1-Let’s dive into making this creamy Italian sausage rigatoni step by step. Start by pulling together all your ingredients to keep things smooth. This ensures you don’t miss a beat while cooking.

2-First, heat a large pot over medium heat and add the olive oil. Sauté the diced onion for 7 to 8 minutes until it’s soft, then mix in the minced garlic and Italian sausage. Cook for another 7 to 8 minutes until the sausage starts to brown.

3-In a separate pot, bring heavily salted water to a boil and cook the rigatoni as per the package instructions. If you’re using whole canned tomatoes, blend them smooth before adding them to the sausage mix. Stir in the basil, oregano, red chili flakes, salt, and pepper next.

4-Cooking the Sauce and Pasta: Bring the sauce to a boil, then lower the heat to simmer. Add the heavy cream and 1 cup of the Parmesan cheese, saving the rest for topping. Let it simmer on medium-low to blend the flavors beautifully.

5-Once the rigatoni is done, drain it and toss it into the sauce. If you want a thicker sauce, simmer it for an extra 10 minutes before mixing. Taste and adjust the seasoning as needed, then serve it up with the remaining Parmesan and fresh basil on top.