Creamy Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel
This creamy rigatoni with sausage and fennel is last-meal good. Made with al dente rigatoni noodles, crumbly Italian sausage and crunchy fennel or celery, it's everything you want in a pasta dish and more.
Prep Time40 minutes mins
Cook Time1 hour hr
Total Time1 hour hr 40 minutes mins
Course: Pasta
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: creamy pasta sauce, creamy tomato sauce, Ina Garten pasta, Italian sausage pasta
Servings: 6 servings
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cups fresh fennel or celery, chopped
- 1 large yellow onion chopped, about 1 ½ cups
- 1 lb mild Italian sausage bulk or casings removed
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 teaspoon whole fennel seeds crushed or chopped
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 1 cup dry white wine
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ⅔ cup half-and-half
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- ½ cup fresh parsley chopped, divided
- 1 cup Parmesan cheese fresh-grated, divided
In large Dutch oven or other heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat, heat oil. Add fennel and onion and cook, stirring often, 7 to 9 minutes until soft. Add sausage; cook 7 to 9 minutes, crumbling as you cook, until sausage is cooked through and browned. Add garlic, crushed fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoons salt and 1 teaspoon black pepper. Cook for 1 minute, then pour in white wine. Bring to boil. Add heavy cream, half-and-half and tomato paste. Return to boil, then reduce heat and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally, until sauce thickens.
Meanwhile, bring large pot of water to boil. Add 2 tablespoons salt to boiling water, then add rigatoni pasta. Cook according to package directions. Drain and add to sauce; stir to coat pasta.
Off heat, stir in 1/4 cup parsley and 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese. Serve topped with remaining parsley and Parmesan cheese.
- To make ahead: Put finished dish in an oven-safe dish, sprinkle the top with Parmesan cheese, cover and refrigerate for up to a day/overnight. When you're ready to serve, uncover pasta and heat in the oven at 375°F for 20 minutes.
- Adapted from Food Network
Calories: 903kcal | Carbohydrates: 68g | Protein: 30g | Fat: 54g | Saturated Fat: 24g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 5g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 123mg | Sodium: 925mg | Potassium: 781mg | Fiber: 5g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin A: 1420IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 327mg | Iron: 3mg