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Irresistible Penne Arrabiata with a slightly fiery note! This Pasta Arrabiata Recipe is super easy and quick to prepare and makes a perfect dinner served in no time!

penne arrabiata serve in a plate with a golden fork

Who can say no to pasta? I sure as hell can’t! That’s why it’s always good to have a few classic Italian pasta recipes in your recipe collection.

This pasta recipe is quick to prepare and therefore very suitable for a quick lunch or dinner. And once you’ve cooked it a few times, you can prepare it off the cuff and don’t even need a recipe for it, because it’s so easy and there isn’t much that can go wrong.

penne al arrabiata with fresh basil

Penne All Arrabiata – An Italian classic

Penne All Arrabbiata, how true Italians call this recipe, is indeed a very popular and classic Italian recipe! The use of chilies gives this dish a pleasant spiciness. This fiery tomato sauce is a welcome change to the classic Pasta Pomodoro.

Arrabiata pasta sauce is made with tinned diced tomatoes, tomato paste, minced garlic, and red pepper flakes. The chilies are what give this pasta dish its “angry” name.

Real Italians cook arrabiata sauce with fresh chili peppers, at least this is what the original recipe calls for. However, I am going to show you my version made with red chili flakes!

red pepper flakes in a blue bowl

I truly love my arrabiata sauce recipe made with red chili flakes due to some of those advantages:

  • There is always a jar of red pepper flakes somewhere in my house
  • It’s easier to determine and adjust the spice level with red pepper flakes than with fresh chili peppers →The pungency of fresh chilies varies a lot
  • Burning fingers, eyes, or other body parts fall away because you don’t have to touch or cut red pepper flakes! 🙂

If you have fresh chili peppers at home or even in your garden, awesome! You can always swap red pepper flakes with fresh chilies. Just keep in mind if using them that chilies become a little hotter when cooked!

Penne Arrabiata Recipe

→ Check out the recipe video! You can see how to make this pasta arrabiata in less than a minute!

pasta arrabiata recipe with fresh basil

This recipe is super easy and quick to make! This step-by-step guide will help you along the way – definitely recommended if you’re a new cook!

The exact quantities and everything else you need to know for the recipe can be found in the recipe card below.

How To Make It:

  • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, add penne and cook according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain, toss with some olive oil (so they don’t stick), and set aside.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick pot over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes until fragrant. Don’t let it burn.
a pot with olive oil, garlic, and red pepper flakes

Be careful: Red pepper flakes burn very quickly when cooked in oil, so keep an eye on them. Better start with a low temperature and let it sizzle for a little longer than setting the temperature to too hot. Once burned, there is no turning back! This applies to all recipes where you have to fry red pepper flakes in oil!

  • Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste and let it simmer for 15 minutes on low to medium heat, stirring occasionally. It the sauce thickens too much, dilute with a few tablespoons of pasta water or regular water.
diced tomatoes and tomato pure in a pot
  • Season to taste with sugar, salt, and cracked black pepper.
arrabiata sauce with seasonings
  • This is how cooked arrabbiata sauce should look like:
cooked arrabiata sauce in a red pot
  • Add cooked penne to the sauce.
cooked penne in a pot with arrabiata sauce
  • Toss and continue cooking for an additional minute allowing the penne to soak up the sauce. This step is important and should not be skipped!
cooked pasta arrabiata in a red pot
pasta all arrabbiata served in a blue plate next to red pepper flakes and fresh basil

Recipe FAQ

Can I use a different type of pasta? Yes, of course. It also tastes delicious with rigatoni, rotini, or pipette.

How long does it stay fresh? Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it keeps fresh for 3-4 days.

What kind of cheeses goes well with it? For vegans, I recommend serving this vegan parmesan along with the pasta. Non-vegans can use freshly grated Pecorino or Parmesan.

More Pasta Recipes You Will Love:

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📖 Recipe

penne arrabiata serve in a plate with a golden fork

Penne Arrabiata

Irresistible Penne Arrabiata with a slightly fiery note! This Pasta Arrabiata Recipe is super easy and quick to prepare and makes a perfect dinner served in no time!
Author : Aline Cueni
5 from 3 votes

Click on the stars to leave a vote!

Prep Time :5 minutes
Cook Time :20 minutes
Total Time :25 minutes
Servings : 2
Calories : 512kcal

Ingredients
 

Arrabiata Pasta Sauce

Instructions
 

  • Cook the penne according to the packet instructions until al dente. Drain, toss with some olive oil if desired, and set aside.
  • Heat the olive oil in a large nonstick pot over medium-low heat. Add the minced garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes until fragrant. Don’t let it burn.
  • Stir in the diced tomatoes and tomato paste and let it simmer for 15 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • Season with sugar, salt, and cracked black pepper.
  • Add the drained pasta to the sauce and toss for one minute allowing the penne to soak up the sauce.
  • Serve with fresh basil and vegan parmesan cheese.

Notes

  • Add some pasta water if the sauce gets too thick.
  • How long does it stay fresh? Stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator, it keeps fresh for 3-4 days.
  • Can I use a different type of pasta? Yes, of course. It also tastes delicious with rigatoni, rotini, or pipette.

Nutrition

Calories: 512kcal | Carbohydrates: 79g | Protein: 14g | Fat: 16g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Sodium: 660mg | Potassium: 302mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 270IU | Vitamin C: 3mg | Calcium: 26mg | Iron: 2mg

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5 Comments

    1. Hi Ragini. The recipe calls for canned tomatoes, so no need to boil them first. 😉

  1. 5 stars
    If I could give this recipe more than 5 stars I definitely would. It tastes amazing and it doesnt take that long to make. Even my 8 year old loves it. Who knew. Next time I will have to double it for sure. (:

    1. Hi Casey, I am so happy to hear that! Thank you for your kind comment & enjoy the Penne Arrabiata with your kid! ❤️
      Virtual Hugs,
      Aline