10+ Best Rigatoni Recipes To Enjoy In 2023

These are some of the best rigatoni recipes you can make at home. The dishes are straightforward, and even beginners in the kitchen can recreate them. And finally, you get a heart-warming bowl of noodles that satisfies your hunger and heals your soul.

For those who don’t know, rigatoni is a type of pasta that resembles a short tube. In the Italian language, the word “rigato” (the singular form of “rigatoni”) means either “ridged” or “lined.” Just like most pasta noodles, the ingredients for rigatoni consist of flour, water, and eggs.

I have collected the best rigatoni-based delicacies in today’s article. The delicacies can look rustic, but the flavors they pack will surprise you no less. Well, no need to wait anywhere because it’s time to get going.  

There Are Various Ways To Enjoy Rigatoni

Unlike regular spaghetti noodles, rigatoni offers a more unique texture thanks to its shape. The ridged outer layer of rigatoni can retain sauces more efficiently, so each bite of the pasta will be an explosion of exciting tastes. These are the best recipes to pair with rigatoni.

1. Spicy Sausage Rigatoni With Cream Sauce

Total time: 30 minutes

If you’re still craving that Italian flair in a rigatoni-based dish, I also have a recipe for you called spicy sausage rigatoni with cream sauce. This dish combines the Italian sausage’s spiciness and the pasta’s creaminess to create a balanced taste.

To start, you have to saute the onions with the sausage; this step allows the flavors to seep out and increase the overall savoriness. Next, add the tomatoes (the sauce and the paste), basil, and red pepper flakes to add the umami and spiciness.

In the meantime, you can prepare the rigatoni pasta by boiling it. When the pasta is tender enough to your liking, fold it alongside the spicy sausage mixture. Despite the heat, there is an undercurrent of acidity to make the spiciness more bearable. 

The spicy sausage rigatoni is an excellent dish to have with your family.

2. Like Buca Di Beppo (Spicy Chicken Rigatoni)

Total time: 27 minutes

The spicy train doesn’t stop here with another option called spicy chicken rigatoni. When it comes to a flavor that can increase your craving, the heat can activate your senses to make everything taste better.

Of course, you must count on other ingredients to harmonize essences and create a balanced meal. The first is chicken, which has that extra savoriness. The best cut is from the breast since it’s lean and fresh.

On the other hand, the combined alfredo and marinara sauce provide the sourness and richness to help improve the experience. The spices can help reduce the spiciness to a more suitable level. If you want to, you can also grate parmesan cheese on top for the creaminess. 

3. Chicken, Spinach, And Artichoke Rigatoni

Total time: 25 minutes

If you’re a health nut and a rigatoni fan like me, balancing the carb-filled rigatoni and daily caloric intakes can be a big challenge. However, you don’t have to worry anymore with this dish called chicken, spinach, and artichoke rigatoni.

While the main components are still rigatoni and cheese, which make the dish very rich and tasty, adding chicken, spinach, and artichoke can create a sense of harmony. The chicken provides the savory as well as the proteins.

On the other hand, the refreshing taste of spinach and artichoke cut through the richness to improve the variety of the bite. Both vegetables also bring the fibers to the mix to help your digestive system flow better after a heavy meal.

4. Rigatoni With Swordfish, Tomato, And Eggplant

Total time: 30 minutes

This entry is unique since it contains an ingredient that not many have eaten before: swordfish. The delicacy comes from the southern Italian island called Sicily. If you’re feeling adventurous, this is the dish for you.

Even if you have not cooked swordfish before, I think you will be surprised to know that it doesn’t feel much different from the typical trout, bass, or catfish. There is no need for much seasoning; pat the fish dry and fry the meat. Swordfish is very mild and sweet.

As for the other ingredients like eggplants and tomatoes, you have to cook them until they become soft. Next, mix the vegetables with cooked pasta and swordfish to complete the meal. The vegetables manage to increase the savoriness to an unimaginable level. 

5. Rigatoni With Sausage, Tomatoes, And Zucchini

Total time: 40 minutes

Another way you can incorporate rigatoni and sausage into a meal is with this recipe. The cooking process is so simple that even a beginner can create. But you have to follow the instructions.

There are two parts to this delicacy: The first one is an appetizing sauce mixture for your pasta, which comes from cooking the sausage with tomatoes and zucchini. The savoriness of the sausage can complement the freshness of the vegetable well.

The second part lies within the rigatoni pasta. The texture will soften up and enhance the creamy taste as you boil the noodles in a pot of salt water. Mix both parts until you get a saucy mix that smells heavenly.

6. Summer Rigatoni Pasta Salad

Total time: 25 minutes

Did you know that pasta is a popular ingredient in a salad? If you’re new to pasta, let me introduce you to this beautiful recipe called rigatoni pasta salad. This delicacy can be a perfect pasta starter for any party.

Thanks to having primarily vegetables, this salad has become a super healthy and refreshing pasta dish for summer. Adding ingredients like walnuts, zucchini, and cherry tomatoes adds a lot of depth to the salad.

Not just that, when you fold in the rigatoni pasta, there is a creamy undertone to enhance the flavors. The chewiness of the noodles contrasts instead well with the tender vegetables. If the creaminess is not to your liking, you can always count on parmesan for that extra richness.

This little recipe is another way to prepare the rigatoni pasta salad.

7. Lemony Rigatoni With Kale And Shallots

Total time: 25 minutes

You can never truly get bored of rigatoni since there are many unique and exciting recipes to try. One example to prove creativity is essential in cooking is this lemony rigatoni with kale and shallots.

Due to the name, you can probably guess what the main ingredients are. The most crucial factor is the sourness that comes from the lemon dressing. The acidity can entice your appetite and lure you further to the dish.

The role of kale and shallots are just as essential since they are the rope that binds everything together. Kale has a crunchy texture that makes chewing fun, while the shallot provides the zing. Finally, the pine nuts give this dish their signature nuttiness.

8. White Sauce Rigatoni With Vegetables

Total time: 35 minutes

You can never go wrong with the combination of rigatoni pasta and refreshing vegetables. In this entry, I will show you how to make the white sauce rigatoni with an assortment of greens like broccoli, corn, and bell peppers.

The first step is always boiling the pasta until the noodles look soft enough. While waiting for the paste, prepare the rest of the ingredients in a heated pan. By sauteing the vegetables like broccoli, corn, mushroom, and peppers, you can ensure the freshness of this dish.

Another part that makes this vegetarian pasta dish so delectable is the inclusion of milk and flour. These two components create a thick sauce that coats the pasta and the vegetable evenly, improving the creaminess of the texture.

9. Three-Cheese Rigatoni

Total time: 30 minutes

The three-cheese rigatoni might not sound like the best on the healthiness scale. However, it’s always best to indulge in your little guilty pleasure once in a while to let off steam. And my friends, this dish can bring the good out of a bad day.

The three types of cheese in question are gruyere, fontina, and parmesan. Each type of cheese contains its characteristics, like gruyere with its sweet taste, fontina with more woodiness, and parmesan with an emphasis on nuttiness.

And yet, the combination manages to work to create a unique set of flavors. Aside from the cheese mixture, the rigatoni also receives a fair share of essences from seasonings like red pepper flakes, dijon mustard, and hot sauce.

10. Rigatoni Pie

Total time: 50 minutes

Many people seem to believe that pie belongs to the dessert category. However, the truth is different since you can find many savory pie-based recipes worldwide. One such example is this entry called rigatoni pie.

This delicacy combines the best of a pie and a casserole into one. The first step you need to do is to boil the pasta until it becomes soft, but not too soft, since the baking process will also cook the pasta even further.

Next, coat the pasta in oil and assemble it inside a baking tray. Adding the mozzarella cheese in this step will ensure that once the cheese melts, it will bind the noodles together. Pour the pasta sauce on top and sprinkle some more cheese. Finally, you can start baking.

The cheese and pasta sauce will form a nice creamy crust outside. On the inside, the noodles will remain quite tender and chewy.

11. Rigatoni Bolognese (Rigatoni With Meat Sauce)

Total time: 45 minutes

Bolognese is a specialty from the northern side of Italy, particularly in Bologna. This delicacy is famous for using tomato paste, white wine, and milk to slow braise the meat until it comes super juicy and tender.

The richness and savoriness of bolognese sauce can blend well with all types of noodles, including rigatoni. However, a unique feature on the rigatoni makes it especially perfect. The ridges alongside the noodles will retain much of the sauce.

Thanks to that unique design, the flavors will become more concentrated when you bite into the pasta. You can feel the beefiness rush to your taste buds like a tidal wave. As for the garnish, cream cheese or parmesan is enough to add that extra creaminess.  

You cannot resist making this delicious rigatoni bolognese for your family.

12. Baked Rigatoni

Total time: 45 minutes

When you’re short on time, you will need a quick and easy recipe to provide a heart-warming meal for the family. So, why don’t you try making this baked rigatoni dish?

In essence, this baked rigatoni is just a casserole-styled delicacy where you can toss everything into a tray and let the oven do its job. You must get ground beef, alfredo, and marinara sauce.

First, you have to cook the beef and boil the pasta noodles. Next, drain the pasta and add both types of sauce. You can sprinkle some Italian seasoning (oregano, parsley, and thyme) to increase the herbaceous flavor of the dish.

For the last step, combine everything in a baking tray, grate a gratuitous amount of cheese on top and start baking. When the cheese melts and forms a nice golden layer on the rigatoni, get the tray out and serve.

Diversifying Your Meals With Rigatoni

Just because rigatoni looks simple, it doesn’t mean the recipes featuring the pasta as the main component will be bland. Most of the dishes you see above contain various flavors that will overwhelm your taste buds and your mind.

When you want to make something quick for dinner, rigatoni is still one of the best choices. And with the delicacies I’ve shown, your family members will appreciate the effort.

If you like the article, share these recipes with your pasta-loving friends if they’re looking to make a feast. Comment down below on which dish is your favorite. Until next time, have a nice meal!