In college we had theme dinner nights for the late night dinner serve. It started at 9 pm and went to 1 am, which to a college student spending time in the photo labs all night was perfect. One of our favorite nights was Thursday's pasta night. While this recipe for Saucy Bacon Tomato Rigatoni never appeared on the college menu, it gives me that same nostalgia of eating comfort food for dinner.
This recipe has tender rigatoni pasta, a delicious red sauce cooked with bacon and topped with fresh basil for the ultimate pasta dinner. It's a pasta dish full of flavor and substance. Maybe pasta Thursday's should make a comeback.
If you like this recipe, you may also enjoy my Cheesy Kale and Sausage Pasta, my Pasta Alla Vodka or even my Pasta Bolognese.
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What is Rigatoni
Rigatoni is a form of Italian pasta that is shaped like a tube. It is similar to ziti and penne, but is a larger pasta with deeper grooves along the sides for more sauce to cling to the pasta.
Rigatoni can be bought dried, fresh or made at home if you have the correct pasta attachment. For this recipe I used dried rigatoni and cooked the rigatoni to al dente.
Pasta Alternatives
Don't have rigatoni pasta in your pantry? You can use other forms of pasta for this recipe as well. Follow the cooking instructions on the box for each pasta type to cook to a perfect al dente.
- Penne
- Ziti
- Spaghetti
- Rotini
- Bucatini
- Shells
- Corkscrew
How long to cook rigatoni
Rigatoni is a larger type of pasta and usually takes a bit longer to cook to a perfect al dente. If you are using dried pasta, bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Place rigatoni in the pot and cook for 10-12 minutes. Test your rotini by slicing one in half. If the center is chalky white, it is not fully cooked. The center should be a similar color to the exterior of the pasta.
Once your rigatoni is the same color throughout when sliced, it is time to drain. A perfect al dente pasta will be tender enough to eat, but still have a bit of chew to the texture.
What can you add into this pasta
While I love this Bacon Tomato Rigatoni recipe as is, I get that sometimes you want to use up leftovers or even sneak in a few more vegetables. Here is what I would suggest adding to this pasta dish:
- Shredded Chicken
- Shrimp
- Spinach
- Kale
- Mushrooms
- Carrots
- Peppers and onions
Ingredients Needed
- 1 Pound Rigatoni
- ¼ Cup Olive Oil
- ¼ Cup Thick Cut Bacon
- 1 Red Onion Sliced
- ¼ Cup Tomato Paste
- 2 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper
- 1 ¼ Cups Canned Tomatoes
- ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese Grated
- ½ Cup Parsley Chopped
- Salt
- Pepper
Equipment Needed
- Cutting Board
- Chef's Knife
- Saucepan
- Wooden Spoon
- Stock Pot
Storage Tips
Fridge: Store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. To reheat, warm in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
Freezer: Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months. To reheat defrost in the microwave and reheat until warmed through.
Bacon Tomato Rigatoni
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 Pound Rigatoni
- ¼ Cup Olive Oil
- ¼ Cup Thick Cut Bacon Sliced into ½ inch segments
- 1 Red Onion Sliced
- ¼ Cup Tomato Paste
- 2 Tsp Crushed Red Pepper
- 1 ¼ Cups Canned Tomatoes
- ½ Cup Parmesan Cheese Grated
- ½ Cup Parsley Chopped
- Salt
- Pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted boiling water, cook rigatoni until al dente, about 10-12 minutes. Drain and set aside 1 cup of pasta water.
- In a large saucepan add oil, onion and bacon. Cook over a medium heat for 5 minutes or until onion has softened and bacon has begun to brown. Add tomato paste and crushed red pepper and cook for an additional 2 minutes.
- Stir in the canned tomatoes and bring to a simmer, breaking up any large chunks of tomato. Add the rigatoni and reserved pasta water. Toss until pasta is coasted in sauce. Lower heat and stir in ½ cup of parmesan and ½ cup of parsley. Season to taste with salt and pepper.
- Serve pasta warm with a garnish of parmesan cheese and parsley. Enjoy!
Notes
Nutrition
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About Michelle
Hello! I'm Michelle Boulé. I'm a photography nerd, cat mom and all around foodie. Join me in making some of my favorite comfort foods!
Sara Welch says
Bring on the bacon, indeed! Such a bold and delicious recipe and perfect for busy weeknights!
Biana says
Bacon and pasta are amazing together! Sounds like a perfect dinner for a weeknight.
Andrea says
Wow! This is a pasta dish my family will ask for over and over.
Cyndy says
This was simply delicious! We add a sprinkling of Pecorino too because we are a cheese loving family! Kids loved it!
Jo says
This is my new favorite pasta recipe! So tasty and easy to make!