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Home / Recipes / Meatless Main Dish Recipes

Spicy Rigatoni

Published: Oct 21, 2021 · Modified: Jun 5, 2025 by Sujatha Muralidhar · This post may contain affiliate links · 6 Comments

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SPICY RIGATONI

The spicy rigatoni recipe is simple to make and full of big flavors. A delicious dinner with a perfect balance of tangy and spicy vodka sauce. It's cozy and satisfying, ideal for a crowd or family. 

A bowl of spicy rigatoni pasta, coated in a creamy red vodka sauce

Do you follow the same pasta recipe most dinner nights? We do not; we introduce and incorporate our favorite elements (like coconut milk alfredo pasta sauce) in every spin.

Recently, this classic spicy rigatoni has been a sweet discovery; our whole family gave a big thumbs up. 

Jump to:
  • Why You'll Love This Recipe?
  • Ingredients & Substitutions
  • How To Make Spicy Rigatoni Pasta?
  • ♨️How To Adjust The Heat?
  • Storage & Reheating
  • Tips & Variations
  • FAQ
  • More Pasta Dishes
  • 📖 Recipe

Why You'll Love This Recipe?

⭐️It's creamy, tangy, and spicy, the best flavors.

⭐️You can customize the heat.

⭐️Satisfying delicious dinner.

Close-up of spicy rigatoni pasta in a white bowl, showing the rich, tangy sauce clinging to each tube-shaped pasta with a fork

Ingredients & Substitutions

  • Rigatoni pasta. This tube pasta holds the sauce very well. You may use penne, ziti, or other tubed pasta. 
  • Olive oil. Extra virgin olive oil works best. Cook it on medium to low heat to retain its all-natural flavors. 
  • Sweet peppers. Traditionally, a spicy rigatoni vodka sauce is made with sweet peppers, but you can use any sweet peppers of your choice.
  • Onion provides depth of flavor and adds volume to the sauce. You may also use shallots or green onion.
  • Tomatoes. I used a can of diced roasted tomatoes, but you may use fresh or canned whole tomatoes. 
  • Heavy whipping cream. It makes the pasta creamy and rich. To make it light, choose half and half. 
  • Vodka. The alcohol in the vodka evaporates while cooking, and you don't taste the vodka. But it provides a rich touch that sets it as a signature dish.
  • Parmesan cheese. It balances the acidity of tomato and the spiciness of red pepper flakes.
  • Red pepper flakes. Adding these red pepper flakes provides an intense heat and aroma. 
  • Garlic. Use fresh garlic for robust, wholesome flavors.

How To Make Spicy Rigatoni Pasta?

Chopped onions, garlic, and sweet peppers being sautéed in olive oil in a skillet.
  1. Heat olive oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Add minced garlic, onions, and sweet peppers,
sauteed onion and peppers
  1. Sauté until softened and fragrant.
Crushed fire-roasted tomatoes being stirred into the sautéed vegetables, thickening into a sauce.
  1. Stir in the crushed tomatoes and cook until the sauce thickens.
Rigatoni pasta added to the pan with vodka, simmering in the creamy tomato sauce. Heavy cream and parmesan cheese being stirred into the pasta, creating a smooth, spicy vodka sauce.
  1. Add the rigatoni, vodka, reserved pasta water(if needed), heavy cream, red pepper flakes, and parmesan. Toss the pasta in the sauce until thoroughly coated, and garnish with green onions if desired.

♨️How To Adjust The Heat?

Extra heat. Stir in red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to make this spicy rigatoni with extra heat.

If you prefer to make the sauce without heat, adjust the amount of red pepper flakes in this recipe.

Storage & Reheating

Leftover spicy rigatoni can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to five days or in the freezer for up to three months.

To reheat, thaw in the refrigerator overnight and microwave with a water or vegetable broth splash.

Tips & Variations

  • Lighter version: When my family often wants a light dinner, I substitute whole milk(mixed with a teaspoon of cornstarch) for heavy whipping cream.
  • A popular variation is adding chicken. To make it, you can cook chicken cubes, onion, and sweet pepper.
  • Without Vodka: If you are uncomfortable adding vodka, skip vodka from the recipe list.
  • Low fat. Choose light cream, half and half, or whole milk.

FAQ

What to serve with?

Serve spicy rigatoni with a simple green salad topped with a tangy vinaigrette(like this fresco salad or this spicy kale salad) to balance the heat. Garlic bread or a side of roasted vegetables also make a perfect pairing for a complete meal.

Can I make this spicy rigatoni ahead of time?

Yes, you can prepare the sauce and store it in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. When ready to serve, cook the pasta(al dente), reheat the sauce, and combine them just before serving.

More Pasta Dishes

  • Shrimp Bruschetta Pasta placed in a cast iron skillet
    Shrimp Bruschetta Pasta Recipe
  • Pasta with mushroom sauce placed in black plate
    Cream Of Mushroom Pasta Sauce
  • spicy penne pasta
    Instant Pot Penne Pasta
  • chicken curry pasta in a pan
    Chicken Curry Pasta

If you enjoyed this recipe, please consider leaving a ⭐ star rating and let me know your thoughts in the 📝 comments section below the recipe.

📖 Recipe

The spicy rigatoni, an easy classic recipe with full of big flavors. Excellent dinner with a tangy, spicy vodka sauce-for a crowd or family.

Spicy Rigatoni

The spicy rigatoni, an easy classic recipe with it full of big flavors. A delicious dinner with a perfect balance of tangy and spicy vodka sauce.
5 from 5 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 5 minutes minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes minutes
Servings: 6 Servings
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Ingredients

  • 16 oz rigatoni or other tube pasta
  • 2 tablespoon olive oil
  • 2 tablespoon garlic minced
  • ½ cup sweet peppers roughly chopped
  • ¼ onion chopped
  • 14 oz fire roasted diced tomato /1 can-mashed
  • 3 tablespoon vodka
  • ½ cup heavy whipping cream
  • 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese

Instructions

Prepping work

  1. To a mixing bowl, add diced fire roasted tomatoes and crush it with your hand until it turns mushy.
  2. In a large pot, cook pasta in salted water, until it's al dente. Strain the pasta and reserve one cup of pasta water. Set aside pasta and pasta water aside.

Make the sauce

  1. In medium to low heat place a pan. Add extra virgin olive oil, minced garlic, chopped onion, and sweet peppers. And sauté until the onion becomes translucent.
  2. Then add mashed diced tomatoes and sauté until it thickens.

Add rigatoni

  1. Add rigatoni pasta, vodka, and the pasta water that we have reserved in the first step.
  2. Allow it to cook until the sauce thickens.
  3. Stir in heavy whipped cream, red pepper flakes, and the grated parmesan cheese.
  4. Cook until the vodka sauce evenly coats the pasta. Optionally garnish with chopped green onion.

Notes

Cooking Tips:
  • To cut down the heat, lower or skip adding red pepper flakes.
  • Add more red pepper flakes, cayenne pepper, or chili paste to increase the heat.
Storage Tips:
  • Refrigerate. Store the cooked leftover spicy rigatoni in an airtight container. Refrigerate to use within five days. 
  • Freezer. Freeze in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
  • Reheat. Leave the container in the refrigerator overnight for thawing. Gently reheat in the microwave by sprinkling water or vegetable broth to keep them from drying out. 

Nutrition

Calories: 185kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 4g | Fat: 14g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 6g | Cholesterol: 33mg | Sodium: 250mg | Potassium: 73mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1109IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 139mg | Iron: 1mg

Additional Info

Course Main Course
Cuisine American, Italian
Author Sujatha Muralidhar
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Comments

    5 from 5 votes (2 ratings without comment)

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Kathleen says

    November 26, 2022 at 11:21 am

    Oh my, vodka, sweet peppers, and a kick. Count me in for this comforting and delicious pasta.

    Reply
    • pepperbowl says

      May 13, 2024 at 2:09 pm

      Hi Kathleen! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!

      Reply
  2. Toni says

    November 26, 2022 at 12:52 pm

    I tried it and turned out really good! Thanks for the tips! I cut down the heat a little bit for my kids, they really enjoyed it!

    Reply
    • pepperbowl says

      May 13, 2024 at 2:09 pm

      Great to hear! Thank you Toni!

      Reply
  3. Nancy says

    November 26, 2022 at 1:46 pm

    Everyone loves this spicy rigatoni recipe. The seasoning is well balanced and goes well with every protein.

    Reply
    • pepperbowl says

      May 13, 2024 at 2:10 pm

      Happy to hear your feedback Nancy!

      Reply
The author image of the food blog pepperbowl.com

Hi, I'm Suja! I'm the person behind PEPPER BOWL, based in Pennsylvania. I focus on easy, simple-to-make recipes inspired by rich flavors with a hint of heat. I enjoy simplifying recipes with minimal ingredients to suit today's busy lifestyle.

More about me →

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