Sweet Sausage and Mushroom Rigatoni
This Sweet Sausage and Mushroom Rigatoni is a delicious sweet and savory pasta dish. It’s made with sautéd sweet sausage, white mushrooms and spinach mixed with caramelized onions, tossed in a light cream sauce and served topped with shaved parmesan cheese and crushed pistachios.
It’s not really pasta season, but I’ve had a version of this dish spinning around in my mind for a while now. After many iterations I’ve landed on this perfect Sweet Sausage and Mushroom Rigatoni and I’m so excited to share it with you! It’s sweet with a light cream sauce and loaded with sausage, mushrooms and caramelized onions. Because of the caramelized onions, it’s not the quickest pasta recipe ever, but they are so worth the extra step!
What goes into Sweet Sausage and Mushroom Rigatoni
Caramelized Onions – thinly sliced yellow onions slow cooked until golden brown to bring out their sweet flavor.
Ground Sweet Sausage – sweet Italian sausage sautéd until browned, use ground sausage for little bits in every bite.
White Mushrooms – sliced and sautéd with the sausage, the subtle mushroom flavor pairs well with the sausage.
Spinach – the spinach cooks down quickly and adds a little green to the dish, it also absorbs all the flavors it’s exposed to making it a delicious addition.
Light Cream Sauce – the sauce is made with a quick and easy roux, vegetable broth and seasoned with salt and pepper. It’s just thick enough to lightly coat the pasta.
Rigatoni – I like rigatoni because it is a hearty short pasta that holds up well in this dish. You could easily substitute with a similar pasta like penne.
How to Make Sweet Sausage and Mushroom Rigatoni
Everything in this recipe is made on the stovetop. Start off by caramelizing the onions because those take the longest. They are cooked over low heat for at least 25 minutes until golden brown.
Next sauté the sausage, mushrooms and spinach together.
Then make the sauce by forming an easy roux and simmering with vegetable broth.
While the sauce is simmering, cook the pasta according the package instructions for al dente.
The last step is mixing everything together. Add the pasta to the sauce and then mix in the sausage and mushroom mixture. Add the caramelized onions and then the pasta is ready to serve.
Why you should top this pasta with Shaved Parmesan and Crushed Pistachios
Since the cream sauce provides just enough of a light coating on the pasta the cheese helps to elevate the savory flavors in the dish. Shaved parmesan vs. grated provides a stronger cheese flavor that pairs well with the dish. The pistachios add to the rich, sweet flavors and provide a nice crunchy finishing texture.
If you make this dish in advance of serving, hold off on adding the parmesan and pistachios. The pistachios will get soggy and lose their crunch factor!
Sweet Sausage and Mushroom Rigatoni
- Total Time: 1 hour 15 minuts
- Yield: 6-8 servings 1x
Description
This Sweet Sausage and Mushroom Rigatoni is made with sautéd sweet sausage, white mushrooms and spinach mixed with caramelized onions, tossed in a light cream sauce and served topped with shaved parmesan cheese and crushed pistachios.
Ingredients
Caramelized Onions
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 cups yellow onion, thinly sliced
1 tbsp sherry (optional)
1/2 tsp salt
Sausage and Mushrooms
1 lb ground, sweet Italian sausage
4 large cloves fresh garlic, crushed
1/2 tsp salt
12oz white mushrooms, sliced
2 tbsp olive oil*
2 cups fresh baby spinach
Sauce
2 tbsp unsalted butter
2 tbsp white all-purpose flour
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/4 tsp salt
pinch of black pepper
1.5 cups vegetable broth
Pasta
1 pound Rigatoni
Sausage and Mushrooms
Caramelized Onions
1/2 cup shaved parmesan cheese
2 tbsp crushed pistachios
Instructions
Caramelized Onions
Melt butter in a small frying pan over medium-low heat
Add onions, sauté for about 15 minutes until onions reduce and start to turn golden brown
Add the sherry and salt
Continue to sauté for about another 10 minutes, set aside
Sausage and Mushrooms
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat
Add the sausage, using a wooden spoon break the sausage apart
Brown for 4-5 minutes
Add the garlic and salt, mix
Add the mushrooms
*Depending on how much grease your sausage renders you may need to add up to 2 tbsp olive oil if the mixture is too dry
Continue to sauté the mushrooms with the sausage 4-5 minutes
Add the fresh spinach, mix
Sauté another 2 minutes, set aside
Sauce
Melt the butter in a large skillet
Working with a wooden spoon, slowly add the flour and mix with butter until dissolved
Whisking, slowly pour in the heavy cream to form a roux
Season with salt and pepper
Slowly pour in the vegetable broth, whisking
Bring sauce to a low boil and then reduce to a simmer
Pasta
Cook the rigatoni according to package instructions for al dente
Add the pasta to the simmering sauce, toss to coat
Add the sausage and mushroom mixture, toss
Add the caramelized onions, toss
Serve the pasta hot and top with shaved parmesan and pistachios
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 1 hour
- Category: pasta
- Method: stove-top
Keywords: #rigatoni, #pastarecipes, #pastabilities, #pastaideas, #sausageandmushroomrigatoni
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If you make this Sweet Sausage and Mushroom Rigatoni let me know how you like it! Leave a star rating and comment here! If you snap a photo, I’d love to see it – share it over on Instagram and tag me @sprinklesandseasalt!