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Creamy Sausage Rigatoni

This Creamy Sausage Rigatoni brings together tender pasta, savory sausage, and a luscious cream sauce that’s easy to make and impossible to resist. Perfect for cozy dinners or casual gatherings, it’s rich, hearty, and ready in under an hour.
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Ingredients
  

For the Chicken & Bacon:

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 pound 450g chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 1 teaspoon paprika optional for smoky flavor
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • 6 slices bacon chopped

For the Pasta:

  • 12 oz 340g penne or fettuccine pasta
  • Salt for boiling water
  • For the Creamy Sauce:
  • 2 tablespoons butter
  • 4 cloves garlic minced
  • 8 oz 225g cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup 240 ml heavy cream
  • 1 cup 100g grated Parmesan cheese
  • ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes optional
  • 1 cup 240 ml chicken broth
  • Salt and pepper to taste
  • 1 tablespoon chopped parsley for garnish

Instructions
 

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente. Drain, saving a cup of pasta water for later.
  • In a large skillet, cook the bacon over medium heat until crispy, then transfer to a paper towel-lined plate, leaving a tablespoon of bacon grease in the pan.
  • Add olive oil and season the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika. Cook until golden and fully done, then set aside with the bacon.
  • Melt butter in the same skillet, sauté garlic for about a minute, then stir in cream cheese until it begins to melt. Gradually whisk in chicken broth and heavy cream until the sauce turns smooth and creamy.
  • Mix in Parmesan cheese and let it thicken slightly. Add the chicken, bacon, and cooked pasta back into the skillet, tossing until everything’s coated evenly.
  • Adjust with pasta water if needed and season with salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes.
  • Let it simmer briefly to bring the flavors together. Spoon into bowls, sprinkle with parsley and extra Parmesan, and enjoy the rich, comforting creaminess in every bite.