Copycat Olive Garden Giant Sausage Stuffed Rigatoni Recipes

RIGATONI WITH SAUSAGE & FENNEL

Steps:

• Heat the olive oil in a large heavy pot or Dutch oven, such as Le Creuset, over medium heat. Add the fennel and onion and saute for 7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until tender. Add the sausage and cook for 7 to 8 minutes, crumbling it with a fork, until nicely browned. Add the garlic, crushed fennel seeds, red pepper flakes, 2 teaspoons salt, and 1 teaspoon black pepper and cook for one minute. Pour in the wine, bring to a boil, and add the heavy cream, half-and-half, and tomato paste. Bring back to a boil, lower the heat, and simmer for 20 minutes, until the sauce has thickened.
• Meanwhile, bring a large pot of water to a boil, add 2 tablespoons salt, and cook the rigatoni according to the directions on the package. Drain and add to the sauce, stirring to coat the pasta. Cook over low heat for 5 minutes to allow the pasta to absorb the sauce. Off the heat, stir in the parsley and 1/2 cup of the Parmesan. Serve hot in shallow bowls with the remaining 1/2 cup Parmesan on the side.

SAUSAGE STUFFED RIGATONI

Steps:

• Saute onion in olive oil.
• Pour onions, tomato paste, tomatoes, water, and seasonings into a 3 quart saucepan.
• Stir well.
• Cover and simmer for 1 hour.
• Remove bay leaf.
• Brown sausage and add bread crumbs.
• Mix milk and eggs together and add to meat mixture.
• Mix well.
• Cool.
• Stuff each rigatoni with meat mixture.
• Place a layer of rigatoni in 4 quart casserole.
• Pour some of the tomato sauce over noodles and sprinkle with cheese.
• Repeat layers.
• Bake at 350 for 1 hour.