Carbone Spicy Rigatoni Recipe: Indulge in the Fiery Pasta!

If there’s one pasta dish I could eat every week, it’s this Carbone Spicy Rigatoni recipe. The first time I tried it in New York City, I understood the hype, perfectly al dente rigatoni cloaked in a fiery, velvety tomato cream sauce with a hint of garlic and a spicy backnote. It’s bold, addictive, and surprisingly simple to recreate at home with just a few quality ingredients.

Whether you’re hosting friends, cooking date-night dinner, or simply craving a cozy bowl of pasta with a kick, this dish checks all the boxes. It’s elegant yet unfussy, creamy but not heavy, and spicy in a balanced way that warms you from the inside out.

The Carbone Spicy Rigatoni recipe has become iconic for a reason. With a few pantry staples and a little finesse, you can channel that restaurant magic right into your kitchen. Let’s break it down.

Why This Carbone Spicy Rigatoni Recipe Just Works

So what sets this Carbone Spicy Rigatoni recipe apart from other creamy pasta dishes? It’s all about balance and boldness. The secret lies in the layering of flavor:

• You start by sautéing shallots and garlic for depth,
• then add Calabrian chili paste (the key to the “spicy” part) for a sharp, peppery heat,
• and finish with tomato paste and heavy cream for that luxurious richness.

But here’s the real trick, emulsifying the pasta water into the sauce. It thins the cream just enough and coats every rigatoni tube like velvet. The result is a restaurant-quality dish that tastes far more complicated than it actually is.

This recipe also wins on versatility. Want to make it gluten-free? Use your favorite GF rigatoni. Need to make it dairy-free? Swap in coconut cream or a plant-based alternative and it still works like a dream. Want it spicier? Add more Calabrian chili paste or crushed red pepper flakes to bring the fire.

And while this is a Carbone Spicy Rigatoni copycat, I think it’s even better made at home, because you can tweak it to your own tastes and enjoy it in your PJs.

Recipe Card

Cook It Like a Pro: Tips for Spicy Rigatoni Success

• Use Quality Pasta: Choose bronze-cut rigatoni if you can find it, it has a rougher surface that holds onto the sauce beautifully. Cook it just shy of al dente; it’ll finish cooking in the sauce, soaking up flavor as it goes.
• Reserve Pasta Water: This starchy water can be used to thin the sauce if it becomes too thick.
• Go Slow with the Cream: Add the cream gradually and stir continuously to prevent it from breaking. You want a smooth, glossy sauce that clings to the rigatoni like a silk robe.
• Use Fresh Ingredients: Freshly grated Parmesan and fresh basil elevate the dish to a whole new level.
• Adjust the Heat: Not all Calabrian chili pastes are created equal. Start with a teaspoon, then taste and build the heat from there. You can always add more, but you can’t take it out.

Switch It Up: Delicious Variants of the Carbone Spicy Rigatoni Recipe

1. Vegetarian Spicy Rigatoni

Skip the pancetta and use sautéed mushrooms or sun-dried tomatoes for an umami punch. You can also add spinach or zucchini to sneak in some greens. Just make sure to season the veggies well and add them after the sauce is finished to preserve texture.

2. Spicy Rigatoni with Burrata

Serve the spicy rigatoni in bowls and top each with a ball of burrata cheese. When guests dig in, they’ll hit that creamy center, which melts into the hot pasta. It’s indulgent and incredibly Insta-worthy.

3. Gluten-Free Spicy Rigatoni

You can absolutely make this dish gluten-free by using your favorite gluten-free rigatoni. Just make sure to check that your tomato paste and Calabrian chili paste are gluten-free too, some brands sneak in wheat as a thickener.

4. Spicy Rigatoni with Sausage

Brown some Italian sausage in the pan before the onions. It brings a bold, meaty element to the dish that makes it even heartier. Spicy or sweet sausage both work, choose based on your spice tolerance.

FAQs

Let’s Wrap This Up

There’s something incredibly satisfying about recreating a restaurant-style dish right in your own kitchen, especially one as iconic as this Carbone Spicy Rigatoni recipe. Whether you’re cooking to impress guests, indulging in a cozy night in, or just craving a spicy pasta fix, this dish delivers every time. The balance of heat, creaminess, and bold tomato flavor makes it unforgettable. Best of all, it’s simple enough for a weeknight, but elegant enough to serve on a special occasion.

If you are looking for other recipes with pasta, you are in the right place, I suggest you try the following delicious pasta recipes:

• Lobster and Shrimp Pasta
• Spinach Pesto Pasta Recipe
• Shrimp Scampi Without Wine Recipe
• Chicken Alfredo Recipe
• Baked Spaghetti Recipe
• Chicken Riggies Recipe
• Barilla Lasagna Recipe
• Baked Ziti Recipe
• Boursin pasta Recipe