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    Home » Recipes » Pasta Recipes

    Arrabbiata Sauce with Penne

    Published: Sep 23, 2022 by Chef Dennis Littley

    87 shares
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    • Yummly
    5 from 42 votes
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    Pinterest image for Penne arrabbiata

    My spicy Arrabbiata Sauce couldn’t be easier to make and is a delicious way to kick up your weeknight dinners.

    Made with simple pantry ingredients you can have my Arrabbiata Sauce with Penne or pasta of your choice in less than 30 minutes. When it comes to traditional sauces this simple pasta sauce will definitely add some pizazz to your pasta nights!

    Arrabbiata sauce with penne in a white bowl

    Creating delicious meals in your kitchen can be time-consuming and tedious, but with my Arrabbiata Sauce you can have dinner on the table without all the muss and fuss, faster than ordering takeout!

    close up of penne arrabbiata in a white bowl

    The best thing about this quick spicy sauce is the simple ingredients used to create this flavorful pasta sauce. I will admit that Arrabbiata Sauce along with Classical Marinara Sauce are two of my favorite pasta sauces.

    My Classic Arrabiata Sauce (Sugo all’ arrabbiata in Italian), is made with sweet San Marzano tomatoes, fresh garlic, fresh herbs, and flakes from red peppers. The literal translation from Italian is “Angry Sauce” and that name comes from the heat in the sauce from the red pepper flakes.

    I like heat but in moderation. So my sauce is moderately disturbed rather than angry…lol.

    Ingredients to make Arrabbiata Sauce with Penne

    Ingredients to make recipe

    Let’s start by gathering the ingredients we need to make my Arrabiata Sauce with Penne. In Chef Speak this is called the “Mise en Place” which translates to “Everything in its Place”.

    Not only does setting your ingredients up ahead of time speed up the cooking process, it also helps ensure you have everything you need to make the dish.

    Make sure to get San Marzano Tomatoes if at all possible, and as a note, San Marzano Tomatoes will never come crushed, only as whole tomatoes in juice. If they’re crushed they’re not San Marzano!

    The other ingredients needed are good quality red chili flakes (that are fresh, not something that’s been in your spice drawer for a year or longer), extra virgin olive oil, fresh chopped garlic, tomato paste, fresh basil and fresh Italian parsley. You also want to make sure you have grated Romano cheese or Parmesan cheese to serve with the dish.

    How to make Arrabbiata Sauce

    oil in skillet with fresh chopped garlic and red pepper flakes

    Heat extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet (or large saucepan) over medium heat. Add the fresh chopped garlic and red pepper flakes to the hot oil. Let them cook for about 30 seconds. This will toast the red pepper flakes creating more depth of flavor in the sauce.

    whole tomatoes and tomato paste added to skillet

    Add the whole tomatoes and tomato paste to the pan. Use the back of a wooden spoon to crush the whole tomatoes (you can also crush them by hand before adding them to the pan). For a chunkier sauce leave some of the tomato pieces larger.

    basil added to skillet with tomato mixture

    Bring the sauce to a simmer over low heat then cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. Remove the Arrabbiata sauce from the heat and add the fresh chopped basil. Mix Well.

    penne added to pan

    When the pasta is cooked al dente, drain the water reserving ¼ cup of the cooking water to add to the spicy sauce.

    Penne arrabbiata in pan

    Add the water and the pasta to the sauce, mixing into the sauce, coating all the pasta. Taste and reseason as needed.

    Arrabbiata sauce with penne

    Serve the pasta with lots of grated Romano or parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley. Even if you’re not a spicy food lover, my arrabbiata recipe is sure to please.

    Recipe FAQ’s

    Why is it called Arrabbiata Sauce?

    The word arrabbiata means “Angry” in Italian. Because of the crushed red pepper, the capillaries in your face expand and your face gets red, which could be interrupted as being angry, or red in the face. But don’t worry this sauce isn’t that spicy and won’t have you looking too angry!

    What’s the difference between Marinara sauce and Arrabbiata Sauce?

    Both are Classical Tomato Sauce and both use basically the same ingredients, starting with fresh tomatoes or canned San Marzano tomatoes. They are both quick-cooked sauces that keep their bright red color. The difference comes in the seasoning. Arrabbiata sauce includes red pepper flakes and Marinara sauce may have a touch of red pepper flakes but has dried oregano as the main seasoning. Both sauces should be cooked no longer than 30 minutes.

    More Pasta Recipes You’ll Love!

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    Arrabbiata sauce with penne
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    5 from 42 votes

    Arrabbiata Sauce with Penne

    My spicy Arrabbiata Sauce couldn't be easier to make and is a delicious way to kick up your weeknight dinners.
    Made with simple pantry ingredients you can have my Arrabiatta Sauce with Penne or pasta of your choice in less than 30 minutes.
    Prep Time5 mins
    Cook Time25 mins
    Total Time30 mins
    Course: Entree, Side Dish
    Cuisine: Italian
    Servings: 6
    Calories: 367kcal
    Author: Chef Dennis Littley

    Ingredients

    • 1 pound penne rigate
    • 2 Tbsp olive oil
    • 1 Tbsp garlic finely chopped
    • ¼ tsp crushed red pepper flakes more if you like it spicier
    • 28 oz whole peeled tomatoes crushed by hand – San Marzano if possible
    • 2 Tbsp tomato paste
    • 1 Tbsp fresh basil leaves chopped
    • ¼ cup Grated Romano Cheese more for serving
    • 1 tsp Italian parsley finely chopped, for garnish
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    Instructions

    • Cook pasta in a large pot of boiling water, according to package instructions, until tender.
    • Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add garlic and crushed red pepper; cook, stirring for 30 seconds.
    • Add tomatoes, crushing them roughly with the back of a wooden spoon, and tomato paste.
    • Bring the sauce to a simmer over low heat then cook for an additional 5-10 minutes. Remove from the Arrabbiatta sauce from the heat and add fresh chopped basil. Mix Well.
    • When pasta is cooked, drain the water and add it to the sauce. Toss well. Taste and add more red pepper flakes or salt and pepper, if needed.
    • Serve the pasta with lots of grated Romano or parmesan cheese and a sprinkle of fresh chopped parsley.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 367kcal | Carbohydrates: 63g | Protein: 13g | Fat: 7g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 4g | Cholesterol: 4mg | Sodium: 288mg | Potassium: 483mg | Fiber: 4g | Sugar: 6g | Vitamin A: 297IU | Vitamin C: 14mg | Calcium: 106mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @askChefDennis or tag #askChefDennis!

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    About Chef Dennis

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    Chef Dennis is a semi-retired Chef, writer/blogger, photographer, recipe developer and creator of A Culinary Journey with Chef Dennis aka Ask Chef Dennis®. Chef Dennis worked professionally in White Table Cloth Restaurants for 40 years and has been developing easy to make, restaurant-style recipes since 2009. The second phase of his reinvention from chef to blogger has earned him a place at the Worlds Dinner Table. Join him on his Culinary Journey enjoying his easy to make Restaurant Style recipes and travel adventures. For more details, check out his About page.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. LaKita

      October 17, 2022 at 11:04 am

      5 stars
      This sauce is so delicious and simple to make! I had all of the ingredients on hand and it came together perfectly in minutes.

      Reply
    2. Moop Brown

      October 17, 2022 at 3:34 am

      5 stars
      I really love tomato sauces like this that still have chunks of tomato in them. This dish was very delicious.

      Reply
    3. Enri Lemoine

      October 16, 2022 at 8:20 pm

      5 stars
      I love penne arrabbiata. I have my recipe, but I have to try yours (you never disappoint me Chef). Thanks for c¡sharing.

      Reply
    4. Amy

      October 16, 2022 at 4:39 pm

      5 stars
      I love making my own sauces and this one was amazing! Just the right amount of spice and the addition of Romano cheese made it rich and satisfying.

      Reply
    5. Kristina

      October 16, 2022 at 4:18 pm

      5 stars
      I love simple pasta dishes like this and this one turned out great. San Marzano is my favorite brand so I recommend this one as well- the flavor is the best if you can find it. I doubled up on the garlic because I LOVE garlic. Not disappointed and will make again!

      Reply
    6. Linda

      October 14, 2022 at 4:50 pm

      5 stars
      My mouth was watering just looking at your photo of all that pasta deliciousness. So I just had to make it for dinner last night. And the flavor with the extra kick from the red pepper flakes was absolute perfection. Definitely a recipe that will be repeated.

      Reply
    7. Veronika

      October 14, 2022 at 1:39 pm

      5 stars
      I made this recipe yesterday and it came out amazing! So easy to prep and was so delicious 😉

      Reply
    8. Ann

      October 12, 2022 at 9:57 am

      5 stars
      This dish was delicious! I love trying new pasta recipes, and yours was perfect for our pasta night!

      Reply
    9. Tracy

      October 10, 2022 at 3:41 pm

      5 stars
      This was so easy to make and delicious! Thanks for the tips on making sure to use San Marzano, it definitely makes all the difference!

      Reply

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