This spicy rigatoni pasta is a delicious mix of cream, homemade marinara sauce, and red chili flakes. It's a quick and easy dinner that you can whip up in under 30 minutes!
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The Best Spicy Rigatoni
Pair it with avocado chickpea salad, garlic bread or cheesy breadsticks are also great for soaking up extra sauce. Yum!
This is a one pot meal that tastes like it came straight from a restaurant.
This pasta is made with no vodka, very similar to my son's favorite Spicy Vodka Pasta (I serve it without vodka and it tastes amazing).
Also don't miss this popular White Wine Chicken Pasta next!
Ingredients
- Rigatoni pasta - Its ridges hold the sauce well, giving you a great sauce-to-pasta ratio in every bite. For rigatoni alternatives, use other short pasta like larger penne, ziti, fusilli. These shapes also hold the sauce well. Even spaghetti or fettuccine can work in a pinch
- Heavy cream - This makes the marinara sauce even more thick and creamy. You can use half and half for a lighter option, but heavy cream gives the best taste due to its rich fat content.
- Marinara sauce - Use store-bought or make it homemade and freeze the leftovers for later.
- Red pepper flakes - Adds spice to the dish. Omit them for a milder version or use Calabrian chilis for a more authentic kick.
- Garlic - Fresh minced garlic is essential for great flavor. Avoid garlic powder.
- Scallions - Are the best here. Use a mix of white and green part of the onion. Shallots, leeks and red onions will taste great just like in my spicy vodka pasta.
- Olive oil - We make it with olive oil but feel free to use a 50:50 ratio of vegetable oil + butter (unsalted is best for balanced flavors, you can always add more salt later if needed).
- Parmesan cheese - Use high-quality cheese like Parmigiano-Reggiano.
📋 You can find the full ingredient list in the Recipe Card below the article.
How To Make This Spicy Rigatoni
- Cook the Bacon: Fry the bacon until crispy. Remove the extra grease from the pot, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Put the bacon on a paper towel to drain and cool. I use Dutch Oven Pot for this pasta meal.
- Cook the Veggies: In the same pot, add chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often.
- Add Spices: Sprinkle in smoked paprika and red pepper flakes. Stir well.
- Combine Ingredients: Add the uncooked rigatoni pasta to the pot. Pour in the marinara sauce, broth, and salt. Mix everything together and bring it to a soft boil.
- Simmer the Pasta: Cover the skillet, turn the heat to medium-low, and cook for 12-13 minutes, or until the pasta is done.
- Finish the Dish: Once the pasta is cooked, stir in heavy cream, cooked bacon, green peas, and parmesan cheese. Cook over medium heat until the sauce is creamy and everything is well mixed.
- Serve: Serve immediately. You can add fresh herbs, bacon crumbles, scallion and extra parmesan cheese on top if you like.
My Sauce is Too Thick or Too Thin, What Should I Do?
- To thicken: Cook the sauce longer on medium-low heat to let more liquid evaporate, or add more heavy cream.
- To thin: Add more pasta water to the sauce.
Top Tips for Perfect Spicy Rigatoni
- Don't overcook it. Cook the pasta until it's al dente.
- A tablespoon ot two of butter in a finished dish makes any pasta meal taste divine!
- Important. Do not rinse cooked pasta with cold water, as it removes the starch that helps the sauce stick. To prevent pasta from sticking together, toss it with a few drops of olive oil.
What To Serve With Rigatoni Pasta
- Serve spicy rigatoni with a simple side salad, like a Caesar or mixed greens, to balance the heat.
- You could also serve it with these air fryer roasted vegetables (minus chicken) or asparagus, broccoli or Brussels sprouts for extra flavor.
- Garlic bread or cheesy breadsticks are also great for soaking up extra sauce.
Freezing And Storing Instructions
- To Store. Keep leftover spicy rigatoni pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- To Freeze. Let the pasta cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe container or bag. It will last up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
- To Make Ahead. You can prepare the marinara sauce and cook the aromatics ahead of time and store it in the fridge for 1-2 days. Cook the pasta fresh when ready to serve.
- How Do I Reheat Leftovers? Reheat in a pan over low heat, adding a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce. Stir occasionally until warmed through.
Is Spicy Rigatoni Really Spicy?
The spice level depends on how much chili or red pepper flakes you add. You can adjust the amount to your taste.
Variations
- Feel free to try different pasta types like penne, pipette, lumache, spaghetti, fettuccini, or whole-wheat pasta instead of rigatoni.
- Change the flavor by adding herbs like basil, thyme, rosemary, marjoram, parsley, or oregano.
- Swap heavy cream for homemade cashew cream or coconut cream, but note the texture will differ.
More One Pot Pasta Recipes
Before You Head Out
If you gave this recipe a try, I'd be so thankful if you could leave a ★★★★★ rating and review below. It helps other readers, supports my work, and means the world to me. Thank you for being part of The Yummy Bowl family. Happy cooking! ❤️
Recipe Card
Spicy Rigatoni (Easy One Pot Recipe)
Ingredients
Method
- Cook the Bacon: Fry the bacon until crispy. Remove the extra grease from the skillet, leaving about 1 tablespoon. Put the bacon on a paper towel to drain and cool.4 ounces bacon
- Cook the Veggies: In the same pot, add chopped onion and minced garlic. Cook for about 2 minutes, stirring often.⅓ cup scallions, 4 cloves garlic
- Add Spices: Sprinkle in smoked paprika and red pepper flakes. Stir well.½ teaspoon smoked paprika, 1 teaspoons crushed red pepper
- Combine Ingredients: Add the uncooked rigatoni pasta to the pot. Pour in the marinara sauce, broth, and salt. Mix everything together and bring it to a soft boil.14 ounces rigatoni pasta, 2 cup homemade marinara sauce, 1 teaspoon kosher salt , 4 cup low-sodium chicken
- Simmer the Pasta: Cover the skillet, turn the heat to medium-low, and cook for 12-13 minutes, or until the pasta is done.
- Finish the Dish: Once the pasta is cooked, stir in heavy cream, cooked bacon, green peas, and parmesan cheese. Cook over medium heat until the sauce is creamy and everything is well mixed.4 ounces bacon, ⅓ cup heavy cream, ½ cup parmesan cheese , 1 cup green peas
- Serve: Serve immediately. You can add fresh herbs and extra parmesan cheese on top if you like.grated parmesan, fresh chopped parsley, crumbly bacon
Nutrition
Notes
- To Store. Keep leftover spicy rigatoni pasta in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
- To Freeze. Let the pasta cool completely, then store in a freezer-safe container or bag. It will last up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge before reheating.
- To Make Ahead. You can prepare the marinara sauce and cook the aromatics ahead of time and store it in the fridge for 1-2 days. Cook the pasta fresh when ready to serve.
- How do I reheat leftovers? Reheat in a pan over low heat, adding a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce. Stir occasionally until warmed through.
- The result of this pasta dish really depends on the quality of your ingredients. Be sure to use fresh, high-quality ingredients for the best outcome.
Tried this recipe?
Let us know how it was!Note: Nutrition information is estimated and varies based on the products used.
Full Nutrition Disclaimer can be found here.
Spicy Rigatoni: Frequently Asked Questions
For frozen rigatoni, fully defrost it first. Before microwaving, add a few drops of water or some butter to the pasta. Stir halfway through and continue microwaving until it heats evenly.
Yes, you can freeze it! Store it in an airtight container after cooking and let it cool before freezing for up to 1 month.
Yes, you can use half and half or milk as healthier alternatives, but the rigatoni won't be as creamy and rich.
The water should be as salty as the sea. This is the main way to flavor the pasta itself.
You can use any short pasta, like Pipette, Rigatoni, or Lumache.
YES! You can substitute the vodka with white wine or chicken/vegetable broth (just like this recipe) for a similar flavor.
You can, but the sauce will be less creamy. Half-and-half is a better substitute for a lighter option.
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Julia
this spicy rigatoni is the perfect quick dinner for lazy weekend dinner!