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.
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
- Set your oven to 400°F (200°C).
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.
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.
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.
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).
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.
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.
Serve
- Let the dish cool for a few minutes before serving.
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