Spicy Chicken Rigatoni

Have you ever ate at the restaurant Buca De Beppo? They are located in Minneapolis St Paul, and my family went there for dinner once.  Spicy Chicken Rigatoni aka Chicken Riggies is almost an exact replica of theirs and you can easily make it at home. 

To make this dish spicy, the oil is infused with some red pepper flakes and at first, you don’t really feel the spice but then it hits you! Add in some peas and chicken for some protein to make this dish a complete meal. Use some storebought shortcuts like marinara sauce or alfredo. I know store-bought alfredo gets a really bad rap, but I swear when you make the spicy oil that goes with this you can’t even tell that you used a bottled jar of Alfredo. 

Garnish with some of your favorite cheese on top and freshly chopped parsley. (optional)

Grocery List

Here is the basic rundown of what is needed for this dish. I’ve also included substitutes that can be used if you do not have any of these items. 

Chicken - A rotisserie chicken or any type of precooked chicken will work for this. 

Peas   -  fresh or frozen is fine. 

Garlic  -  I love the prechopped garlic that comes in a jar cause it’s already chopped for you and you don’t have to get stinky garlic fingers either. Also very easy to measure if a recipe calls for a tablespoon or teaspoon of garlic. 

Pasta  - Any round tubular pasta shape be ok to use for this. 

How to make Spicy Chicken Rigatoni 

In a sauté pan, heat oil over medium heat. Add crushed red pepper, salt, black pepper, and garlic and sauté just long enough for garlic to caramelize and red pepper to release flavor into the oil. Add sliced chicken and sauté briefly to coat in spices and garlic.

Add Marinara Sauce first and then Alfredo Sauce and bring to a simmer. Cook until sauce thickens slightly and chicken has reached an internal temperature of 165°. Turn off flame, add butter and peas and incorporate into sauce.

Drop cooked pasta in boiling water for 3 seconds. Let drain for 15 seconds. Toss with the sauce. 

Place pasta and sauce in pasta bowl, reserving the majority of the chicken to be placed on top of the pasta. Using a rubber spatula, scrape any remaining sauce from the pan to the pasta. Garnish with crushed red pepper and serve.

Is this a WW recipe?

On WW there is no food off limits and everything is on the table.  That is why I love this program so much. So, Let’s stop telling ourselves that we can’t eat certain foods. That’s not true. We can eat them, but sometimes we choose not to eat them. 

How does Weight Watchers work? 

Each recipe or food has a Smart Points value. This is calculated using calories, saturated fat, protein, and sugar. It is best to stay away from foods that are loaded with saturated fat and sugar on the plan because those foods are higher in points. When you register with Weight Watchers you are given a daily set of points to target based on your age, gender, height, and activity level. Think of it as an easier way to track your macros. 

Other Recipes You Might Like 

Baked Spaghetti and Meatball Casserole 

Cheesy Hash Brown Casserole 

Easy Taco Casserole Bake 

Bubble Up Breakfast Casserole 

*If you make this recipe please comment and rate the recipe below to let everyone know how it is, or tag me on Instagram! If you want to upload a photo you can do that on Pinterest. Just find the post for it. 

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