20-Minute Sausage Rigatoni
This post may contain affiliate or sponsored links. Please read our disclosure policy.
This creamy, tomatoey Sausage Rigatoni comes together in 20 minutes with only 4 main ingredients. Boursin cheese (the secret flavor bomb) combines with marinara sauce and browned Italian sausage, resulting in a rich, flavorful coating for rigatoni. Perfect for busy nights!
About This Recipe
This simple, restaurant-quality recipe is now my husband’s favorite recipe on Thriving Home (and he’s had them all). Here’s why he and I like it so much:
- Incredibly flavorful – It’s creamy, tomatoey, herbaceous, and just a little spicy thanks to powerhouse ingredients like creamy Boursin cheese (I’m obsessed with it), Italian sausage, and a good marinara sauce.
- Fast – Takes 20 minutes tops, making this a great one for weeknights.
- So easy – You only need 4 ingredients. If you can boil water and brown ground meat, you can do this with your eyes closed.
Ingredients
Like I mentioned, you only need a few simple ingredients for Sausage Rigatoni so get the very best quality you can. Here’s what you’ll need:
Ingredient Notes
- Pasta – I found that the sauce really clings well to rigatoni or ziti pasta. Before draining the pasta, make sure to reserve 1 cup pasta water (key ingredient)!!
- Sausage – Use mild or hot ground Italian sausage (pork or turkey works).
- Marinara sauce – You can make your own slow cooker marinara or grab a jar of your favorite from the store. I tested this recipe with (and recommend) Rao’s Tomato Basil Sauce.
- Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese – I’m obsessed with this creamy, soft, flavored cheese (try my Boursin Chicken & Wild Rice Soup). If you can’t find it, look for Alouette Garlic & Herbs Cheese.
- Optional for serving: Fresh torn basil, grated Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes
How to Make Sausage Rigatoni
Cook Pasta
Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the salt. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
Brown Sausage
Meanwhile, in a large skillet (one with higher sides is helpful) over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage, breaking it into tiny crumbles (this is important), until fully browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease if needed.
Finish Sauce
Add the marinara sauce into the skillet with the sausage and stir to combine. Crumble the Boursin cheese into the sauce and stir until fully melted and creamy. Reduce heat to low and let it warm through for a few minutes.
Combine
Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Stir in a little reserved pasta water, a splash at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
Serve
Dish up the pasta, garnish with fresh basil, Parmesan, and/or red pepper flakes if desired. Consider serving with our easy, delicious Italian House Chopped Salad.
Recipe FAQs
No, unfortunately this recipe is not freezer-friendly. The pasta will get mushy and dried out after being in the freezer.
Yes! To make it dairy free, use Kite Hill alternative cream cheese (chive flavor) instead of the Boursin cheese. To make it gluten-free, I’d recommend using Banza brand penne pasta (it’s a chickpea pasta).
More Pasta and Red Sauce Dishes
Did you make this? Snap a photo and tag us on Instagram at @thrivinghome so we can see your creations and cheer you on!
20-Minute Sausage Rigatoni
This easy, fast, and incredibly flavorful pasta dish comes together in 20 minutes with just 4 main ingredients. Perfect for busy nights!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon salt
- 1 pound rigatoni or ziti (make sure to reserve 1 cup pasta water)
- 1 pound mild or hot Italian sausage (pork or turkey sausage works)
- 1 (24-oz) jar marinara sauce (I used Rao’s Tomato Basil Sauce but use your favorite)
- 1 (5.2-oz) package Boursin Garlic & Fine Herbs cheese (sub: Alouette soft garlic cheese)
- Optional for serving: Fresh torn basil, grated Parmesan cheese, and red pepper flakes
Before You Begin! If you make this, please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive & continue providing free recipes.
Instructions
- Cook Pasta: Bring a large pot of water to a boil and add the salt. Cook the pasta according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Brown Sausage: Meanwhile, in a large skillet (one with higher sides is helpful) over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage, breaking it into tiny crumbles (this is important), until fully browned and cooked through. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Finish Sauce: Add the marinara sauce into the skillet with the sausage and stir to combine. Crumble the Boursin cheese into the sauce and stir until fully melted and creamy. Reduce heat to low and let it warm through for a few minutes.
- Combine: Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss to coat. Stir in a little reserved pasta water, a splash at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency. Note: It will thicken up and cling to the pasta even better after it sits for a few minutes.
- Serve: Dish up the pasta, garnish with fresh basil, Parmesan, and/or red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes/Tips
- Reserving the starchy pasta water is critical for the success of this recipe. It helps the sauce stick to the pasta and adds just the right amount of liquid to finish off the dish. I usually use most or all of it.
- Dairy-Free Version: Use 5-6 ounces Kitehill Chive Dairy-Free Cream Cheese instead of Boursin.
- Gluten-Free Version: Use Banza gluten-free rotini or penne pasta.
- This recipe is not especially freezer friendly. The pasta will get mushy and dried out after being in the freezer.
This is a huge hit with my family and I love how quick and easy it is to make.
Glad to hear it Jen. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
Paired with grilled vegetables and bread. Yum!
Glad you enjoyed this Jaclyn. Thanks for leaving a review!
I’ve been making a version of this for a while. It’s sooooo good! We made this for an easy Mother’s Day dinner!
Love to hear this Ashley. What are some of the variations you’ve done? Thanks for the review!
This recipe was amazing! Would highly recommend! We’ve made it twice in the last week. It’s super yummy and so easy to make. Dinner is done in 20 mins! Definitely a new staple in our home!
So glad you loved this Gracie! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
This recipe is delicious! I used the same marinara sauce that is in the recipe and the Boursin cheese gave the dish lots of flavor. It didn’t take long to throw it together. I am going to keep the ingredients on hand for a quick meal when guests drop in. This recipe is a keeper!
Thanks for the kind words Brenda. We’re so glad you liked this recipe!
Really easy and elevates the average pasta dish to something better! My son who doesn’t love marinara even ate it – I think because it was creamier. I made it with Turkey sausage because I had that on hand but next time I will use pork sausage.
Glad to hear this recipe won over someone who doesn’t love marinara! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review Amber.
Easy enough for weeknight meal; just not much flavor.
Hi Barbara. The kind of marinara sauce and Italian sausage you use choose to use really dictates the flavor of this one. In case it helps, I really like the Raos Tomato Basil Marinara and I add in some red pepper flakes and garlic to the sausage. Maybe that will help next time. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
This pasta was truly the easiest dish I’ve made in a long time! No chopping, full of flavor, and great reheated. It was devoured by my children, and they even asked for it to be in the rotation.
Wonderful! Love to hear when our recipes are added to the regular rotation. Thanks for leaving a review Kerra!
So good! Husband and kid approved! Served with a simple salad. I will definitely make this again.
Glad to hear this was husband AND kid approved Jessica! Thanks for taking the time to leave a review.
I didn’t have sausage so used ground turkey instead and it was still so delicious!! The Boursin cheese turned regular spaghetti night into something memorable!
Glad to know you enjoyed it with ‘just’ ground turkey Theresa. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
I’m obsessed with Boursin too! It’s the bomb and so is this recipe! I used half the box of pasta and didn’t need the pasta water. Added sauted mushrooms. Yummmm!
Mushrooms sounds like the perfect addition to this recipe Cheri! Thanks for the suggestion and review.
Winner, winner pasta dinner! A major hit with all. It’s really just like a vodka sauce but a really tasty one. I used the Rao’s tomato basil as suggested and Trader Joe’s chicken sausage. Made the sauce a few hours before dinner so all I had to do was blil some pasta and 💥! Delish!
Hi Sarah. Thanks for leaving a review and noting how you made the sauce ahead of time. I’m sure that will help others to know it worked well for you!
Had this for the first time tonight and the whole family really enjoyed it, teenage girls included! Super easy to make and super delicious! Will be adding it to our rotation!
Love to hear this! Thanks so much for leaving a review Jordan.
Easy, delicious, and Walmart had all the ingredients!
Yes! Love to hear this Heather. Thanks for taking the time to leave a review!
Is this a dish that can be prepared ahead of time and warmed up for when entertaining guests?
Hi Donna. We haven’t tested it that way and have a feeling it will get dry. It’s probably best eaten fresh if possible, but save pasta water and marinara sauce to moisten it up if you have to hold it for a while.
This is so easy yet elegant! This will be a go-to that will elevate the typical spaghetti night for us. Tastes fancy enough to serve to dinner guests as well!
Aww, so happy you all liked it! Thanks for the review.