One-Pan Wonder: 30-Minute Creamy Sausage Rigatoni Dinner

This 30 Minute One Pan Creamy Sausage Rigatoni is comfort food at its finest 🍝. You just brown some sausage, stir in a few ingredients, and dinner is done. It is rich, cheesy, and perfect for busy nights when you still want something homemade. Plus, it all cooks in one pan so cleanup is a breeze. Save this one for your weekly rotation!

White bowl filled with 30 Minute One Pan Creamy Sausage Rigatoni, garnished with basil, with green peppers and pasta visible in the background.

A warm plate of 30-minute creamy sausage rigatoni is just what you need to beat the January blues. Christmas and the New Year have come and gone, and now it’s time to get back to normal life. Bleh. Sometimes January can seem so bleak after a season of such rich celebration. But to ease the transition and give you something yummy to look forward to, I’m sharing this recipe for 30-minute creamy sausage rigatoni. It can it all be made in one pan! Less dishes, more time, and a delicious dinner are my kind of resolutions!

One-pan meals not only save time and effort but also make cleaning up a breeze. This recipe, in particular, is perfect for those hectic evenings when you want something hearty and satisfying without spending hours in the kitchen.

Making the 30-Minute Creamy Sausage Rigatoni

This 30-minute creamy sausage rigatoni is as easy as it is delicious. With just a few simple steps, you’ll have a comforting, flavor-packed dinner ready in no time. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Sauté the Italian Sausage

The first step to this super easy 30-minute creamy sausage rigatoni is to sauté a pound of Italian sausage in a large skillet. Chop up an Anaheim chile (removing the seeds) and sauté it with the sausage. Cook the sausage on medium heat until the meat is no longer pink. When the meat is about done, put in a tablespoon of minced garlic and sauté it about 30 seconds.

Ground Italian sausage browned in a skillet with chopped Anaheim chiles, the first step in making 30 Minute One Pan Creamy Sausage Rigatoni.

Step 2: Add Pasta Sauce and Cream Cheese

Now, add a 24 oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce to the skillet with the cooked sausage. I usually use my own jarred marinara sauce that I preserve from our garden in the summer, but if that is not available, I prefer Prego brand. The key is to choose a sauce with flavors you love since it will form the base of this dish. Stir the sauce into the sausage mixture until everything is evenly combined and heated through.

Skillet filled with browned sausage and pasta sauce, with chunks of cream cheese added, in the middle of making 30 Minute One Pan Creamy Sausage Rigatoni.

Next, add in 8 ounces of cream cheese, cutting it into smaller chunks to help it melt faster. This step is where the magic happens, as the cream cheese blends with the pasta sauce to create a rich and creamy texture that takes this dish to the next level. Keep stirring as the cream cheese melts to ensure a smooth and luscious sauce.

Melted cream cheese blending into sausage and sauce, creating a thick, creamy orange base for the 30 Minute One Pan Creamy Sausage Rigatoni.

Step 3: Stir the Sauce Until Creamy

Turn the heat to low and stir the creamy sauce for about 3 to 5 minutes. All the cream cheese should melt and turn the sauce an orange color. Pour in the rigatoni pasta and stir everything together until all the noodles are coated.

Step 4: Add Basil and Parmesan Cheese

For a little extra color and flavor, stir in a couple tablespoons of freshly diced basil and 1/4 cup of shredded Parmesan cheese. I love how this 30-minute creamy sausage rigatoni never left the pan! It makes it so easy to clean up after dinner.

Full skillet of 30 Minute One Pan Creamy Sausage Rigatoni topped with Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, ready for serving.

Why 30-Minute Creamy Sausage Rigatoni Works for Family Dinners

This 30-minute creamy sausage rigatoni is a great meal to make and leave on the stove for your family to help themselves. Nowadays, with sports, ballet practice, and differing work schedules, a lot of families prefer these types of meals because they can feed a crowd on a budget and be reheated easily.

Serving bowl of 30 Minute One Pan Creamy Sausage Rigatoni topped with basil, showing rigatoni coated in creamy tomato sauce.

Sausage rigatoni is also super delicious and the epitome of comfort food! I haven’t met a kid or adult who doesn’t like it! Try it tonight and let me know what you think!

Closeup of rigatoni pasta coated in creamy sausage sauce and topped with fresh basil, from the 30 Minute One Pan Creamy Sausage Rigatoni recipe.

Need some more 30-minute meals or one-pot dishes? I think you might like spicy shrimp fried rice, chicken and black bean fajitas, or one-pot spinach pasta bake. There are even more ideas on my recipe index or Pinterest Boards. Please feel free to follow one or all. Happy cooking y’all!

Text graphic for 30 Minute One Pan Creamy Sausage Rigatoni with pan of pasta beneath, ideal for Pinterest sharing and quick dinner inspiration.
Heidi Davison

Head Baker & Owner

Hi, I'm Heidi, Head Baker and Owner of Heidi's Bakery in Knoxville, TN.

What began as a blog to share family recipes has become a thriving bakery, thanks to community support.
Many recipes here are from my family’s cookbook. Give them a try and leave a comment below!

Heidi Davison the Owner of Heidis Bakery

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