This Creamy Chili Oil Pasta is rich, flavorful, and very filling. A quick and easy recipe that’s perfect for lunch or dinner. Ready within 25 minutes! Inspired by Gigi Hadid’s Pasta Alla Vodka (without the vodka!).
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**Recipe originally published: March 15, 2022, Post updated: January 27, 2024
Chili Oil Use: For Pasta
If you’ve been following me for awhile, you’ll know how much I love my chili oil. It’s the best condiment in my eyes, and more often than not you’ll find me adding on a spoonful (or more!) to my plate.
So after preparing a fresh batch of chili oil recently, I decided to experiment with making this creamy chili oil pasta. (Here’s my easy 5-minute garlic chili oil version!)
It’s a dish that’s inspired by Gigi Hadid’s viral Spicy Vodka Pasta, and the Italian Penne alla Vodka. Though in my version, it’s vodka free!
Spicy & Creamy Pasta
This spicy, creamy, tomato-based pasta is so rich and flavorful, it will quickly gain its rank as one of your favorite pasta dishes. It’s definitely becoming a frontrunner in our household for sure! There’s something about a spicy and creamy pasta combo that always works.
Traditionally, the type of pasta used is penne. But I love using rigatoni pasta as it holds more sauce once you’ve mixed it in. Another great alternative is shell pasta. Though honestly, you can use whatever pasta you’d like as the sauce works with all types.
Ingredients
(For full ingredient measurements, please proceed to the recipe card below.)
- Rigatoni pasta or penne
- Butter
- Oil
- Garlic
- Tomato paste
- Chili oil: I used my Homemade Chili Oil, and here’s my easy 5-minute garlic chili oil version! But if you’re looking for a store-bought option, I recommend the one by Lao Gan Ma.
- Heavy whipping cream or heavy cream
- Pasta water
- Salt
- Sugar
- Paprika (optional)
- Dried/fresh basil (optional)
- Parmesan
How To Make Easy Creamy Chili Oil Pasta
- Boil pasta in lightly salted water until cooked and reserve some pasta water.
- Sauté garlic cloves in 1 tbsp melted butter and oil over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and continue sautéing for another minute before adding chili oil.
- Stir well for another minute then pour in heavy whipping cream.
- Continue stirring for 1-2 minutes before adding the rest of the seasoning and basil.
- Let it continue cooking until it boils and stir occasionally.
- Add 1/4 cup of pasta water, pasta and the remaining butter. Stir until every piece is well coated and turn off heat.
- Serve while hot with parmesan cheese and enjoy!
Notes for Creamy Chili Oil Pasta
- Spice level – You can tailor the spice level of the dish by adjusting the amount of chili oil to your heat preference.
- Adjust salt accordingly – Adjust the amount of salt to your preference as some chili oil is saltier than others.
- Sauce consistency – If the sauce is too watery, let it cook for longer and if it’s too thick, add a bit more pasta water.
- Lactose free – For a lactose free version, skip the heavy whipping cream and parmesan. Make a simple cream sauce with 2 tbsp butter, 2 tbsp flour and gradually add 1 cup of plant based milk instead. My husband’s lactose intolerant and he loved this version.
Here are some other recipes with chili oil for you to try:
- Chili Oil Miso Udon (15 minutes)
- 10-minute Chili Oil Instant Ramen
- Garlic Chili Oil Noodles (10 minutes)
- Chili Oil Dumplings
- Chili Oil Fried Eggs
Alternative spelling: creamy chilli oil pasta
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Creamy Chili Oil Pasta
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb rigatoni pasta or penne
- 2.5 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp oil
- 6 cloves garlic sliced
- 2 tbsp tomato paste
- 2.5 tbsp chili oil (just the sediments) see notes
- 1 cup heavy whipping cream or heavy cream
- 1/4 cup pasta water
- 1/2 tsp salt adjust accordingly – see notes
- 1/2 tsp sugar
- 1/2 tsp paprika optional
- 2 tsp dried/fresh basil optional
- parmesan
Instructions
- Boil pasta in lightly salted water until cooked and reserve some pasta water.
- Sauté garlic cloves in 1 tbsp melted butter and oil over medium heat for 2-3 minutes.
- Add tomato paste and continue sautéing for another minute before adding chili oil.
- Stir well for another minute then pour in heavy whipping cream.
- Continue stirring for 1-2 minutes before adding the rest of the seasoning and basil.
- Let it continue cooking until it boils and stir occasionally.
- Add 1/4 cup of pasta water, pasta and the remaining butter. Stir until every piece is well coated and turn off heat.
- Serve while hot with parmesan cheese and enjoy!
I made this the same day that Farah posted it bc it just looked so tasty and let me tell you- it was!! Easy recipe to follow and a hit for me and my family :)
Thanks so much :)
This recipe was soooo easy! I love simplicity and this was it. I’ve been craving spicy things recently with this pregnancy and this just helped me curve my craving. You can make it as spicy as you want! It also doesn’t need a lot of ingredients! This will be one of the staples in our family dinners.
Aww yay! I’m so glad you enjoyed it :)
I’m kinda new to cooking but I made it and it was absolutely delicious!
( I did almost forget salt in the sauce but, my mom saved me lol 😆 )
Haha, thank god for moms! Thanks for trying this recipe :)
Delicous recipe. Made for father’s day and everyone love it!
Was looking for a recipe to use up some left over cream, came across this recipe and wow it was a big hit with all the family. Followed the recipe exactly, simple but very tasty thank you.
I made this for dinner last night and it was absolutely delicious!