta dish is delicious when served with a big green salad and a side of bread. Try these Garlic Parmesan Knots, Garlic Rosemary Focaccia, or Homemade French Bread.
It's also delicious with a nutritious side of Air Fryer Broccoli or Grilled Asparagus.
🍷 Wine pairings
You'll want to pair a bold red wine to match the hearty sauce of this pasta dish. Serve this rigatoni with Italian sausage pasta with a Syrah, Cabernet Sauvignon, or Tempranillo.
👩🏽🍳 Kitchen tools and equipment
Ready to make this recipe? Here are the key kitchen tools and equipment you'll need:
- A large pot to cook the pasta - you'll want one big enough that the pasta doesn't stick together while cooking
- A cast-iron skillet
🥘 More 30-minute dinner recipes
Try one of these 45 of the Best Family-Friendly 30-Minute Meals or one of these scrumptious and fast recipes:
Did you make this recipe? Don't forget to leave a 5-Star 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 rating in the recipe card, and if you really loved it, please leave a comment further down on the page. Thank you!
Easy, Hearty Italian Sausage Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 12 ounces rigatoni
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- ½ pound Italian sausage, with casing removed
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- ½ small yellow onion, finely chopped
- ¼ cup beef broth or red wine
- 1 can (14.5 ounce can) petite diced tomatoes undrained
- 1 can (8 ounce can) tomato paste
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 tablespoon finely chopped parsley
- 1 teaspoon finely chopped basil
- parmesan cheese or grated non-dairy cheese optional
- salt and pepper
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add garlic and onions, and sauté for about 2 minutes, just until the onions are translucent.
- Add ground sausage to skillet and stir until fully cooked, about 5 minutes.
- Add beef broth or wine and scrap browned sausage bits off the bottom of the skillet.
- Add diced tomatoes (undrained, with the juices), tomato paste, and dried oregano, and stir all ingredients well. Turn heat down to low-medium and simmer for at least 10 minutes.
- Add cooked pasta and ¼ cup reserved pasta water to the skillet and stir all ingredients until the pasta is coated with the sauce. If needed, add more reserve water to create a sauce consistency to your liking.
- Remove from heat. Sprinkle parsley, basil, and/or cheese just before serving. Add salt and pepper to taste.
Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition information is a general estimate. Actual nutrition details may vary depending on the exact foods & brands you use to make this recipe. It does not take into account any substitutions, toppings, or optional ingredients.
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Tracy L Fasnacht says
Loved this! I used red wine, whole wheat pasta, dried basil instead of fresh and turkey sausage. I also added a bit of water at the end to loosen it up some. It was fabulous!!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
So glad you loved it, Tracy!
David says
Very easy and quick to make. Turned out wonderful. Added white mushrooms and red wine instead of beef bullion.
Will put this in our dinner rotation.
Katherine Bell says
Needed a quick & delicious dinner for my family and this was perfect! I doubled the ingredients except for the tomato paste and it turned out fantastic! Thanks!
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
So glad to hear you loved it and it worked with doubling ingredients for you, Katherine!
Michelle says
I read through the directions 3 times while making this and had my husband read through them as well. In the ingredients list it has Basil but no where in the in directions for cooking it is it listed to use? Why would you list it as an ingredient if your not going to includ it in the directions?
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Oh Michelle! I was *just* switching over the recipe to my new recipe plugin. Check now, the basil should be there! Please let me know if you see anything else wonky. Most transfers are seamless but sometimes things get left out.
Tracy L Fasnacht says
It says at the very end to sprinkle with basil just before serving.
Valerie Fowler says
I had really high hopes for this recipe, unfortunately it was very bland. The tomato paste was all I could taste, it was so thick and didn't have any flavor.
Sandra says
I, too, found this recipe to be a bit bland, but I added some cream cheese and Italian seasonings. Made a quick and easy recipe even better!
Elena says
Wow so simple to make and it was very tasty
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
So glad you liked it, Elena! Thank you for trying my recipe!
Sally says
I just made your recipe and thought it was perfect. Simple to make and perfect amount. Thanks so much for sharing!
Carey says
So good. Tried it tonight and it was amazing.
Ruth Granderson says
I tried it though I didn't have Italian sausage I used shrimp and added a few other vegetables and it turned out really nice. Thanks
Sandy says
The recipe calls for a can of diced petite tomatoes...what size can?
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
Hi Sandy! I used a standard 14.5 ounce can of diced petite tomatoes. I'll update the recipe to reflect that :). Thanks!
Darlene says
I've made this twice and it's delicious. It's a quick week night meal that taste like you've been cooking all day.
Marlynn Jayme Schotland says
SO glad to hear that, Darlene! Thanks for trying the recipe!