Spicy Vodka Rigatoni with Crispy Chicken is a restaurant staple for a reason. I mean, perfectly cooked rigatoni combined with creamy, deliciously spicy vodka sauce hits differently. Especially when it’s topped with crispy golden chicken, fresh parmesan cheese, and fresh basil, this combo creates a satisfying plate of harmonious flavors and textures. Try this creamy vodka pasta recipe once and you will crave for it long after finishing the dish.

With its creamy cheese, spicy heat, and crunchy texture, this Crispy Chicken Rigatoni Pasta has all of the amazing flavors you seek for in any comfort food bowl. Yeah, comfort food like guilty pleasure in a bowl. Let’s indulge in this Spicy Vodka Rigatoni with Crispy Chicken recipe.

Ingredient Highlight

• Did you know per 100 gm of cooked chicken thigh has 27 grams of protein? Yes, Chicken breast is a great source of Protein. 
• Did you know that just a 28 gms serving of hard Parmesan cheese is packed with 10 gms of protein? Not only this but it also delivers 26% of your daily calcium requirements.

Why This Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Is a Guilty Pleasure

This Vodka Sauce Pasta Recipe is one of the best guilty pleasure pasta dishes on the planet because it captures all of our favourite comfort food sounds:

• Creamy vodka sauce
• Golden tenders of crispy fried chick
• Parmesan cheese to top it off
• Tender cooked rigatoni pasta
• A hint of spicy heat

Restaurant-quality taste; from the comfort of your own home.

Every single bite of this Crispy Chicken Rigatoni Pasta will make you feel like you’re having the most amazing gourmet pasta in the world because it has creamy and crispy flavours in a perfect balance. The parmesan cheese melts into the creamy sauce to produce a level of silkiness that fully coats the rigatoni pasta.

What Is Spicy Vodka Rigatoni with Crispy Chicken?

Spicy Vodka Rigatoni with Crispy Chicken is a creamy Italian-American pasta that has rich rigatoni tossed in a tomato-based vodka cream sauce, seasoned with chili flakes and topped with crispy flavored chicken.

The vodka enhances the flavor of the tomatoes and cream without making the dish taste irresistible. When cooked properly, the alcohol evaporates, leaving behind a smoother & richer sauce.

That’s how this creamy, slightly spicy, savory, cheesy, and incredibly satisfying Italian guilty pleasure is made.

Ingredients

For the Crispy Chicken

• 500g boneless chicken thighs, cut into bite-sized pieces
• 1 cup buttermilk
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• Oil for frying

For the Spicy Vodka Sauce

• 300g rigatoni pasta
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 small onion, finely chopped
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 teaspoon red chili flakes
• ¼ cup vodka
• 1 cup heavy cream
• ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated
• Salt to taste
• Black pepper to taste

For Garnish

• Fresh basil leaves
• Extra parmesan cheese
• Chili flakes

How to Make Spicy Vodka Rigatoni with Crispy Chicken

Step 1: Marinate the Chicken

• Combine all the ingredients (chicken, buttermilk, garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper) into a large mixing bowl, until combined.
• Let it sit in the refrigerator for a minimum ½ hour. 
• I recommend giving it at least 30 minutes because the longer you let it rest the juicier your chicken will be and more flavours it will carry.

Step 2: Fry the Crispy Chicken

• Coat marinated chicken in flour and remove excess flour. 
• In a deep skillet (preferably cast iron) heat oil to 375 degrees and deep fry the marinated chicken until golden brown and crispy.
• Place on a cooling rack to help retain crunch until you are ready to cook the rigatoni.

Step 3: Cook the Rigatoni

• Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil.
• Cook rigatoni for al dente as per package instructions.
• After cooking, remove one-cup of pasta water, before draining pasta.

Step 4: Make the Spicy Vodka Sauce

• In a wide skillet, heat the olive oil over medium heat.
• Due to their size, onions take the most time to soften. Add the minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute.
• After that, mix in the tomato paste and continue cooking for another 2-3 minutes until it turns a deep red colour.
• Now add the crushed red pepper flakes and the vodka, then reduce heat and allow to simmer for 2 minutes.
• Next, add the heavy cream and mix well until all ingredients are blended together.
• Finally, add the parmesan cheese to the pan and mix until melted into the sauce.
• Be sure to also add a few pinches of salt and black pepper to taste.

Step 5: Combine Everything

• Once all ingredients are mixed together in the frying pan, add the cooked rigatoni to the pan.
• The rigatoni must be completely coated in the sauce but may require a splash of reserved pasta water to achieve the right consistency.
• Once all of the rigatoni is mixed into the sauce, transfer to the serving bowls.
• Serve topped with plenty of fried chicken, parmesan cheese, fresh basil, and additional crushed red pepper flakes.
• Serve this Crispy Chicken Rigatoni Pasta piping hot when you are ready to eat.

Why Rigatoni Works Best for Vodka Sauce

Rigatoni’s unique shape makes it a perfect choice for use in a creamy vodka sauce. The ridges in the rigatoni capture the rich, thick sauce and the large tube-like openings provide a place for the sauce to settle inside the rigatoni, which guarantees that every single bite will be full of flavour.

Penne can also be used to replace rigatoni, but the addition of rigatoni creates a more enjoyable restaurant-style experience due to the larger size of the rigatoni relative to penne.

Tips for the Best Restaurant-Style Vodka Sauce Pasta Recipe

• Rather than using tomato sauce as the primary source of tomato flavoring, consider substituting tomato paste for a deeper, more intense flavor profile in vodka sauce pasta recipe.
• Don’t forget to reserve some starchy pasta water from the cooked pasta when you are ready to mix the sauce into your pasta as this will help to emulsify the sauce and produce a velvety texture.
• For crispy chicken, prepare and fry a chicken breast right before serving; this will ensure that the outer crust remains crunchy and offer an excellent textural contrast to the creamy pasta.
• Use freshly grated parmesan cheese as opposed to pre-grated parmesan, as it melts much easier and provides a better tasting result.
• The longer you cook the vodka, cream, tomato paste, and parmesan together, the more well-combined and smooth the final product will turn out.

What to Serve with Crispy Chicken Rigatoni Pasta

This rich pasta goes great with:

• Garlic bread
• Caesar salad
• Roasted vegetables
• Garlic & parmesan broccoli
• Burrata cheese
• Sparkling lemonade

Storage and Reheating

If you have leftover pasta, it can be stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator for approximately 3 days. If you have made crispy chicken, it is advisable to store the pasta and chicken in separate containers until you are ready to serve. 

To reheat leftover vodka pasta, gently heat the pasta with a small amount of cream or milk over medium heat in a pan, and add your freshly reheated crispy chicken just prior to serving to maintain the chicken’s crispiness.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does vodka do in vodka pasta sauce?

By adding vodka in the pasta sauce, you can enhance the flavors of the cream and tomatoes. It brings all the elements together in order to have a smooth, balanced sauce, offering additional depth to surface flavoring without making pasta alcoholic. As most of the vodka evaporates during the cooking process.

Can I make spicy vodka rigatoni without vodka?

Absolutely! Although vodka adds to the dish’s distinctive taste, you can also try other options like chicken broth as a substitute or pasta water as stock! The sauce will undoubtedly remain creamy and delicious but will not be that strong in flavour.

Why is my vodka sauce separating?

Separation of sauce typically occurs when there is too much heat on the stove after you have added the cream to the sauce. Use low heat and stir frequently to keep your Vodka Sauce looking smooth and silky.

What chicken is best for crispy chicken pasta?

For chicken pasta with crispy skin, we recommend using chicken thighs because they keep their juiciness when fried and their flavour is richer than that of chicken breasts. They will become tender when cooked with hot pasta.

Is spicy vodka rigatoni very spicy?

Not really! The heat level of this recipe is moderate due to the chili flakes but can be adjusted easily by adding less or more of these flakes to your recipes.

Can I make vodka pasta ahead of time?

Yes, you may prepare the sauce up to 48 hours in advance and then refrigerate it until ready to use, after which you will need to reheat and combine with perfectly cooked pasta before serving. It is important for perfect texture.

What’s the difference between penne vodka and rigatoni vodka?

Both types of pasta use sauces that are similar in flavor, texture, and aroma, but rigatoni has larger tubes with a deeper rib profile which means more sauce will be able to adhere to rigatoni versus penne. Therefore, rigatoni provides you with a richer bite than penne, making rigatoni an ideal choice when it comes to restaurant-style vodka pasta dishes.

How do restaurants make vodka sauce so creamy?

Restaurants use heavy cream, freshly grated parmesan cheese, properly prepared tomato paste, and pasta water to achieve a smooth, gloss-like texture along with a luxurious coating for their pasta dishes.

Final Thoughts

If you want the ultimate Spicy Vodka Rigatoni with Crispy Chicken recipe, this one has it all! It gives you restaurant-quality pasta dishes with creamy vodka sauce, rigatoni cooked to perfection, crispy golden chicken, a hint of parmesan cheese and topped off with fresh basil! 

This Vodka sauce pasta recipe is so rich, indulgent and full of flavor that you’ll be satisfied no matter what your plans are for an evening: a quiet dinner for two or a fun weekend comfort-food party at home.  And if you ever have a craving for a pasta dish like this one, rest assured that the creamy Vodka Rigatoni recipe will satisfy all your cravings! 

It is one of the best Date Night Pasta Recipes you must make for your love. For more easy to cook gourmet pasta recipes, stay tuned with us at Chef’s Home Around. Don’t miss out on our Italian Guilty Pleasure recipes.