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Get ready to tantalize your taste buds with this mouthwatering chorizo rigatoni recipe, a perfect blend of smoky, spicy flavors, vegetables, cheese, and comforting pasta goodness. This hearty dish features succulent chorizo simmered with cream and veggies and then tossed with chunky rigatoni, creating a satisfying meal. Within just 30 minutes, this creamy, indulgent pasta is the ultimate solution for busy weeknights when you’re craving something warm and delicious. This easy pasta recipe is a quick mid-week dinner that will leave everyone at the table feeling satisfied and happy.
Savor the bold flavor of chorizo in this quick and simple rigatoni recipe. It’s creamy, cheese and totally delicious. You’ll find yourself craving this often.
If you go weak at the knees for Italian flavors, you might also like pasta al forno, stuffed rigatoni pasta pie, beef braciole, or this easy shrimp linguine.
Why You’ll Love It
Quick and easy: You can make this simple recipe in under half an hour, making it ideal for one of those busy weeknights we all have.
Really tasty: Chorizo, veggies, cream, parmesan, garlic – all these wonderful flavors and more feature in this creamy chorizo pasta.
Easy to double: Expecting a crowd for dinner or in the mood for some batch cooking? The recipe can be doubled or tripled easily enough.
Chorizo Pasta Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Chorizo: Chorizo comes in sweet or spicy varieties, so pick one that suits your taste.
Rigatoni pasta: Or your preferred pasta (I love this brand of rigatoni!)
Vegetables: Onion, bell pepper and cremini mushrooms add color, nutrients and flavor.
Heavy cream: To make the sauce creamy.
Parmesan cheese: I recommend grating your own for a fresh flavor.
Garlic: I usually add extra!
How to Make Chorizo Rigatoni Pasta
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Cook the rigatoni: Cook the rigatoni until al dente, reserve a cup of the pasta cooking water and drain the rest.
Brown the chorizo: Cook it in a skillet, breaking it up with a wooden spoon.
Add the vegetables: Add the onion, bell pepper and mushrooms. Add salt and pepper. Add the garlic and cook briefly.
Add the remaining ingredients: Add the cooked pasta and browned chorizo to the skillet. Toss with the heavy cream and parmesan, adding some of the reserved pasta water if needed.
Season and serve: Add more salt to the pasta dish if needed and then serve immediately with your chosen garnishes.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: If you want a gluten-free version, use gluten-free pasta.
Rigatoni pasta: Swap the rigatoni for another pasta shape, perhaps penne or orecchiette, to change up the texture.
Vegetables: Green beans, asparagus, corn, and zucchini are other options if want to try different veggies.
Chorizo: Use sweet or spicy chorizo or even chicken chorizo or your preferred variation.
Creamy options: Heavy cream creates a smooth, rich sauce, while crème fraîche adds a tangy flavor. Both ways are delicious. You could swap some of the heavy cream for sour cream for a nice tangy taste.
Garnishes: Red pepper flakes (or chili flakes) add heat, while minced fresh parsley and cracked black pepper offer a fresh finish. You can add more grated parmesan on top or offer it at the dinner table.
Make it a bake: Layer your leftovers in a baking dish, top with shredded mozzarella or parmesan, and bake at 375°F until bubbly for an easy pasta bake version of this rich dish.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Begin your Italian inspired meal with a tuna and potato salad or antipasto skewers.
Side dishes: Present this chorizo rigatoni recipe with smoked asparagus or an iceberg wedge salad.
Desserts: Finish up with a classic Italian tiramisu or these pizzelle cookies.
How to Store Chorizo Rigatoni
Store: Let your leftovers cool to room temperature before transferring to an airtight container to maintain texture and prevent condensation. Keep the leftovers in the refrigerator and eat within 3 days.
Freeze: This dish is best enjoyed fresh or refrigerated; freezing might negatively affect the texture of the pasta and sauce, so I don’t recommend it.
Reheat: Warm leftovers in a skillet over low heat, adding a splash of water or milk to loosen the sauce as needed. Avoid overheating to keep the pasta from becoming mushy. If using a microwave, cover the pasta with a damp paper towel to prevent drying out. Heat in short intervals, stirring in between.
Top Tips
Careful with the garlic: Garlic burns quickly, so cook it briefly over a medium heat to avoid bitterness.
Break up the chorizo: Breaking it into small pieces as it browns ensures every bite is packed with flavor.
Mind the mushrooms: Mushrooms absorb oil quickly, so add olive oil as needed while cooking. If the pan gets dry, a splash of water can deglaze and prevent sticking.
Uniform slicing: Cut onions, bell peppers and mushrooms into similar sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
Skillet Chorizo Sausage Pasta FAQs
The starchy water helps create a silky sauce and balances the flavors, so don’t forget to save a cup before draining the remainder. You probably won’t need to add all of it to the finished dish, just as much as you need to get the consistency just right.
Chorizo can vary in saltiness, so taste and season the dish once everything is combined to ensure the salt level is perfect.
Although this is a meaty dish, the sauce is made with cream, cheese and garlic. There are plenty of tomato-based recipes with rigatoni but this one is deliciously different.
Spicy Chorizo Rigatoni Pasta Recipe
Chorizo Rigatoni
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 Ounces rigatoni pasta
- 8 Ounces chorizo, casings removed
- 1 yellow onion, medium, sliced
- 1 Cup red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 Cup cremini mushrooms, sliced
- ½ Teaspoon sea salt, plus more for the pasta water
- olive oil, as needed
- 3 Cloves garlic, minced
- 3 Tablespoons heavy cream, or crème fraîche
- ¼ Cup parmesan cheese, grated
Optional Garnishes:
- parmesan cheese, grated
- red pepper flakes
- fresh parsley, minced
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
- Cook rigatoni according to package instructions for al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Meanwhile, heat a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the chorizo and cook for 4 or 5 minutes or until browned, breaking it into small pieces with a wooden spoon. Transfer to a plate, leaving the fat in the pan.
- In the same skillet, add the onion, bell pepper and mushrooms. Season with ½ teaspoon of salt and sauté until softened and lightly browned, about 6 minutes.
- Add olive oil if the pan gets dry. Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute, until fragrant.
- Add the cooked rigatoni and chorizo to the skillet. Add the heavy cream or crème fraîche. Add the parmesan and toss everything together until coated.
- Add the reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until it reaches your desired consistency.
- Taste and adjust salt if needed.
- Serve immediately with your preferred garnishes.
Notes
Break up the chorizo: Breaking it into small pieces as it browns ensures every bite is packed with flavor.
Mind the mushrooms: Mushrooms absorb oil quickly, so add olive oil as needed while cooking. If the pan gets dry, a splash of water can deglaze and prevent sticking.
Uniform slicing: Cut onions, bell peppers and mushrooms into similar sized pieces to ensure even cooking.
Nutrition
Meet your new favorite pasta dish. This easy recipe with chorizo and pasta is worth whipping up. It’s a gorgeous combination of meaty fresh chorizo, rigatoni pasta, healthy veggies, and a creamy sauce with grated parmesan cheese, heavy cream, and garlic. This quick and simple dish is perfect for a busy weeknight or whenever that Italian food craving hits hard!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
The smoky chorizo and creamy pasta combo was amazing; everyone wanted seconds!