For a hearty and satisfying meal that’s sure to please a crowd, try this Hearty Homestyle Italian Sausage Rigatoni.

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This comforting dish combines robust Italian sausage with tender rigatoni pasta, simmered in a rich tomato sauce and topped with gooey melted mozzarella.

Perfect for a cozy family dinner or a casual gathering with friends, it’s a simple yet delicious way to bring the flavors of Italy right to your table.

Ingredients

• 2 links hot Italian sausage
• 2 links sweet Italian sausage
• 1 onion, diced3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 (32-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• 1 pinch crushed red pepper
• 1 teaspoon dried basil
• 1 pound rigatoni
• 4 ounces mozzarella cheese, grated
• Salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

Step 1: Preheat the Oven

• Set your oven to 400°F (200°C).

Step 2: Cook the Sausage

• Remove the sausage links from their casings.
• Heat a large, heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven) over high heat.
• Add the sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon.
• Cook until browned on all sides, then remove the sausage and set it aside, leaving about a tablespoon of fat in the pot.

Step 3: Sauté the Vegetables

• Pour off excess fat from the pot, keeping about one tablespoon.
• Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.
• Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, until fragrant.

Step 4: Prepare the Sauce

• Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, crushed red pepper, and dried basil.
• Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes.

Step 5: Cook the Pasta

• While the sauce simmers, cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions, but drain it 1 minute before it’s fully done (it should be slightly firm in the center).

Step 6: Combine Pasta and Sauce

• Add the partially cooked pasta to a large mixing bowl.
• Ladle in the sauce, mixing well to ensure all the pasta is evenly coated.
• Add the cooked sausage and stir to combine.

Step 7: Bake the Dish

• Transfer the pasta mixture to a casserole dish.
• Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.
• Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly with a light golden brown color.

Step 8: Serve

• Let the dish cool for a few minutes before serving.

FAQs

Can I use different types of sausage?

Yes, you can substitute the hot and sweet Italian sausages with other varieties like chicken sausage, turkey sausage, or even a plant-based sausage for a vegetarian version. Just make sure the flavor complements the dish.

Can I use a different type of pasta?

Yes, you can substitute rigatoni with other pasta shapes like penne, ziti, or fusilli. Just make sure the pasta is sturdy enough to hold up in the sauce and baking process.

Hearty Homestyle Italian Sausage Rigatoni

A comforting and flavorful baked rigatoni dish with Italian sausage, topped with melted mozzarella cheese, perfect for a hearty family meal.

Print Pin Rate

Cuisine: Italian

Prep Time: 15 minutes minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes

Total Time: 45 minutes minutes

Servings: 6

Ingredients

• ▢ 2 links hot italian sausage
• ▢ 2 links sweet italian sausage
• ▢ 1 onion diced
• ▢ 3 cloves garlic minced
• ▢ 1 (32-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
• ▢ 1 pinch crushed red pepper
• ▢ 1 tsp drive basil
• ▢ 1 pound rigatoni
• ▢ 4 ounces mozzarella cheese grated
• ▢ salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat the Oven

1. Set your oven to 400°F (200°C).

Cook the Sausage

1. Remove the sausage links from their casings.

   Heat a large, heavy-bottomed pot (like a Dutch oven) over high heat.

   Add the sausage, breaking it apart with a spoon.

   Cook until browned on all sides, then remove the sausage and set it aside, leaving about a tablespoon of fat in the pot.

Sauté the Vegetables

1. Pour off excess fat from the pot, keeping about one tablespoon.

   Add the diced onion and cook, stirring occasionally, until tender, about 5 minutes.

   Add the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, until fragrant.

Prepare the Sauce

1. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, salt, crushed red pepper, and dried basil.

   Bring the mixture to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes.

Cook the Pasta

1. While the sauce simmers, cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions, but drain it 1 minute before it's fully done (it should be slightly firm in the center).

Combine Pasta and Sauce

1. Add the partially cooked pasta to a large mixing bowl.

   Ladle in the sauce, mixing well to ensure all the pasta is evenly coated.

   Add the cooked sausage and stir to combine.

Bake the Dish

1. Transfer the pasta mixture to a casserole dish.

   Sprinkle the grated mozzarella cheese evenly over the top.

   Bake in the preheated oven for about 15 minutes, or until the cheese is melted and bubbly with a light golden brown color.

Serve

1. Let the dish cool for a few minutes before serving.

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