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Flavorful Spicy Vodka Rigatoni with Italian Sausage

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A quick and easy pasta dish featuring rigatoni tossed in a creamy, spicy vodka sauce with Italian sausage. Perfect for cozy dinners with bold flavors and minimal fuss.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 12 oz rigatoni pasta
  • 12 oz Italian sausage, casings removed (spicy or sweet based on preference)
  • 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 3 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1 can (28 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup vodka
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
  • Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
  • Fresh basil or parsley, a handful, roughly chopped (optional)
  • Grated Parmesan cheese for serving (optional)

Instructions

  1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add rigatoni and cook according to package instructions until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water before draining. Set pasta aside.
  2. While pasta cooks, heat olive oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Add Italian sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove sausage from pan and set aside, leaving fat in the skillet.
  3. Lower heat to medium. Add chopped onion to the skillet and cook until translucent, about 3-4 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant, stirring constantly to avoid burning.
  4. Pour in vodka to deglaze the pan, scraping up browned bits. Let it reduce for 2-3 minutes to cook off alcohol. Add crushed tomatoes and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir and bring to a gentle simmer. Season with salt and black pepper.
  5. Stir in heavy cream and cooked sausage. Let sauce simmer for 5 minutes to thicken slightly. If sauce is too thick, add reserved pasta water a tablespoon at a time until desired consistency is reached.
  6. Add drained rigatoni directly into the sauce. Toss gently to coat pasta with sauce. Warm through for 1-2 minutes. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed.
  7. Plate the rigatoni and garnish with fresh basil or parsley and grated Parmesan cheese if desired. Serve immediately.

Notes

Reserve pasta water to help bind sauce and pasta. Avoid burning garlic by stirring constantly. Browning sausage properly adds flavor and texture. Use quality crushed tomatoes like San Marzano for best taste. Adjust crushed red pepper flakes to control spice level. For gluten-free, use gluten-free pasta. For dairy-free, substitute heavy cream with coconut cream (note subtle coconut flavor).

Nutrition

Keywords: spicy vodka rigatoni, Italian sausage pasta, creamy vodka sauce, easy pasta recipe, weeknight dinner, spicy pasta, rigatoni recipe

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