Get ready for a flavor explosion with our One Pot Spicy Rigatoni – your soon-to-be favorite weeknight superstar! It’s not just easy; it practically puts itself together, leaving you with minimal hands-on time. And the best part? It’s a powerhouse of flavor, ready to spice up your weeknight routine.
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The benefits of cooking single pot pasta
We’ve said it before, and we will say it again: we love one-pot pasta dishes!
The ease of making this recipe combined with the ease of clean up means more time spent with family. While we adore our kitchen adventures, we also cherish recipes that let us savor quality time beyond the kitchen walls. It’s all about maximizing those moments outside while still treating your taste buds to something spectacular!
The secret ingredient to the magic of our One-Pot Spicy Rigatoni? It’s not just the spice; it’s the fact that cooking it all together in one pot amplifies the flavor to a whole new level.
When you cook any kind of pasta, it absorbs the flavors of the liquid it is cooking in. That’s why it’s important to heavily salt water before you cook pasta. Dried pasta on its own is extremely bland and flavorless.
By cooking the rigatoni in tomato sauce, broth, garlic, shallots, and red chili flake, you are giving the pasta the opportunity for all of those flavors to infuse. Instead of just taking on the salt from boiling water, the noodles will take on the flavors of the liquid it is cooking in.
So not only does this recipe save you dishes, but it also takes the flavor of this one-pot pasta to the next level!
Shallots vs onions, and which should I use?
Both shallots and onions are in the allium family of vegetables, alongside garlic and chives! While shallots and onions both have a similarly characteristic bold flavor, there are some minor flavor differences that make shallots perfect for this recipe.
Shallots have a more mild, sweet flavor than onions. You may also notice that your eyes don’t tear up quite as much when cutting them. Onions, on the other hand, tend to be more intense and sharp.
We personally love the subtle flavor that the shallots bring to this dish. But, if you only have onions on hand don’t worry! You can definitely still use them for this recipe.
In fact, if you are ever in a pinch and don’t have the exact allium the recipe calls for, you can easily swap onions and shallots interchangeably. Just make sure you are using a similar amount.
Shallots tend to be smaller than onions. So a recipe that calls for a medium yellow onion would likely require two average-sized shallots.
Can I make spicy rigatoni without the spice?
Absolutely! While we love the spice in this recipe, we know it may not be for everyone.
You can easily make this single-pot pasta dish more mild by removing the red pepper chili flakes from the ingredient list.
Can I make this recipe gluten-free?
Another resounding yes from us! This recipe is compatible with a gluten-free diet. To make this delicious recipe gluten-free, simply swap in your favorite gluten-free pasta.
Because each brand of gluten-free pasta is different, we recommend following the cooking time indicated on the box instructions. You can still cook the pasta in a single pot with the broth and tomato sauce, but you may want to check it halfway through to ensure you are getting the right texture.
How to make one pot spicy rigatoni
- Place the butter in a pot or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. As the butter is melting, add the shallots and garlic into the pan.
- Sprinkle in the red chili flake and mix together. Allow the shallots and garlic to soften in the pan by cooking for 1-2 minutes. Be sure to mix often so that the garlic and shallots don’t stick to the pan or burn.
- Add the pasta to the hot pan, followed by the marinara sauce, broth, and salt. Mix it all together and bring it up to a soft boil to cook the pasta. Cover and reduce the heat to medium-low for about 12-13 minutes.
- When the rigatoni is cooked to perfection, add the heavy cream, peas and parmesan to the pasta. Mix it together over medium heat until the sauce comes together.
- Serve immediately. Feel free to garnish with fresh herbs and a sprinkle of parmesan!
Other meatless One Pot Pasta recipes to try
If this One-Pot Spicy Rigatoni has won over your taste buds, brace yourself for more one-pot wonders! We’ve got a lineup of recipes that are bound to be the next stars in your culinary repertoire.
One Pot Spinach and Artichoke Pasta
One Pot Spicy Rigatoni
Ingredients
- 1 Tablespoon unsalted butter
- 1 small diced shallot
- 5 cloves minced garlic
- 2 teaspoons crushed red pepper more or less to taste
- 16 ounces uncooked rigatoni pasta
- 20 ounces good quality marinara sauce
- 4 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt more or less to taste
- 3/4 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese shavings
- 1 cup cooked green peas
Instructions
- Place the butter in a pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. As the butter is melting, add the shallots and garlic into the pan.1 Tablespoon unsalted butter, 1 small diced shallot, 5 cloves minced garlic
- Sprinkle in the red chili flake and mix together. Allow the shallots and garlic to soften in the pan by cooking for 1-2 minutes. Be sure to mix often so that the garlic and shallots don’t stick to the pan or burn.2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
- Add the pasta to the hot pan, followed by the marinara sauce, broth, and salt. Mix it all together and bring it up to a soft boil to cook the pasta. Cover and reduce the heat to medium low for about 12-13 minutes.16 ounces uncooked rigatoni pasta, 20 ounces good quality marinara sauce, 4 cup low-sodium chicken or vegetable broth, 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- When the rigatoni is cooked to perfection, add the heavy cream, peas, and parmesan to the pasta. Mix it together over medium heat until the sauce comes together. Serve immediately. Feel free to garnish with fresh herbs and a sprinkle of parmesan!3/4 cup heavy cream, 1 cup cooked green peas, 1/2 cup parmesan cheese shavings
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Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Are you using frozen peas straight from the freezer?
Any kind will work! We recommend thawing and draining them first if using frozen.
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Is it supposed to look like soup? I followed the directions exactly and it looks like soup. I had to boil more pasta. We’ll see how it goes once it’s added to the pot.
It is a fairly thin sauce!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
I subbed a pound of gluten free pasta and used half & half instead of heavy cream because that’s what I had. I had extra tomato sauce/broth mix when the pasta was cooked, but I used a ladle to get the excess out. It was still delicious!! Added leftover meatballs and broccoli on the side for a quick dinner win!
We’re so glad you were able to make it work for you! Thanks for trying it out, Theresa!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Went on a girls trip and chose several food doll recipes to make that week. One was this spicy rigatoni. It was so easy and tasted amazing. Spicy and creamy and dreamy!
We’re honored! Thank you so much, Nicole!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
This recipe has become one of my families favorite recipes and one of my go to meals to make. I love it because I usually have all the ingredients in my pantry/fridge, it’s easy and quick to make and it’s also absolutely delicious!!
Thank you so much, Kelly!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Made this and it was soooo good!!
Thank you so much, Nabrina!
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Amazing!! So easy and so tasty, and my kids loved it too! I will definitely be making this often!
So glad to hear!
SO delicious. We added a little extra spice (bc we like it hot)! My husband was worried about the peas, but they compliment it well. Will be making again ASAP
Yum! Thank you, Ashley! We’re so glad you and your husband enjoyed it. 😊
Xo,
Alia & Radwa
Oh this is SO delicious and it couldn’t be easier or quicker. Huge hit with my very picky family! This will for sure be a staple from now on.
It’s always that much better when it’s picky eater approved! Thanks for giving it a go! xo, Alia & Radwa
One of our favorite recipes. Super easy to make and goes as a good side to our signature chicken cutlets!
So glad to hear that this was a hit!
I made it exactly as written. It was so good! Everything I’ve ever made from Food Dolls recipes has been excellent!
I made this without the spice- and it was amazing! I love the ease of these one pot recipes and this was truly delicious. Will definitely make again!
Yay! We are glad it was a hit! xo, Alia & Radwa
Another great recipe made this last night will definitely make again.
Didn’t miss anything out made exactly as the recipe fantastic
This has become a weekly staple in our home. The hubby and I love this recipe. Simple, creamy, quick and never fails to satisfy! Best pasta recipe! Thank you for sharing with us!
I just made this and it is really good! I decided not to use the peas. And next time I’ll use half the red pepper, a little bit spicy for me but, I’m a wimp.
Made this tonight. Added ground beef after the shallots and garlic and didn’t use the peas (my husband wouldn’t eat a pea if you paid him). I also doubled the amount of garlic. BE CAREFUL! I accidentally grabbed the TABLESPOON for the red pepper flakes instead of the teaspoon. I didn’t realize until the end when I was tasting it. WOW! Still delicious but SO spicy lol. I made sure we had ice cream for dessert to help with our burning insides.
MY FAVORITE PASTA DISH EVER!! I just love everything about this dish!
The only difference I have made so far is adding 1tbsp of crushed red pepper and a bit extra peas
I made this for my family and it was a HIT! Can you double or triple the recipe??
So glad to hear! Yes, absolutely, however, you will need a bigger pot so it can cook evenly!
Amazing! This dish is delicious and easy to make. After the first bite, my kids asked if we could have this pasta once a week.
Really really good. I made exactly to the recipe. Would be good with sausage or pancetta at the start. We devoured it!
Took out the peas, used a little less cream, and added crumbled sausage and it’s delicious. Love how simple it is! My first recipe I’ve used of yours and I’ll be back!