Chicken Riggies Pasta
This creamy Chicken Riggies recipe is a classic Upstate New York comfort food made with tender chicken, rigatoni pasta, sweet and hot peppers, Parmesan cheese, and a rich tomato cream sauce. Perfect for family dinners and special occasions.
- Prep Time: 15 MINUTES
- Cook Time: 35 MINUTES
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 6-8 SERVINGS 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: STOVETOP
- Cuisine: ITALIAN | AMERICAN
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound rigatoni pasta
- 2 pounds boneless skinless chicken breasts, cut into bite-sized pieces
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 6 hot cherry peppers, sliced
- 1 (28-ounce) can crushed tomatoes
- 1 (15-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ cup grated Parmesan cheese
- Fresh parsley, for garnish
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook rigatoni according to package directions until al dente. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
- Season chicken with salt, pepper, and paprika. Add chicken and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
- Add onion and bell peppers to the skillet and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in garlic and hot cherry peppers and cook for 1 minute.
- Add crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, chicken broth, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Simmer for 15 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low and stir in heavy cream and Parmesan cheese until smooth and creamy.
- Return chicken to the skillet and stir to combine.
- Add cooked rigatoni and toss until evenly coated with sauce.
- Garnish with parsley and additional Parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
- For authentic Utica-style Chicken Riggies, don’t skip the hot cherry peppers.
- Add extra cream for a richer sauce.
- Adjust the heat level by adding more or fewer cherry peppers.
- Freshly grated Parmesan provides the best flavor and texture.
Find it online: https://www.firsthomelovelife.com/best-chicken-riggies-recipe/