You'll love this Copycat Carbone Spicy Rigatoni recipe! With spicy Calabrian chili peppers, rigatoni, a little cream, and garlic, this pasta is just SO delicious.
The secret is spicy Calabrian chiles, a little bit of cream, liquid gold pasta water, and a few tablespoons of butter that make a silky smooth sauce that's SO good.
Recipe Inspiration
This spicy rigatoni recipe is inspired by the iconic Spicy Rigatoni Vodka served at Carbone, the famous Italian-American restaurant in New York City. The dish has built a huge fan base thanks to its rich, creamy vodka sauce and signature spicy kick - and it's become one of the most talked-about pasta dishes on social media.
At the restaurant, a single serving of Carbone's spicy rigatoni can cost around $30. This copycat version lets you recreate that same creamy, slightly spicy vodka pasta at home for a fraction of the price - with multiple servings for under $10.
What makes this version work so well is the balance of flavors. The tomato paste creates depth, the heavy cream gives the sauce its silky texture, and just the right amount of red pepper flakes adds heat without overpowering the dish. The ridges of the rigatoni catch every bit of the sauce, delivering that restaurant-style bite in every forkful.
It's fancy enough for a date night or dinner party, but simple enough to make on a weeknight - the best of both worlds.
If you're looking for more easy dinner pasta recipes, check out our Creamy Pesto Pasta, Spaghetti Bolognese, and Pesto Rosso, Chicken and Vodka Pasta recipes.
Jump to:
- Recipe Inspiration
- Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Is This Copycat Rigatoni Like the Carbone NYC Version?
- What Makes the Carbone Spicy Rigatoni Sauce Special?
- Ingredients
- Directions
- Carbone Spicy Rigatoni vs Traditional Vodka Pasta
- Expert Tips and Tricks
- Kitchen Equipment
- Recipe Substitutions/Variations
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Recipe Storage and Reheating
- Other Recipes to Try
- Copycat Carbone Spicy Rigatoni
Why You'll Love this Recipe
- Delicious - This recipe is so delicious. Each bite is packed with flavor that your family will truly love! It's really a perfect dish for the whole family. Great for entertaining too!
- Approachable - This recipe is approachable and is easy to make. You only need a few kitchen tools to make this great recipe.
- Leftover Friendly - This spicy rigatoni recipe is perfect reheated the next day or an excellent options for meal prep! I recommend serving with grilled chicken or Italian sausage.
Is This Copycat Rigatoni Like the Carbone NYC Version?
This recipe is inspired by the iconic spicy rigatoni served at Carbone, the beloved Italian-American restaurant in New York City. While the exact restaurant version is a closely-guarded classic, this copycat brings you the same rich, creamy vodka sauce with a subtle spicy kick that fans clamor for - made with simple ingredients and clear steps you can execute at home.
Carbone's famous pasta has become a viral favorite, known for its balance of heat, creaminess, and tangy tomato flavor. In this version, we aim to replicate that experience while staying true to home-cook simplicity. Many people refer to this dish as "Carbone spicy rigatoni," "spicy rigatoni vodka," or "Carbone vodka pasta," and all of those phrases map back to essentially the same crave-worthy comfort classic.
What Makes the Carbone Spicy Rigatoni Sauce Special?
Fans of the Carbone version often point to a few key elements that make the sauce stand out:
- Quality tomato paste - Adds deep umami and body
- Heavy cream - Gives the sauce a rich, silky texture
- Chili flakes - Deliver just enough heat without overpowering
- Vodka - Helps emulsify the sauce and heighten flavor
- Rigatoni ridges - Perfect for clinging to the sauce
These combined create a sauce that's simultaneously creamy, spicy, and full-flavored.
Ingredients
Here are the ingredients you will need for this hearty pasta dish:
- Rigatoni Pasta - You can also make this with any pasta shape you love or have on hand!
- Olive Oil - Good olive oil!
- White Onion - Diced finely
- Sea Salt
- Black Pepper
- Calabrian chilis - diced. You can also use Calabrian chili paste. If you can't find them, you can also use red pepper flakes to bring some heat into the dish.
- Garlic - minced
- Vodka - Any brand works! Use whatever you have on hand. Or, if you don't drink, you can use chicken or vegetable stock as a substitute.
- Tomato paste - You can also substitute with good quality crushed tomatoes, like San Marzano tomatoes.
- Heavy cream
- Unsalted butter
- Parmesan cheese - for serving
Directions
Let's make this copycat recipe together!
Step 1
Heat a large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil, white onion, salt, and pepper. Sauté onion for 5 minutes, or until translucent.
Step 2
Add Calabrian chili red peppers and garlic to the pan. Sauté for a few minutes, until fragrant.
Step 3
Add vodka and tomato paste to the pan. Mix well, then add heavy cream. Stir and reduce heat to low. Simmer while you cook the pasta.
Step 4
Heat a large pot of salted boiling water over medium heat. Once the water is boiling, cook rigatoni until al dente, about 7 minutes. Use a large spider strainer to strain the cooked pasta directly into the sauce. This will incorporate the perfect amount of pasta water. Alternatively, you can save ¼ cup of pasta water, drain the pasta, and add to the sauce.
Carbone Spicy Rigatoni vs Traditional Vodka Pasta
There are a few differences between the spicy rigatoni you'll enjoy here and your classic vodka pasta sauce.
| Feature | Carbone-Style Spicy Rigatoni | Traditional Vodka Pasta |
|---|---|---|
| Heat Level | Moderate spicy kick | Usually mild |
| Cream Texture | Rich and velvety | Often lighter |
| Sauce Concentration | Thick and bold | Thinner and silkier |
| Tomato Presence | Bright tomato base | Balanced tomato and cream |
| Chili Flakes | Often present | Optional |
Expert Tips and Tricks
Here are some expert tips to make this delicious recipe perfect.
- Make it Ahead - For super easy serving, make the sauce ahead of time. When you're ready to serve, add fresh pasta and some pasta to the sauce in a skillet, and heat until warmed through.
- Complete the Meal - Complete the meal with some grilled chicken, Italian sausage, and a side salad for a delicious meal.
- Don't Forget Pasta Water - Adding pasta water is super important and is the key to creating a super silky sauce. Don't skip it!
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this spicy vodka sauce recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
- Large Skillet - You'll want a high quality large skillet with enough room to make the sauce and add the pasta.
- Pasta Bowl - I love serving pasta in good quality pasta bowls. They're perfect for a variety of dishes, so they're super versatile!
- Rigatoni - Buying quality pasta online is so easy. This rigatoni is super high quality and you can have it delivered straight to your house!
Recipe Substitutions/Variations
Here are some common recipe substitutions and variations for this easy recipe.
- Add Protein - Add a protein by adding meatballs, sliced grilled chicken, or Italian sausage. Or serve with a seared filet!
- Spice Substitution - If you can't find Calabrian chilis, use red pepper flakes for spice in the dish. Or, if you don't want it spicy, omit the chilis altogether.
- Pasta Shape - You can use any pasta shape in this recipe! Although it's classically served with rigatoni, this sauce is delicious with any pasta.
Frequently Asked Questions
Carbone spicy rigatoni is a creamy vodka pasta with a subtle spicy kick, inspired by the famous Italian-American restaurant Carbone in New York City. It's known for its rich sauce and balanced heat.
While both use a base of tomato, cream, and vodka, the spicy rigatoni version adds a noticeable kick from chili flakes or pepper and often uses a slightly thicker, richer sauce.
Yes. If you prefer not to cook with alcohol, you can replace the vodka with extra pasta water or broth - but the vodka does help release and meld flavor compounds in the tomato base.
Recipe Storage and Reheating
Here are storage and reheating instructions for this famous spicy rigatoni recipe.
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight continuer and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.
- Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.
- Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a skillet with a little olive oil over low heat until warm.
Other Recipes to Try
Check out some of our other easy dinner recipes!
Copycat Carbone Spicy Rigatoni
Equipment
- Large Skillet
- Pasta Bowl
- Spider Strainer
Ingredients
- 1 lb rigatoni pasta
- ¼ cup olive oil
- ½ white onion diced
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons Calabrian chili peppers
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- ¼ cup vodka
- 1 6 oz can tomato paste
- 1 cup heavy cream
- 1 tablespoon unsalted butter
- Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Heat a large pan over medium heat. Add olive oil, diced white onion, salt, and black pepper. Sauté onion for 5 minutes, until translucent.
- Add Calabrian chili peppers and garlic to the pan. Saute for 3-4 minutes.
- Add vodka and tomato paste to the pan. Mix well, then add heavy cream. Stir and reduce heat to low. Simmer while you cook the pasta.
- Heat a large pot of salted boiling water over medium heat. Once the water is boiling, cook rigatoni until al dente, about 7 minutes. Use a large strainer to strain the pasta directly into the sauce. This will incorporate the perfect amount of pasta water. Alternatively, you can save ¼ cup pasta water, drain the pasta, and add to the sauce.
- Toss pasta in the sauce until well combined. Add butter and toss until combined. Top with parmesan cheese and serve.
Notes
- Make it Ahead - For super easy serving, make the sauce ahead of time. When you're ready to serve, add fresh pasta and some pasta to the sauce in a skillet, and heat until warmed through.
- Don't Forget Pasta Water - Adding pasta water is super important and is the key to creating a super silky sauce. Don't skip it!
-
- Refrigerator Storage: Store in an airtight continuer and eat leftovers within 4-5 days.
-
- Freezer Storage: Freeze in a freezer-safe, airtight container and keep for up to 3 months. When you're ready to use, thaw in the refrigerator and reheat as instructed below.
-
- Reheating Instructions: The best way to reheat this recipe is to heat in a skillet with a little olive oil over low heat until warm.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Leave a comment below or tag us @tasting.with.tina on Instagram!
Martha says
SO good! Family loved it!
Christina Musgrave says
So happy you liked the recipe!
Amanda says
Such a great dinner and one of my favorites! Easy to make and most of all, delicious!
Christina Musgrave says
Yes, it's SO delicious! Glad you enjoyed 🙂
Peter says
Super easy to make and easily one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had, I couldn't put my fork down!
Christina Musgrave says
So glad you liked it! It's one of your favorite recipes too!
Christina Musgrave says
So glad you liked it! It's one of your favorite recipes too!
Shannon says
My 16 yr old son found this recipe and it has become part of our rotation! It’s so good!!
Christina Musgrave says
I'm so happy to hear that, Shannon!