Imagine coming home after a long day, craving a delicious, hearty meal that practically cooks itself - and in just 15 minutes! This Instant Pot Rigatoni and Sausage is the ultimate game-changer for busy home cooks who refuse to compromise on flavor. With restaurant-quality results and minimal effort, you'll transform simple ingredients into a mouthwatering Italian-inspired feast that will have your family begging for seconds. Get ready to revolutionize your dinner routine with this incredibly easy and irresistibly tasty one-pot wonder!
Prep Time: 5 mins
Cook Time: 10 mins
Total Time: 15 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 6 servings
Ingredients
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage, sliced
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 cup water
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Grated Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Remove Italian sausage from casings and slice into bite-sized pieces if not pre-sliced.
- Turn Instant Pot to sauté mode and brown the sliced sausage for 3-4 minutes, breaking it into smaller pieces while cooking. This will help develop rich flavor and render some fat.
- Add uncooked rigatoni pasta directly into the pot on top of the browned sausage.
- Pour marinara sauce and water over the pasta, ensuring all pasta is mostly submerged. Sprinkle Italian seasoning evenly across the top.
- Close Instant Pot lid, set valve to sealing position, and select manual/pressure cook mode. Cook on high pressure for 5-6 minutes, depending on pasta package instructions.
- Once cooking completes, perform a quick release of pressure to prevent overcooking the pasta.
- Stir the pasta thoroughly to combine sausage and sauce, allowing it to rest for 2-3 minutes to absorb remaining liquid.
- Serve hot, garnishing with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and optional chopped fresh basil or parsley.
Tips
- Choose Quality Ingredients: Use fresh Italian sausage and a good-quality marinara sauce for the best flavor profile.
- Don't Overcook: The key to perfect pasta is precise timing. Follow the recommended 5-6 minute cooking time carefully to avoid mushy noodles.
- Natural vs. Quick Release: While this recipe recommends a quick release, you can experiment with a 2-minute natural release for slightly softer pasta.
- Customize Your Dish: Feel free to add extra vegetables like spinach or bell peppers during the last minute of cooking for added nutrition.
- Cheese Matters: Use freshly grated Parmesan for maximum flavor - pre-grated cheese simply can't compare.
- Liquid Ratio: Ensure the pasta is mostly submerged in liquid to guarantee even cooking and prevent burning.
- Sausage Prep: For extra flavor, brown the sausage thoroughly before adding other ingredients to develop a rich, caramelized taste.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 533kcal
Carbohydrates: 68g
Protein: 24g
Fat: 19g
Saturated Fat: 6g
Cholesterol: 47mg
