Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake
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Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake
Introducing Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake—a blend of creamy, cheesy, and jammy tomato flavors with a spicy kick! This irresistible dish combines the richness of creamy vodka sauce, gooey melted cheese, and bold spicy tomatoes. Get ready for a comforting and flavorful vegetarian pasta bake that's ideal for cozy nights or entertaining with a twist! Gluten-free, Make-Ahead + Less Spicy Option.
My love language is pasta dishes. Haha. Cheesy-baked pasta is a definite favorite in our family! It gives off that cozy, homey feeling—with a kick of spice added! This Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake is my ultimate go-to for an easy family meal. Just picture pasta immersed in a tangy jammy tomato vodka sauce and all layered with gooey, golden mozzarella. It's a meal that brings everyone to the table and trust me--- each bite is bursting with flavor + comfort!
If you are anything like me and love to make pasta bakes on the regular, then try out my Spicy Pumpkin Pasta Bake, Meatless Baked Ziti with Ricotta and Pesto Pasta Bake next. Honestly, they are the perfect lazy meal during the week or on weekends.
This vegetarian spicy pasta bake is absolutely delicious. It's bursting with flavor and perfectly reflects the essence of Orchids + Sweet Tea: Simple ingredients + complex flavors. Plus, it's even better when reheated, making it the ultimate leftover dish! And if you're craving more deliciousness, you can always explore 'weeknight meals' on my site!
Jump to:
- What Is A Pasta Bake?
- Why You Will LOVE This Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake
- How To Make Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake
- Ingredients
- Adding Protein To This Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake
- Can I Add More Veggies?
- What Are Delicious Foods to Pair Vegetarian Pasta Bake With?
- How To Make This Spicy Pasta Bake Ahead Of Time?
- How To Make Your Sauce More Flavorful?
- Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake Q + A's
- More Delicious Weeknight Meals You Will Love
- MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
- Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake
What Is A Pasta Bake?
Pasta bake is such a flavorful + satisfying dish that typically consists of cooked pasta (short pasta is best) combined with a variety of ingredients. The mixture is then layered in a baking dish, topped with cheese, and baked in the oven until golden and bubbly. This hearty and versatile dish is loved for its simplicity, delicious taste, and ability to please both kids and adults alike.
Why You Will LOVE This Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake
- Bold umami tomato flavors that will tantalize your taste buds.
- A hearty filling vegetarian dish!
- Easy weeknight meal--Simple preparation + minimal ingredients
- Versatile and customizable
- A crowd-pleasing combination that will have everyone coming back for seconds.
- It’s absolutely delicious!
How To Make Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake
First things first, let's get that pasta boiling! I like to add a little olive oil to keep it from sticking. Then comes the fun part—making your delicious spicy tomato vodka sauce. Once that's done, toss your cooked pasta with the sauce and plenty of cheese in a baking dish. Pop it in the oven and let it bake until everything turns gooey and warm, with that perfectly crisp crust on top.
Ingredients
- Rigatoni pasta. You can also use ANY other pasta shape as desired.
- Kale. Destemmed + chopped. Adds great earthy flavor to everything
SAUCE:
- Extra virgin olive oil. Feel free to use your favorite high-quality EVOO. My fave tried and trusted brand is California Olive Ranch.
- Garlic cloves. Minced
- Tomatoes. Use on-the-vine tomatoes for the best flavor + chop them up.
- Tomato paste. Adds more depth to the sauce.
- Tomato sauce. I like to use organic sauce for a quick meal during the week. However, you can always make your own pasta sauce from scratch.
- Heavy cream. Creates the luscious, velvety base of the sauce. I use Organic Valley.
- Vegetable stock. Provides a savory base for the sauce. Whole Foods has a great organic option!
- Cooking wine. You can omit the wine to make this recipe alcohol-free. You may want to substitute it with lemon juice for some acid.
- Lemon. Freshly-squeezed.
- Herbs + spices. You'll need smoked paprika, garlic powder, dried oregano, dried basil + dried parsley
- Sea salt + black pepper.
- Red pepper flakes. You can increase the amount based on the desired level of spiciness.
- Mild/sharp cheddar or mozzarella cheese. Makes things nice + creamy; plus, adds such rich cheesy flavor.
- Freshly-grated parmesan. I love to freshly grate my cheese, however, you can use your favorite shredded brand---quality does matter!
SHOP MY FAVORITE BAKEWARE ITEMS AND ACCESSORIES FOR THIS PESTO PASTA BAKE
Here, I’ve curated a list of cooking + baking essentials that I use to achieve my favorite baked goods or cooked meals, especially with this Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake. Everything from my fave Dutch pot/oven, wooden spoons, immersion hand-blender, mixing bowls, and more. SEE THEM HERE!
Adding Protein To This Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake
If you'd like to add protein to this Pasta Bake, it's easy to do, regardless of your diet!
Plant-based protein options:
- Crispy seared or baked tofu cubes
- Vegan mince
- Crumbled stir-fried seitan
- Crumble vegan bacon on top
- Chickpeas
- Beans
Non-vegan protein options:
If you want to skip the 'meatless' part of this dish feel free to add-
- Ground beef of turkey
- Shredded chicken
- Italian Sausage
- Shrimp or Lobster
- Bacon
Can I Add More Veggies?
Definitely! This is a great recipe to mix and match the ingredients/toppings. For added nutrients, fiber, and color, add your favorite veggies.
You can add roasted cauliflower, brussels sprouts, bell peppers, asparagus, green peas, roasted herb tomatoes, mushrooms, or leafy greens (kale, spinach, collard greens). All will be delicious!
What Are Delicious Foods to Pair Vegetarian Pasta Bake With?
When it comes to serving this mouthwatering Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake there are some options that will truly elevate your meal. First off, don't forget to have some crusty bread on hand--- I love this homemade Cheesy Kale Garlic Bread or for more of a classic feel this Homemade Roasted Garlic Bread really hits the spot. Trust me; you'll want to dip it into that luscious, saucy goodness.
If you want a little freshness, serve it with a salad on the side, like this Roasted Cauliflower Green Goddess Salad or this Best Buffalo Chickpea Kale Salad. It's like a fresh burst of flavor that complements this easy weeknight dinner beautifully.
But here's the thing. This Spicy Pasta Bake is so darn amazing that you can honestly enjoy it all by itself. Seriously, the umami-rich tomato sauce + luscious creamy cheese —everything is just bursting with flavor. So, feel free to dig in and savor every single bite. It's a dish that stands tall on its own!
How To Make This Spicy Pasta Bake Ahead Of Time?
Cook your pasta and let it cool completely before storing in an air-tight refrigerator for 3-5 days. You can prep fresh kale by chopping it and placing it in an air tight container to refrigerate overnight as well. Follow steps to cook the vodka sauce and after that step, remove sauce from heat, let cool and store in the fridge the day before. On the day of, remove everything to room temp., about 15-20 minutes and continue assembly STEPS and bake.
How To Make Your Sauce More Flavorful?
It's all about the seasoning! Whether you choose to make your pasta sauce from scratch or use a store-bought version (the Rao's brand is my fave by the way), adding seasoning to your sauce is KEY! Adding flavor to the base of your sauce with garlic and seasonings will add more depth to your pasta bake and allow everything else to marry together well.
Just let it all simmer together and slowly bubble as the seasonings infuse deeply.
Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake Q + A's
Any leftovers of this easy weeknight dinner can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, simply heat in the oven for the best results or microwave for a minute or two until heated through.
Yes, simply just swap out the Rigatoni pasta (or your pasta of choice) with Gluten-free pasta.
To achieve an extra crispy top, consider sprinkling the pasta mixture with a layer of breadcrumbs before baking. Alternatively, you can add a final layer of shredded cheese, which will melt and form a golden crust as the dish bakes.
More Delicious Weeknight Meals You Will Love
Now that you've fallen in love with the bold flavors in this recipe, here are some more weeknight dinner ideas to try with your family next:
- Creamy Pesto Chicken Breast with Broccoli
- Jamaican Pineapple Jerk Chicken
- Spicy Coconut Curry Chicken Bowl
- Baked Vegan Black Bean Tacos
- One Skillet Creamy Cajun Chicken Orzo
- Creamy Tuscan Lobster Pasta
- Creamy Jamaican Rasta Pasta
- Vegan Bolognese
- Lemon Herb Roasted Chickpeas + Bucatini
MADE OUR RECIPE(S)?
If you tried this Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake recipe or any other recipe on my website, please please leave a 🌟 star rating and let me know how you go in the 📝 comments below. And don't forget to tag @orchidsnsweettea_ on Instagram and hashtag it #orchidsandsweettea! I love hearing from you!
Spicy Vodka Rigatoni Pasta Bake
Ingredients
- 1 (16 oz.) package rigatoni pasta, organic (You can also use ANY other pasta shape as desired)
- 1 cup organic kale, chopped
SAUCE:
- 1 tablespoon Extra virgin olive oil
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 medium tomato-on-the-vine, chopped into chunks (You can also substitute with my Herb Roasted Tomatoes for bolder flavor)
- 6 Tbsps tomato paste, organic
- 2 tsps Tuscan 'Marry Me' Blend (You can purchase my Marry Me Blend for authentic flavor or make this homemade as well---See Notes)
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (You can adjust based on desired spicy level)
- 1 (15 oz.) can organic tomato sauce (You can make your own tomato sauce, if desired)
- 1 ½ cups organic heavy cream
- ½ cup organic vegetable stock
- 2 Tbsps cooking wine
- ½ lemon, freshly-squeezed
- 2 cups mild or sharp cheddar or mozzarella cheese
- ½ cup freshly-grated parmesan
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees Fahrenheit and lightly grease a standard baking dish----about 9x13.
BOIL THE PASTA:
- Cook pasta according to packaging. NOTE: rigatoni pasta doesn’t take a long time to cook, usually 10-13 minutes. NOTE: I always add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the boiling water to prevent pasta from sticking together. Drain and set aside.
COOK THE SPICY VODKA SAUCE:
- In a large 12-inch skillet, add the olive oil and add minced garlic sauté frequently about 1-2 minutes until translucent and fragrant.
- Add the chopped tomatoes (or Herb Roasted Tomatoes), tomato paste, and Tuscan 'Marry Me Blend', red pepper flakes, and salt, sautéing until combined and fragrant, about 2-3 minutes. Add in the tomato sauce, veggie stock, heavy cream, lemon juice, chopped kale, and cooking wine, stirring everything together until combined. Bring it to a boil and then reduce the heat to low, allowing it to simmer in the sauce for 3-4 minutes. Stir in the grated parmesan cheese until melted and the sauce becomes smooth. Remove from heat.
ASSEMBLY:
- In the baking dish, add a spoon (or two) of the sauce to the bottom, followed by the drained cooked pasta and the sauce, pouring it all over until evenly covered. Do a light stir to better incorporate sauce with pasta and sprinkle a nice layer of mozzarella (or cheddar) cheese atop until the entire pasta is covered.
- Loosely cover with foil and bake for 20-25 minutes. Remove foil paper and bake for another 10-15 minutes or so, until cheese has fully melted and the top is browned slightly.
- Remove from oven and serve with your favorite salad or garlic bread.
- Bon Appetit!
Tips & Tricks
- STORAGE: Any leftovers can be kept in a tightly sealed container and refrigerated for up to 3-4 days. To re-heat, simply heat in the oven for the best results or microwave for a minute or two until heated through.
- GLUTEN-FREE: To make this dish GF, simply use Gluten-Free pasta and ensure that other ingredients are GF-friendly.
- MAKE AHEAD: Cook your pasta and let it cool completely before storing in an air-tight refrigerator for 3-5 days. You can prep fresh kale by chopping it and placing it in an air tight container to refrigerate overnight as well. Follow steps to cook the vodka sauce and after that step, remove sauce from heat, let cool and store in the fridge the day before. On the day of, remove everything to room temp., about 15-20 minutes and continue assembly STEPS and bake.
- HOMEMADE BLEND [SUB FOR TUSCAN MARRY ME BLEND]: 1 tablespoon smoked paprika, 2 tsps dried parsley, 2 tsps dried basil, 2 tsps dried oregano, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, 1 teaspoon garlic powder, ½ teaspoon dried basil, and ½ teaspoon black pepper.
Nutrition
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