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Test Kitchen Approved

Firehouse Pasta

Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 4 servings

About

Hold the hose because 5-alarm flavor is coming in hot! Firehouse Pasta will quickly have everyone running to the dinner table. A full blast of flavor comes from the Italian-sausage-filled, savory, and creamy tomato sauce that perfectly coats the al dente rigatoni pasta of your dreams. Sprinkled with some parmesan cheese and red-hot pepper flakes, Firehouse Pasta puts out the flames of your hunger in no time! This is not a drill, make some tonight!

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Ingredients

  • 1 (16-ounce) box rigatoni
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
  • 1/2 cup sweet onion, chopped
  • 1 pound spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
  • 3/4 cup chicken stock
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper or chili powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon chives, fresh or dried
  • 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated, plus more, to taste, shredded, for garnish
  • red pepper flakes, optional, to taste, for garnish

Directions

Step 1 -In a large pot of salted, boiling water, cook the rigatoni to al dente, according to the package directions. Drain the water.

Step 2 -Add 1 tablespoon of the olive oil to the cooked rigatoni and toss to coat. Set it aside.

Step 3 -While the rigatoni is cooking, in a large skillet over medium-high heat, add the remaining olive oil.

Step 4 -Add the onions to the heated olive oil and cook, about 2-3 minutes.

Step 5 -Add the sausage to the onions and cook, while crumbling the meat, until the sausage is no longer pink, about 3-4 minutes.

Step 6 -Add the chicken stock and the tomato paste to the sausage mixture and stir to combine.

Step 7 -Reduced the heat to medium. Add the heavy cream, the garlic powder, the cayenne pepper, and the smoked paprika to the sauce mixture and stir well to combine.

Step 8 -Reduce the heat to medium. Add the chives and 1/2 cup of the grated parmesan cheese to the sauce and stir to combine. Cook until it thickens, about 4-5 minutes.

Step 9 -Add the cooked rigatoni to the sauce and toss to combine. Cook, stirring frequently, until the pasta is heated through, about 2-4 minutes.

Step 10 -Serve the pasta garnished with the extra shredded parmesan and the red pepper flakes.

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