Carbone Spicy Rigatoni Recipe

This copycat recipe for Carbone's spicy rigatoni tastes just as good as the restaurant. The noodles are cooked perfectly al dente, then they're tossed in a rich, flavorful homemade vodka sauce that's out of this world good. Plus, what's just as good as how it tastes is how easy it is to make. In fact, just 4 steps are all you have to follow to put it together and it'll be ready and on the table in under 20 minutes when you do. 

My Take On Carbone's Spicy Rigatoni

Nothing can compare to the spicy rigatoni at Carbone's. There's just something about it I can't get enough of. It's creamy, it's rich, it's a tiny bit spicy, it's just pure tasty tastiness. Honestly, I hardly ever order anything else when I go to the restaurant, that's how much I love it.

So, with all of that said, you know I had to come up with my own take on it. Since I can only make it to Carbone a few times a year if I'm lucky - unfortunately they don't have any spots in Buffalo - I wanted to be able to make it any time I start craving it.

And, I have to say, I think my homemade take on their spicy rigatoni is about as close to the real thing as it gets.

I tried several different variations before settling on this one. This version has the perfect balance of acidity, creaminess, sweetness, and spice. When you make it you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.

By the way, I almost always make some sides to go with this pasta dish. A couple of my favorites to make are these Olive Garden bread sticks and this chopped salad. They're perfectly compliments to this pasta dish. So, if you're looking for some sides to make to pair with your spicy rigatoni think about giving one - or both - of those a shot.

Why I Love This Recipe

It's a cheap restaurant quality meal. This spicy rigatoni recipe tastes exactly like the restaurants. The best thing about it though is that you can make it at home for a fraction of the price!

One pan meal. After you cook the rigatoni, everything else for this pasta dish comes together in just one pan.  As I alluded to earlier the cooking process is effortless too.

The flavor. Savory, bold, spicy, and creamy, this homemade take on Carbone's spicy rigatoni has it all.

Crowd-favorite. This is one of those dinners that everyone raves over. It's fancy enough to serve if you're hosting but simple to make for a busy weeknight family dinner. Whenever you serve it, it'll be a hit. Atleast that's always the case when I make it.

Ingredients

One of my favorite things about my version of Carbone's spicy rigatoni is that it's made almost entirely out of kutchen/pantry staples.

Here's everything you'll need to make it:

• 16 oz. rigatoni pasta
• 1 tbsp. olive oil
• ¼ cup onion, finely diced
• 2 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp. Calabrian chili peppers, chopped
• ½ cup tomato paste
• ½ cup vodka
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ tsp. sugar or to taste
• ¼ cup pasta water (the water you cook the pasta in)
• 1 tbsp. butter
• ⅛-1/4 cup Freshly grated parmesan cheese
• salt and pepper to taste

By the way, you can use many of the ingredients from this recipe to make this Gigi Hadid pasta recipe as well. So, if you end up with some extra ingredients after you make this recipe you can put 'em to good use and make that one with 'em.

How To Make Carbone's Spicy Rigatoni

1. Cook the pasta: Take out a large pot and bring some salted water to a boil. Cook the pasta according to the package instructions. Make sure to reserve the pasta water when you drain the pasta.

2. Cook the veggies: Heat the olive oil in a large pot or skillet over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 2-3 minutes. Stir in the garlic and Calabrian chili peppers and cook for 1 additional minute.

3. Build the sauce: Add the tomato paste and cook everything for 2 minutes while stirring frequently. Pour the vodka into the pot and cook for 1 minute. Add the heavy cream and mix well to combine all of the ingredients.

4. Assemble the pasta: Add the pasta water from earlier, sugar, and a little salt and pepper to the sauce. Stir in the butter and fresh parmesan cheese, and give it a taste test. Add any additional seasonings. Lastly, add the cooked pasta to the spicy vodka sauce and toss to combine. Serve with more parmesan cheese on top, and enjoy!

My Pro Tips

• Make sure to save the pasta water from cooking to help build the sauce.
• Add protein like cooked chicken, baked meatballs, or Italian sausage to make a heartier pasta.
• Use Calabrian chili paste or crushed red pepper flakes if you can't find Calabrian chili peppers.
• Cook the pasta al dente to prevent it from getting too soft.
• Garnish the finished dish with fresh basil, san Marzano tomatoes, and some freshly shredded parmesan cheese for more flavor. Don't sleep on that fresh parm either it makes a huuuge difference in terms of taste.

How I Recommend Storing & Reheating The Rigatoni

In the fridge: Store your leftover pasta in an airtight container for 3-4 days.

In the freezer: Allow the leftovers to cool completely, then transfer them to an airtight container or freezer-safe bag. Freeze the pasta for up to 3 months.

Reheating: Put everything back in a skillet set over medium heat. Warm and stir the pasta frequently until it reaches your desired temperature.

Alternatively, if you're in a pinch for time you can microwave your leftovers in 1-minute increments until warm. Usually, just a couple of minutes is all it'll take to get them hot.

Honestly, this is my go-to method for warming up my leftover rigatoni. Not only is nuking it super quick, but the pasta reheats great in the micro as well. 

FAQS About This Carbone Spicy Rigatoni Recipe

What to pair with spicy rigatoni?

Spicy rigatoni goes really well with a lot of different things. I mentioned a few of my favorites at the start of this post but a few more options are:

• A house salad
• A Caesar salad
• This Cheesecake Factory brown bread
• Or these cheesy mashed potatoes

Can you make spicy rigatoni without vodka?

Yes, you can! If you don't want to use vodka, the best substitute is chicken broth, chicken stock, or vegetable broth. I've personally made this spicy rigatoni several times with chicken broth in place of vodka and no one's ever known the difference.

What kind of rigatoni does Carbone use?

Carbone uses homemade rigatoni pasta that's prepared fresh in the restaurant daily. The fresh pasta gives the dish an even better flavor. 

More Pasta Recipes

If you love pasta you're in luck. We have a ton of delicious pasta recipes on the blog for you to check out next!

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Rasta pasta
• Beefaroni
• Stuffed shells with meat
• Spaghetti with shrimp
• Vegetable lasagna with white sauce
• Olive Garden five cheese ziti al forno
• Olive Garden chicken alfredo