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    Home / Dinner / Chicken Riggies

    Chicken Riggies

    Rigatoni, chicken, roasted peppers, and a creamy spicy tomato sauce — Utica’s beloved pasta dish.

    ⏱ 15 minPrep time
    🔥 30 minCook time
    🍽 4Servings
    🏷 DinnerCategory
    ☆☆☆☆☆No ratings yet
    Utica chicken riggies with rigatoni and peppers

    Chicken riggies is Utica’s answer to Sunday dinner — rigatoni tossed with sautéed chicken, roasted red peppers, hot cherry peppers, and a creamy tomato-vodka sauce. It’s a Central New York specialty that shows up at every family gathering, and the heat is entirely up to you.

    Chef Emily presents Chicken Riggies

    Utica’s creamy, spicy pasta

    Rigatoni, tender chicken, sweet roasted peppers, and a kick of cherry pepper in a rich tomato-cream sauce — Upstate New York on a plate.

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    Step by stepInstructions

    1. Cook the rigatoni in salted boiling water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water and drain.
    2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet and cook the chicken until golden and cooked through, about 6-8 minutes. Remove and set aside.
    3. In the same skillet, sauté the onion and garlic until soft, about 3 minutes. Add the roasted peppers and cherry peppers and cook 2 minutes more.
    4. Pour in the vodka, if using, and let it bubble for a minute. Stir in the tomato sauce and cream and simmer 5 minutes.
    5. Return the chicken to the sauce, add the rigatoni and Parmesan, and toss, loosening with pasta water as needed. Serve hot with extra Parmesan.

    💡 Chef tips & storage

    The cherry peppers are the signature — use one or two for mild, more if you like heat. A splash of vodka adds depth, but the dish is just as good without it.

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    Recipe details

    Prep15 min
    Cook30 min
    Servings4
    CategoryDinner
    PublishedAugust 16, 2026
    Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes

    Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

    Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

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