Last Updated on February 3, 2025
Discover a new favorite with this savory pasta dish, marrying perfectly seasoned pork sausage with a creamy tomato sauce and fresh spinach, all brought together with al dente rigatoni and finished with a generous helping of Parmesan.
Ingredients
- 1 lb Pork Breakfast Sausage
- lb rigatoni pasta or pasta of your choice
- 1 tsp salt
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 medium onion diced
- 2 garlic cloves minced
- 3 cups fresh spinach leaves
- 2 cups canned tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- freshly grated Parmesan cheese for topping
Instructions
- Combine the ground pork in a bowl with salt, black pepper, paprika, cayenne pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder. Mix well to ensure the spices are evenly distributed.
- Cook the rigatoni according to the package instructions until al dente. Reserve a cup of pasta water, then drain and set aside.
- In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add the seasoned ground pork, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until the sausage is browned and no longer pink, about 5-7 minutes.
- Add the diced onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the sausage. Cook until the onions are translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
- Stir in the fresh spinach and cook until just wilted, usually takes about 2 minutes.
- Pour in the tomato sauce, and let it simmer for 5 minutes.
- Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream until the sauce takes on a creamy texture. Simmer for an additional 5 minutes. If the sauce is too thick, thin it with some of the reserved pasta water.
- Add the cooked rigatoni to the skillet, tossing to coat the pasta evenly with the sauce.
- To serve, divide the pasta among plates and top each serving with a generous sprinkle of freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
For an even creamier sauce, you can blend a part of the tomato sauce with the cream before adding it to the skillet. Also, try finishing the dish with a drizzle of good quality olive oil for an extra layer of flavor.
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Kinesha Goldson Dickman is a talented chef, recipe developer, and former Executive Producer at ButcherBox. Passionate about creating approachable, flavor-packed dishes, Kinesha blends creativity and simplicity to share recipes that celebrate quality ingredients, inspiring confidence and joy in the kitchen.
