Indulge in Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni Today!

Comfort food cravings, meet your match! This Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni dish is the ultimate family-friendly pasta bake, bursting with savory flavors and a creamy garlic butter sauce. The combination of ground beef, Italian sausage, and rigatoni noodles creates a hearty, satisfying meal that’s sure to become a new weeknight favorite.

Table of Contents

Ingredients for Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni

To make this Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni, you’ll need a delicious lineup of quality ingredients, including rigatoni pasta, ground beef, Italian sausage, onions, garlic, spinach, and a rich, creamy sauce made with butter, flour, milk, cream, and melty cheeses. The blend of seasonings, from Cajun spice to smoked paprika, takes this dish to new flavor heights.

• 1 pound rigatoni pasta
• 1/2 pound ground beef
• 1/2 pound Italian sausage (casings removed)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 5 cloves garlic, minced
• 10 ounces frozen spinach, thawed and squeezed dry
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/4 cup all-purpose flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

Cooking Rigatoni Pasta

To get started, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the rigatoni pasta until it reaches that perfect al dente texture, about 12 minutes. Drain the pasta and set it aside, ready to be tossed with the flavorful beef and sausage mixture and creamy sauce.

Preparing the Meat and Spinach Mixture

In a large skillet, heat the olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and Italian sausage, breaking them up with a spoon as they cook. Sauté the meat until it’s browned and fully cooked through. Drain any excess fat from the pan.

Next, add the chopped onion to the skillet and cook for about 5 minutes, until the onion is softened. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for an additional minute, allowing the garlic to become fragrant. Finally, mix in the thawed and drained spinach and cook until heated through.

Making the Garlic Butter Sauce

In a separate saucepan, melt the butter over medium heat. Whisk in the all-purpose flour and cook for 1 minute, creating a roux. Gradually pour in the milk and chicken broth, whisking constantly. Simmer the sauce, stirring frequently, until it thickens, about 5-7 minutes.

Reduce the heat to low and stir in the heavy cream, Parmesan cheese, mozzarella cheese, Cajun seasoning, Italian seasoning, and smoked paprika. Season the sauce with salt and black pepper to taste. Continue stirring until the cheese is melted and the sauce is smooth and creamy.

Combining the Pasta, Meat, and Sauce

Add the cooked rigatoni and the meat and spinach mixture to the garlic butter sauce. Gently toss everything together until the pasta is fully coated in the rich, flavorful sauce. Serve this Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni piping hot, with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan cheese or fresh parsley on top for a beautiful presentation.

Serving Suggestions and Variations

This Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni pairs beautifully with a fresh garden salad or a slice of crusty garlic bread. For a heartier meal, consider serving it alongside roasted vegetables or a simple side of sautéed spinach. To switch things up, you could substitute ground turkey or Italian chicken sausage for a leaner protein option. Vegetarians might enjoy a meatless version using sautéed mushrooms or lentils in place of the ground meat.

FAQs about Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni

How to thicken garlic butter sauce for pasta?

The key to thickening the garlic butter sauce for this Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni is to create a roux. By whisking together the butter and flour, you’ll form a thick, creamy base that will help the sauce cling to the pasta. Simmering the sauce after adding the milk and broth also allows it to thicken to the perfect consistency.

Is garlic good with Italian sausage?

Absolutely! Garlic and Italian sausage are a match made in culinary heaven. The savory, slightly spicy flavor of the sausage pairs beautifully with the aromatic, pungent notes of fresh garlic. In this recipe, the garlic not only seasons the meat and spinach mixture but also shines in the rich, creamy garlic butter sauce that coats the rigatoni.

Do you brown Italian sausage before putting it in sauce?

Yes, it’s important to brown the Italian sausage before adding it to the sauce. Sautéing the sausage helps develop its flavor and ensures that it’s fully cooked through. In this recipe, the ground beef and Italian sausage are browned together in the skillet, allowing their flavors to mingle before being incorporated into the pasta dish.

More Related Recipes You Might Enjoy

• Creamy Garlic Butter Chicken and Rigatoni
• Creamy Tuscan Sausage Gnocchi
• Garlic Parmesan Beef Stroganoff Skillet

Conclusion

Get ready to dive into a world of cheesy, beefy, sausage-y goodness with this irresistible Cheesy Beef and Italian Sausage Rigatoni recipe. The combination of tender rigatoni, savory ground beef and sausage, and a luscious garlic butter sauce makes for a comforting, flavor-packed dish that’s sure to become a new family favorite. So, what are you waiting for? Gather your ingredients and get ready to create a pasta masterpiece!

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