Description

This Creamy Sausage Alfredo Bake is a comforting, crowd-pleasing dish that combines spicy Italian sausage, rich Alfredo sauce, and perfectly cooked rigatoni pasta, all topped with melted mozzarella for a golden, bubbly finish. It’s an easy-to-make recipe that’s perfect for family dinners, potlucks, or any occasion where you want to impress with a hearty, flavorful meal.

Ingredients

Scale

1 lb. spicy Italian sausage ground or casings removed from links
12 oz Rigatoni or similar tube pasta
6–8 garlic cloves, minced
1 medium onion chopped
1 stick butter
2.5 cups heavy cream half and half can be subbed
3/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
2.5 cups shredded mozzarella cheese divided
1–2 tsp red pepper flakes
salt and pepper to taste

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray a 9×13 casserole dish with nonstick spray
In a large skillet, add two tablespoons of olive oil. Saute onions for about two minutes or until translucent then add in the garlic. Cook for another minute then add in the sausage to crumbles and cook through.
Set sausage/onions aside in a bowl, strain out most of the grease (leaving about 1 tbsp for flavor).
In the same pan over medium low, melt the butter, then add in the garlic and saute about 1 minute until fragrant. Pour in the cream slowly whisking to combine with the butter. Allow the cream to simmer about 5 minutes.
Start to boil a pot of salted water for pasta while the alfredo simmers.
To the cream, add in the parmesan, whisking until it incorporates. Taste and adjust salt, pepper and red pepper flakes as needed.
Cook the pasta to al dente according to the package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water.
Strain and return pasta to the pot, pour in the alfredo sauce, sausage/onions and 1 cup of mozzarella cheese. Mix it all together until it’s combined, adding a few splashes of pasta water if needed to loosen.
Pour pasta into the prepared casserole dish, top with remaining cheese and bake for 30 minutes or until it’s bubbly and slightly golden brown.

Notes

For a milder version, swap the spicy sausage with a mild Italian sausage or turkey sausage. To add a touch of freshness, consider garnishing with chopped parsley or basil before serving. This dish can also be made ahead of time and stored in the refrigerator, making it a convenient option for busy weeknights.