Spaghetti Arrabbiata is a bold, spicy tomato pasta made with crushed tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes. Ready in just 20 minutes and made mostly with pantry staples, it's an easy weeknight dinner when you want something simple with a little heat.
As a cookbook author and professional recipe developer, I love recipes like this because they prove you don't need a long ingredient list to make something flavorful. The spicy tomato sauce comes together quickly while the pasta cooks, making this one of those dependable dinners you can make almost anytime.
If you love quick pasta recipes, try my Lemon Ricotta Pasta, Tomato Burrata Pasta, or Pink Pasta next.
Jump to:
- Why You'll Love This Recipe
- What Is Arrabbiata Sauce?
- How Spicy Is Arrabbiata Sauce?
- Ingredients
- Directions
- Kitchen Equipment
- Arrabbiata vs. Marinara
- Recipe Substitutions/Variations
- Tina's Top Tips for the Best Spaghetti Arrabbiata
- Frequently Asked Questions
- What to Serve with Spaghetti Arrabbiata
- Recipe Storage and Reheating
- Spaghetti Arrabiata
Why You'll Love This Recipe
- Big flavor with minimal effort:Â The garlic and red pepper flakes give the simple tomato sauce plenty of personality.
- Ready in 20 minutes:Â This is a great option for busy weeknights when you need dinner fast.
- Made with pantry staples:Â Crushed tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes are simple ingredients you may already have on hand.
- Easy to customize:Â You can make the sauce milder or spicier depending on your preference.
- Naturally vegetarian:Â This pasta is satisfying on its own without meat, but you can easily add protein if desired.
What Is Arrabbiata Sauce?
Arrabbiata is a spicy Italian tomato sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and red pepper flakes.
The name comes from the Italian word arrabbiata, meaning "angry," which refers to the heat from the chile peppers.
The sauce originated in Rome and is traditionally paired with penne, but it works beautifully with spaghetti too. This version keeps the same bold, spicy tomato flavor while using simple ingredients and an easy weeknight method.
How Spicy Is Arrabbiata Sauce?
Arrabbiata is meant to have noticeable heat, but it doesn't have to be overwhelmingly spicy.
The spice comes from red pepper flakes, so it's easy to adjust the heat level.
For a milder sauce, start with a smaller amount of red pepper flakes. If you love spicy food, add more to taste or sprinkle extra on top before serving.
Keep in mind that the heat will become slightly more noticeable as the sauce simmers.
Ingredients
You only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this spaghetti arrabbiata.
- Spaghetti:Â Spaghetti works well with the light tomato sauce, but you can use another pasta shape if desired.
- Extra virgin olive oil:Â Olive oil forms the base of the sauce and helps carry the flavor of the garlic and red pepper flakes.
- Garlic:Â Fresh garlic adds plenty of savory flavor.
- Red pepper flakes:Â These give arrabbiata its signature heat. Adjust the amount depending on how spicy you like your pasta.
- Crushed tomatoes:Â Crushed tomatoes create an easy, smooth sauce without requiring a long simmer.
- Onion powder:Â Adds extra savory flavor to the tomato sauce.
- Salt and black pepper:Â Season the sauce and balance the acidity of the tomatoes.
- Parmesan cheese:Â Optional, but a little freshly grated Parmesan adds a salty, savory finish.
- Fresh basil:Â Adds freshness and color just before serving.
Directions
Let's make this recipe together!
Cook the pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Before draining, reserve some of the pasta water.
Start the sauce
While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, being careful not to brown the garlic. Add the crushed tomatoes, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir well and bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.
Toss with pasta
Add the cooked spaghetti to the sauce and toss until evenly coated. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
Serve
Divide the pasta between bowls and top with freshly grated Parmesan and basil, if desired.
Kitchen Equipment
Here is some kitchen equipment you will need for this recipe. You can find all of these products on Amazon.
- Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil - Using good olive oil is a game changer in cooking. I love this brand and use it daily!
- Deep Skillet - I use this skillet every day in my kitchen. It's so versatile - plus it's oven and dishwasher safe!
- Spaghetti - This is one of my favorite spaghetti brands. I love buying in bulk on Amazon so I always have some stocked when I need it.
Arrabbiata vs. Marinara
Arrabbiata and marinara are both tomato-based sauces, but the biggest difference is heat.
- Arrabbiata sauce includes red pepper flakes and has a distinctly spicy flavor.
- Marinara sauce is usually milder and may include herbs like basil or oregano without the strong chile flavor.
If you like classic tomato sauce but want something with more kick, arrabbiata is a great choice.
Recipe Substitutions/Variations
This spaghetti arrabbiata is simple to customize.
- Adjust the heat:Â Use fewer red pepper flakes for a milder sauce or add extra if you like things spicy.
- Use penne:Â Swap the spaghetti for penne for a more traditional penne all'arrabbiata.
- Add protein:Â Serve with grilled chicken, shrimp, sausage, or meatballs.
- Make it vegan:Â Skip the Parmesan or use your favorite dairy-free alternative.
- Use Pecorino:Â Swap Parmesan for Pecorino Romano for a sharper, saltier finish.
- Add vegetables:Â Stir in spinach, zucchini, mushrooms, or roasted peppers.
Tina's Top Tips for the Best Spaghetti Arrabbiata
- Don't burn the garlic. Garlic cooks quickly, so keep the heat moderate and add the tomatoes as soon as the garlic becomes fragrant.
- Adjust the red pepper flakes to taste. Arrabbiata should have some heat, but you can make it as mild or spicy as you like.
- Salt the pasta water well. Properly seasoned pasta makes a big difference in a simple recipe like this.
- Save some pasta water. A splash of starchy pasta water helps loosen the sauce and helps it cling to the spaghetti.
- Use good tomatoes. Because the sauce is so simple, the flavor of the crushed tomatoes matters.
- Serve immediately. This pasta is best hot, right after it's tossed with the sauce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Arrabiata sauce has similar ingredients to tomato sauce but is spicy. Red pepper flakes make up the spicy element of arrabiata, which means 'angry' in Italian.
Arrabiata sauce origins from Italy. It is a spicy tomato based sauce served with pasta.
Arrabiata sauce is spicy. It is made spicy from red pepper flakes added to the sauce.
What to Serve with Spaghetti Arrabbiata
This pasta pairs well with simple salads, vegetables, and Italian-inspired proteins.
Try serving it with:
- Chicken Limone for a bright, easy protein.
- Kale and Cannellini Bean Salad for something fresh and hearty.
- Bruschetta Crostini for a simple appetizer.
- Sausage Bruschetta if you're serving the pasta as part of a larger Italian-inspired dinner.
A simple green salad and crusty bread are also great alongside this pasta.
Recipe Storage and Reheating
- Store leftover spaghetti arrabbiata in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 to 4 days.
- To reheat, warm the pasta gently in a skillet over medium-low heat with a splash of water or a drizzle of olive oil.
- You can also reheat individual portions in the microwave, stirring halfway through.
- The sauce can also be made ahead and refrigerated separately for up to 4 days. Reheat the sauce, then toss with freshly cooked pasta before serving.
Spaghetti Arrabiata
Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti
- 3 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Parmesan cheese for serving
- Fresh basil for serving
Instructions
- Cook the pasta. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook spaghetti according to package directions until al dente. Reserve about 1 cup of pasta water before draining.
- Start the sauce. While the pasta cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook for about 1 minute, stirring frequently, until fragrant.
- Simmer the sauce. Add the crushed tomatoes, onion powder, salt, and black pepper. Stir to combine and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Toss with the pasta. Add the drained spaghetti to the skillet and toss until evenly coated in the sauce. Add a splash of reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
- Serve. Divide between bowls and top with freshly grated Parmesan and fresh basil. Serve immediately.
Did You Make This Recipe?
Leave a comment below or tag us @tasting.with.tina on Instagram!
Alex says
SO good! Made this for my girlfriends and they were all so impressed!
Christina Musgrave says
So happy your girlfriends loved it!