Description
A comforting and flavorful creamy rigatoni dish featuring sautéed butternut squash, spicy Italian sausage, Swiss chard, and a rich sauce made with crème fraîche and parmesan cheese. Perfect for a hearty weeknight meal with a spicy kick.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables & Sausage
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cups peeled and diced butternut squash
- 1 small red onion, diced
- 12 ounces spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 bunch Swiss chard, thick stems removed and chopped
- 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Pasta & Sauce
- 8 ounces rigatoni
- ¼ cup crème fraîche
- ⅓ cup grated parmesan cheese, plus extra for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the Butternut Squash: Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat in a large sauté pan. Add the peeled and diced butternut squash and sauté until lightly browned, about 6-7 minutes. The squash should begin to soften but not be fully cooked.
- Sauté Onion and Cook Sausage: Add the diced red onion to the pan and sauté until tender, about 4 minutes. Then add the spicy Italian sausage, breaking it into small chunks. Cook until the sausage is browned, approximately 3 minutes.
- Add Garlic, Swiss Chard, and Chili Flakes: Stir in the minced garlic, chopped Swiss chard, and red chili flakes. Continue cooking until the chard is wilted, about 3 more minutes. Season with salt and pepper. Keep the mixture warm on low heat.
- Cook Rigatoni: Meanwhile, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni until al dente, about 8 minutes. Drain the pasta, reserving ¼ cup of the pasta cooking water.
- Combine Pasta and Sauce: Immediately add the cooked rigatoni to the sausage and vegetable mixture in the pan. Pour in the reserved ¼ cup of pasta water, crème fraîche, and grated parmesan. Stir well to coat the pasta, cooking for another 1-2 minutes to meld the flavors. Adjust seasoning with salt and pepper as needed.
- Serve: Serve the creamy rigatoni hot, sprinkling extra grated parmesan on top for added flavor.
Notes
- To make this pasta vegetarian, replace the spicy Italian sausage with a spicy vegetarian sausage or soyrizo.
- Reserve some pasta water as it helps loosen the sauce and improve its texture.
- Adjust the amount of red chili flakes based on your preferred spice level.
- Use fresh parmesan for better flavor and melting quality.
- Crème fraîche adds a subtle tang and creaminess – sour cream can be substituted if unavailable.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 480
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 12g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 45g
- Fiber: 5g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 55mg
