The BEST Spicy Chicken Rigatoni
The BEST Spicy Chicken Rigatoni
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Pasta
- 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided, plus more as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup pasta water, reserved
For the Spicy Cream Sauce
- 2 tablespoons shallot, finely chopped, or 2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
- 3 1/2 ounces tomato paste
- 4 fluid ounces broth, chicken or vegetable
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes, plus more for garnish, as needed
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Season the chicken pieces with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 7 min
- 2
Bring a medium pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1/4 tablespoon of salt to the water. Add the rigatoni pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water.
⏱️ 10 min
- 3
While the pasta cooks, add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped shallot (or yellow onion) and sauté until softened and translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
⏱️ 4 min
- 4
Add half of the minced garlic (about 1 clove worth) to the skillet with the shallot and sauté for another 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min
- 5
Stir in the 3 1/2 ounces of tomato paste. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes, allowing the tomato paste to caramelize and deepen in color and flavor. This step is crucial for the sauce's richness.
⏱️ 7 min
- 6
Pour in the 4 fluid ounces of broth. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 5 min
- 7
Stir in the 2/3 cup of heavy cream and 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red chili pepper flakes (or more, to taste). Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Add the remaining minced garlic and season with salt to taste.
⏱️ 3 min
- 8
Add the cooked, drained rigatoni and the cooked chicken directly to the sauce in the skillet. Add the 2 tablespoons of butter and a splash (about 1/4 cup) of the reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously to combine, allowing the butter to melt and the sauce to emulsify and coat the pasta beautifully. Add more pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, if the sauce is too thick.
⏱️ 3 min
- 9
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce, creating a creamy texture.
⏱️ 1 min
- 10
Stir in the chopped fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or crushed red chili pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min
Kitchen Tools
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
The BEST Spicy Chicken Rigatoni
Ingredients
For the Chicken and Pasta
- 1/2 pound boneless, skinless chicken breast, cut into 1-inch pieces
- 1/2 pound rigatoni pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil, divided, plus more as needed
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided, plus more to taste
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/2 cup pasta water, reserved
For the Spicy Cream Sauce
- 2 tablespoons shallot, finely chopped, or 2 tablespoons finely chopped yellow onion
- 2 cloves garlic, minced, divided
- 3 1/2 ounces tomato paste
- 4 fluid ounces broth, chicken or vegetable
- 2/3 cup heavy cream
- 1/2 teaspoon crushed red chili pepper flakes, plus more for garnish, as needed
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 1/2 cup Parmesan cheese, freshly grated, plus more for serving
- 2 tablespoons fresh basil, chopped, plus more for garnish
Instructions
- 1
Season the chicken pieces with 1/4 teaspoon of salt and 1/4 teaspoon of black pepper. Heat 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet (preferably cast iron) over medium-high heat. Add the chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5-7 minutes. Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
⏱️ 7 min - 2
Bring a medium pot of water to a rolling boil. Add 1/4 tablespoon of salt to the water. Add the rigatoni pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve 1/2 cup of the starchy pasta water.
⏱️ 10 min - 3
While the pasta cooks, add the remaining 1/2 tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet over medium heat. Add the finely chopped shallot (or yellow onion) and sauté until softened and translucent, about 3-4 minutes.
⏱️ 4 min - 4
Add half of the minced garlic (about 1 clove worth) to the skillet with the shallot and sauté for another 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn the garlic.
⏱️ 1 min - 5
Stir in the 3 1/2 ounces of tomato paste. Cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes, allowing the tomato paste to caramelize and deepen in color and flavor. This step is crucial for the sauce's richness.
⏱️ 7 min - 6
Pour in the 4 fluid ounces of broth. Bring to a simmer and cook, stirring occasionally, for 3-5 minutes, allowing the flavors to meld.
⏱️ 5 min - 7
Stir in the 2/3 cup of heavy cream and 1/2 teaspoon of crushed red chili pepper flakes (or more, to taste). Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low. Add the remaining minced garlic and season with salt to taste.
⏱️ 3 min - 8
Add the cooked, drained rigatoni and the cooked chicken directly to the sauce in the skillet. Add the 2 tablespoons of butter and a splash (about 1/4 cup) of the reserved pasta water. Toss vigorously to combine, allowing the butter to melt and the sauce to emulsify and coat the pasta beautifully. Add more pasta water, a tablespoon at a time, if the sauce is too thick.
⏱️ 3 min - 9
Remove the skillet from the heat. Stir in the 1/2 cup of freshly grated Parmesan cheese until it is fully melted and incorporated into the sauce, creating a creamy texture.
⏱️ 1 min - 10
Stir in the chopped fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasoning with more salt or crushed red chili pepper flakes if desired. Serve immediately, garnished with additional fresh basil and Parmesan cheese.
⏱️ 1 min