One Pot Rigatoni Pasta With Spicy Italian Sausage

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Rigatoni has always been one of my favorites.  My mom would make it for us growing up.  This one pot rigatoni with spicy Italian sausage is guaranteed to be loved by your whole family! 

At the bottom of this post there is a printable recipe card to keep handy for those busy weeknights.

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

My favorite part about this easy recipe is that it is a one-pot meal.  That means easy clean up!

You don’t have to babysit this spicy rigatoni for a long amount of time.  You’ll just need to come to stir it every once and a while.  

Also, it’s a delicious pasta dish.  Even the picky eaters will love it!  It is a great addition to add in for easy weeknight dinners if you’re looking for new recipes.

Making This Simple Recipe

Since this is a one-pot pasta recipe, the tools you’ll need are minimal.  You can make this recipe in under an hour. 

Tools

You just need one large pot and something to stir with.  I really like using a cast-iron skillet because of the health benefits and how well it does on the stove and in the oven.

You can use any pot that you’re able to cook on the stovetop with and bake with.  Another great option is a ceramic dutch oven.

Ingredient List

You can make this recipe as simple or as gourmet as you’d like.  The basic ingredients you’ll need are 

• 1 lb spicy Italian sausage
• 3 garlic cloves (minced)
• 2.5 cups milk
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 16 ounces uncooked Rigatoni pasta
• 2 cups grated mozzarella cheese (or monterey jack)
• 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2-3 tablespoons dry bread crumbs
• Olive oil or butter

But you can simplify this list as much as you’d like to make this one-pot pasta even easier!  Don’t have chicken broth?  Use beef broth or water! 

Don’t have parmesan cheese?  Skip it and add more mozzarella or any other cheese you have! Don’t want spicy Italian sausage?  Use lean ground beef or ham.

It really can be as simple and easy as you make it!

How To Spice It Up

You can also make this one pot rigatoni as fancy as you’d like.  Add in bell peppers, cream cheese, white wine, or diced tomatoes for a creamy tomato sauce.

If you prefer a pink sauce, you can add in a few tablespoons of tomato paste.

There are countless ways to jazz up this recipe if you’re looking to impress!

Directions

Start by getting all of your ingredients out and preheating your oven to 350 degrees.

Brown Garlic & Meat

I like to start off by placing 1-2 tablespoons of olive oil or butter in my hot pan.  I brown my garlic first for 2-3 minutes over medium heat.

After the garlic is golden and you can start to smell it, it is time to brown the meat.

Put your spicy Italian sausage into the pan and let it brown.  Make sure to ground it up as it browns.

Drain any excess grease.

Add Liquids

Next, you’re going to add the liquids to the pot.  Pour your chicken broth & milk in with the sausage.  Bring it to a low boil over medium-high heat.

Add Pasta & Spices

When the liquids start to bubble, it’s time to add in your pasta, salt, & pepper.  Let the pasta boil for 13-16 minutes while stirring occassionally.  

You’ll want the pasta to be al dente and to have a little bit of liquid leftover when it’s done (see photo below).  If you need to, add in another ½ cup of milk or water to help while the pasta cooks to the right texture.

Mix In Cheeses

When the noodles are ready, you can add in the cheeses.  Keep a few tablespoons of the mozzarella out so you can sprinkle it on the top before baking.

Place the cheeses in the one pot rigatoni and give it a good stir.

Bread Crumbs & Bake

Lastly, sprinkle the bread crumbs and remaining cheese over the top of your one pot rigatoni.

Place it in the oven and bake for 5-10 minutes until it starts to turn golden.  The end result should be gooey, cheesy pasta with a light crust on top.

Garnish & Enjoy

When it’s finished baking, it’s time to garnish.  You can use fresh basil, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, more parmesan, or anything you prefer.  Serve and enjoy while it’s hot!

Tips For Making

• You can use monterey jack cheese in place of mozzarella
• You can use almond milk or lower fat milks, but it might change the consistency to be a little more liquidy.
• You can replace the Italian sausage with any meat you choose: lean ground beef, diced ham, bacon, sweet Italian sausage, pancetta, etc.
• To make it even easier, skip the cloves of garlic and use ½ teaspoon of powdered garlic.
• Want some vegetables?  Add peas, spinach, broccoli, or any other green that you prefer!
• You can use beef broth instead of chicken broth.  Both taste great!

How To Store

This makes a big portion of spicy rigatoni.  You can store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 5-7 days.

If you prefer to keep it for longer, place it in freezer containers or freezer bags.  When it’s time to eat it, just bake it at 350 for 15-20 minutes until hot all the way through.  No need to defrost!

You can even make an entire pot of this rigatoni and place it in a casserole dish to freeze.  Then, when it’s time to serve a nice dinner, just pull it out and bake it at 350 for 15-20 minutes until it’s nice and hot.

Make One Pot Rigatoni For Dinner Tonight

Next time you’re looking for an easy one-pot meal to put on the dinner table, make this one pot rigatoni with spicy Italian sausage!  The spice is the perfect mix with the creamy cheeses.

It’s the perfect meal to make for your family’s main course or for a special occasion.

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