Are you looking for a tasty and healthy pasta dish you can cook quickly? You have come to the right place! In this blog post, I’m sharing with you a go-to recipe for Instant Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni, perfect for a weeknight dinner and can be paired with a variety of sides. Not only is this dish delicious, but it is also healthy and easy to make.
Let’s get cooking!
What’s In It and What Can Be Served With It?
The Instant Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni is made with wholesome ingredients and perfectly balanced flavors. The dish consists of rigatoni pasta, Italian sausage, tomatoes, cream, and cheese. If you aren’t a pork fan, you could substitute ground turkey or beef, though I would choose a leaner variety.
You could switch out the cream for 2% milk to shave off a few calories, but I love the milk fat and how it enriches a sauce.
The Rigatoni is cooked perfectly in the Instant Pot with the sausage, creating a delicious and aromatic sauce. The cream and cheese add a touch of creaminess to the dish, making it even more satisfying. I always have extra freshly shredded Parmesan to top it off at serving.
The Instant Pot Creamy Sausage Rigatoni can be paired with various side dishes, such as roasted vegetables, green beans, garlic bread, or a delicious salad. A Caesar salad is an excellent choice for this particular meal.
It is also a great dish on its own or to make and take to an office party, sports banquet, and so on. The sauce’s creaminess makes it feel indulgent, yet it is still healthy and flavorful.
This Creamy Sausage Rigatoni recipe has received rave reviews from those who have tasted it. The dish’s creamy texture and the medley of flavors have left many satisfied and looking forward to the next time they can make it..myself included.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Ground Sausage (or ground pork, which isn’t as spicy)
- 1 Tsp. Salt
- 1 Tsp. Pepper
- 24 oz. Pasta Sauce (My favorites are Rao’s Tomato Basil and Carbone Roasted Garlic )
- 1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning
- 3 Cups Chicken Broth
- 1/2 Cup Heavy Cream
- 16 oz. Rigatoni Noodles
- 1 1/2 Cups Shredded Parmesan Cheese
- Fresh Parsley (Garnish)
- 1 Tbsp. Garlic
Former catering company and restaurant owner tip: I never buy canned chicken broth or stock, nor do I have the time to make my own. A happy medium is Better Than Bouillon® Premium Roasted Chicken Base, available in the non-perishable aisle at your local grocery store. It’s also available in reduced sodium and organic.
Mix a cup of boiling water with a tsp of this paste-like product and stir to dissolve. The jar needs to be refrigerated once it’s opened, but it will save you a tremendous amount of money (around $6-7 a jar) and lasts at my house for weeks or months. The rich and delicious flavor adds much more flavor to your recipes than basic chicken stock and broth.
Pro Tip: If you like a spicier pasta dish, try buying the Arrabbiata variety of these pasta sauces.
Recipe Instructions
- Set Instant Pot to sauté.
- Brown the ground sausage.
- After the ground sausage has browned, add the broth, pasta sauce, heavy cream, garlic, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning to the instant pot.
- Stir well.
- Add the rigatoni noodles, making sure they are fully submerged in the liquid.
- Place the lid on the Instant Pot.
- Set to high pressure for 6 minutes.
- Quick release.
- Stir in the Parmesan cheese.
- Serve & enjoy.
Why Use An Instant Pot?
One of the main benefits of using an Instant Pot for cooking is that it saves time. The pasta cooks in just a few minutes, and the sausage is cooked perfectly in the same pot. This means that there is less cleanup and fewer dishes to wash.
Furthermore, the Instant Pot locks in all the flavors and nutrients of the food, making it a healthier way of cooking.
