Penne Arrabbiata

Spice up your pasta with this Penne Arrabbiata recipe! This is a super easy and quick tomato-based pasta dish that’ll tingle your taste buds with the perfect amount of heat and keep you wanting more. You can customize your meal by using as much or little heat you want, but either way, it’s a deliciously light and juicy recipe you must try.

What is Arrabbiata?

Arrabbiata is a less common but extremely delicious tomato-based sauce used in pasta dishes. What makes Arrabbiata stand out from any other tomato sauce is its spicy flavor due to the added chili flakes that are mixed in with olive oil, garlic, and of course, tomatoes, to create a mouth-watering addition to your pasta dish!

I must say, this has to be one of my favorite tomato-based pastas that I have made. Not only is it light and refreshing from its juiciness, but it also has the perfect amount of heat.

The Key to Making The Perfect Arrabbiata Sauce

It’s all in the tomatoes and chili flakes.

The great part about this recipe is that you can control the amount of chili-flake heat you prefer in your sauce. I found that the amount of I use in this recipe works perfectly for my family and I. However, it can easily be adjusted according to your personal preference. Just simply add more chili flakes for an even spicier sauce or cut down my measurement for less heat!

I also love to use San Marzano tomatoes any time I make a pasta sauce. San Marzano is a type of tomato named after its origins in Italy. When it comes to making a sauce, San Marzano tomatoes happen to be the best of the best and definitely worth using in your food creations. But what exactly makes these tomatoes so special? For me personally, it’s the wonderful combination of its flavors and smell. There’s nothing like that perfect sweetness of the tomatoes and the amazing aroma it brings about while you’re cooking. You have to try it to see what I mean.

You can keep this dish vegan/vegetarian and make it as is, or add your favorite meat on top along with some grated cheese for some extra protein intake! Keep reading to see how I make this delicious Penne Arrabbiata pasta dish.

Ingredients

• 8 oz penne pasta
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 6 garlic cloves, minced
• 1 small onion (about 4 oz) chopped
• 1 tsp red chili flakes
• 1 can (28 oz) whole San Marzano tomatoes
• 1 tsp oregano
• 1 tsp salt
• 10 large basil leaves, chopped
• 1/4 cup pasta water
• grated parmesan for topping (optional)
• extra basil for topping (optional)

How to Make Penne Arrabbiata

1. Cook the pasta according to package directions in salted water. Drain and set aside. Save 1/4 cup water.
2. In a large skillet, heat the oil on low heat. Then add the garlic, onions and chili flakes. Cook for 3-4 minutes until the onions have softened. 

3. Add in the tomatoes, oregano, salt and basil. Smash the tomatoes using a fork or a potato masher. This will release and combine the flavors together. Bring to a simmer and cook on low heat for about 25 minutes. Cover and make sure to mix often. 

4. Add in the cooked pasta and the reserved pasta water. Mix well. 

5. Serve in bowl and top with cheese, more chopped basil, more chili flakes if desired and a protein. Enjoy!

What to Serve with Penne Arrabbiata

Here’s some of my favorite appetizers/side dishes that would pair perfectly with this tomato-based pasta:

• Antipasto Pasta Salad
• Tuscan White Bean Soup
• Lemon Ricotta and Spinach Orzo
• Garlic Parmesan Bread

Check out my Instagram, Pinterest, and TikTok for more mouth watering content and recipe inspiration! Leave a comment below this post to share your feedback, I would greatly appreciate it!

Happy Cravings!