Penne Arrabiata Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (2024)

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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 Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (1)

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 Arrabiata Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (2)

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!

Penne Arrabiata Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (3)

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!

Penne Arrabiata Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (4)

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.
Penne Arrabiata Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (5)

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.
Penne Arrabiata Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (6)
  • Season to taste with sugar, salt, and cracked black pepper.
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  • This is how cooked arrabbiata sauce should look like:
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  • Add cooked penne to the sauce.
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  • 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!
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  • Finito! Serve with fresh basil and vegan parmesan cheese.
Penne Arrabiata Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (11)

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:

  • Spaghetti Pomodoro
  • Roasted Cherry Tomato Pasta
  • One-Pot Pasta
  • Vegan Spaghetti Carbonara
  • Lentil Bolognese

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📖 Recipe

Penne Arrabiata Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (12)

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!

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Prep Time :5 minutes mins

Cook Time :20 minutes mins

Total Time :25 minutes mins

Servings : 2

Calories : 512kcal

Ingredients

Arrabiata Pasta Sauce

  • 2 tbsp olive oil
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
  • ½ tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 x 14.5 oz can (400 g) diced tomatoes
  • 1 tbsp tomato paste
  • 1 tsp sugar
  • ½ tsp salt
  • cracked black pepper
  • fresh basil to serve optional
  • vegan parmesan cheese to serve, optional

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

Penne Arrabiata Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (18)

Aline Cueni

I’m a girl who loves to cook and bake delicious homemade food. Let me help you to incorporate more plant-based foods into everyday life! Vegetarian & vegan recipes can be anything but boring.

Penne Arrabiata Recipe (Easy & Quick) | Aline Made (2024)

FAQs

What is penne arrabbiata made of? ›

One of the simplest and most well-known pasta sauces, arrabbiata consists of just tomatoes, garlic and dried red chillies (or pepperoncini). The dish is said to hail from the Lazio, and is most commonly eaten with penne as the ridges and holes of the pasta hold the sauce particularly well.

What's the difference between arrabiata and marinara sauce? ›

However, they're not identical. For example, when you prepare spaghetti with marinara sauce on top, you'll probably notice that there's a sweetness to every bite. On the contrary, Arrabbiata sauce contains crushed red pepper flakes for a spiciness that contrasts marinara sauce.

What is the difference between arrabiata and penne alfredo? ›

What is the major difference between Alfredo and Arrabiata pasta? The alfredo pasta is made from cream, butter and cheese making it more creamy and less spicy. Arrabiata is made from hot garlic sauce, dried red chilies, herbs, tomatoes and garlic. It is spicy as compared to Alfredo pasta.

What is the meaning of the word arrabiata? ›

Arrabbiata (or arrabiata) literally means “angry” in Italian, because the sauce in this dish is supposed to be “angry” spicy.

What is the difference between tomato sauce and arrabiata sauce? ›

The difference between Pomodoro and arrabiata is that arrabiata contains red chili peppers and is spicy compared to the mild flavor of Pomodoro sauce. Both sauces are tomato based and incorporate garlic and Italian spices.

What does arrabbiata taste like? ›

If you're not familiar, arrabbiata sauce is basically marinara with red pepper flakes added for heat. If you like spicy food and you like a big plate of pasta drenched in nice, oily red sauce, arrabbiata is a revelation.

What is Alfredo sauce called in Italy? ›

Did you know that the term “Alfredo” is not used often in Italy? There are many different combinations of butter and parmesan similar to what we define using the name we recognize, but Italians call all of these combinations “al burro”.

What is the difference between puttanesca and arrabiata pasta? ›

Like Puttanesca, Arrabiata Sauce is made with tomatoes, extra virgin olive oil, garlic and hot chili pepper flakes. The difference is in the olives and anchovies, which add another dimension to Puttanesca pasta sauce.

What is Barilla arrabbiata? ›

With at least 8 Italian tomatoes in every jar, Barilla's Arrabbiata sauce is a delicious blend of spicy chillies and 100% authentic Italian ingredients. Made with no added preservatives, Barilla pasta sauce is cooked slowly to give a thicker and richer texture, and clings perfectly to your favourite Barilla pasta.

What is another name for arrabiata pasta? ›

Penne Arrabbiata (Spicy Pasta) Penne Arrabbiata or Arrabiata sauce (sugo all'arrabbiata in Italian) is a Roman spicy classic sauce made with garlic, tomatoes and chili. The name all'arrabbiata ('al-ara-bi-a-ta') translated means 'angry".

What is the difference between penne arrabiata and Bolognese sauce? ›

Bolognese sauce is a meaty sauce - usually with some chopped meat and pork in there. Arrabiata means angry in Italian and that “anger” is the spice. Arrabiata sauce is a fairly spicy sauce by Italian standards and not meaty as a Bolognese sauce. Arrabiata varies from a Marinara in spice level only.

What is creamy pasta sauce called? ›

Cream-Based Sauces

Alfredo sauce is typically served on fettuccine noodles and topped with vegetables, chicken or shrimp. Carbonara Sauce: Similar to Alfredo sauce, Carbonara sauce incorporates beaten eggs. This sauce is typically paired with spaghetti and topped with bacon or pancetta.

Why is it called assassins spaghetti? ›

Burnt, crispy, and spicy are the three essentials spaghetti all'assassina, or “killer's spaghetti,” a must-eat in Bari, a city in Puglia on the Adriatic Sea. The name assassina, which means killer, refers not to the felony, but rather the risottatura cooking technique that cooks pasta like risotto.

Why does arrabiata mean angry? ›

Arrabbiata (double r and double b) means angry. And it refers to the fact it is spiced up with chili pepper. It usually comes with penne. The problem with dishes like these, that have very few ingredients, is that there is no way of hiding mistakes.

Is Amatriciana the same as arrabiata? ›

The main difference between Amatriciana and Arrabiata sauces is the inclusion of cured pork. Amatriciana sauce is made with guanciale, a type of cured pork cheek, while Arrabiata sauce does not contain any meat. Instead, Arrabiata sauce is made with garlic, red chili peppers, and tomatoes.

Is red sauce pasta and arrabiata same? ›

Any pasta sauce that has tomato as a star is a tomato (aka pomodoro) sauce. While both are a tomato-based pasta sauce, arrabbiata (Italian for 'angry') is made using chilli peppers. You don't necessarily need to make it really spicy though, that part is totally up to you!

What pasta shape is arrabiata sauce? ›

Penne is a great shape for medium to heavy sauces such as amatriciana (tomato, bacon and chilli), pasta bake, arrabbiata (tomato, chilli and basil), sausage and cream, and beef ragu.

What's the difference between arrabiata and carbonara sauce? ›

Arrabbiata sauce is best suited for penne pasta as it absorbs the consistency of the sauce in the best way. Carbonara Sauce Carbonara is a white creamy sauce which is made up of eggs, cheese and pepper. This sauce has a silkier and richer texture, which tastes the best when prepared using Parmesan cheese.

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