30-Minute Spicy Rigatoni That Will Blow Your Taste Buds Away
A creamy and spicy rigatoni pasta dish with ricotta, perfect for a quick weeknight dinner.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Pasta
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
- Diet: Low Lactose
Ingredients
Scale
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- ½ cup tomato sauce
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- ¾ cup heavy cream
- 1 cup cooked chicken breast, diced
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- ½ cup ricotta cheese
- Dried parsley or basil, for garnish
Instructions
- Cook rigatoni according to package instructions until al dente. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and red pepper flakes and sauté for 30 seconds until fragrant.
- Stir in tomato paste and cook for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
- Add tomato sauce, heavy cream, salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Stir and simmer for 3–4 minutes until creamy.
- Add cooked chicken and simmer for 2 minutes to warm through.
- Toss in the cooked rigatoni, adding reserved pasta water as needed to loosen the sauce.
- Stir in Parmesan cheese until melted and glossy.
- Serve hot with dollops of ricotta on top and a sprinkle of dried parsley or basil.
Notes
- Adjust red pepper flakes for desired spice level.
- Use fresh basil for garnish if available.
- Store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 560
- Sugar: 8g
- Sodium: 720mg
- Fat: 24g
- Saturated Fat: 12g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 32g
- Cholesterol: 110mg
Keywords: spicy rigatoni, rigatoni with ricotta, spicy chicken pasta, creamy tomato pasta, easy Italian pasta, weeknight pasta dinner