Whip up this bright and easy spicy spaghetti arrabiata recipe in around 30 minutes. This simple pasta sauce delivers a clean, can-free sauce packed with the goodness of traditional Roman flavors.
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I love to serve this with my Caprese Tortellini Skewers and a glass of Pinot Grigio or an Aperol Gin Cocktail With Grapefruit to keep the Italian theme running.
The word “arrabiata” means “angry” in Italian and refers to the little kick from the red pepper flakes in this spicy tomato sauce. The spice level can be dialed back easily for a family-friendly version. For another spicy pasta, try my Cajun pasta with salmon or spicy shrimp pasta recipe next!
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Why You’ll Love Spaghetti Arrabiata
- Made with just a few fresh ingredients that balance beautifully together.
- Makes a clean spaghetti sauce, which is great if you want to control your dish's sodium and sugar levels.
- Can be whipped up in around 30 minutes, making it one of my favorite easy dinners for busy weeknights.
- Nutrient dense; this sauce is loaded with vitamins from the whole tomatoes and herbs. It's also free of animal products making this a vegan pasta sauce.
- Budget-friendly and made with accessible ingredients that can be picked up at any store.
- You can customize the spice level, depending on whom you’re making it for.
Ingredients
Good quality ingredients are key to making this spicy red sauce stand out.
- Roma tomatoes – a type of plum tomatoes. Their low water content and firm flesh make them a perfect tomato for sauce making. San Marzano tomatoes are a top choice if you can find them.
- Extra Virgin Olive oil – the peppery flavor of this oil is beautiful in this sauce; feel free to use avocado or another more neutral-tasting oil if you prefer. Regular olive oil is perfectly fine too.
- Red pepper flakes – bring the fire to this sauce. Both red chili flakes and red pepper flakes work well in this recipe.
- Basil – the perfect partner for crushed tomatoes. Dried basil has a lovely fragrant note that will brighten the taste of the sauce. You can add some fresh basil leaves to the sauce if you like.
- Oregano – layered into the sauce for a rich, herbaceous flavor. Dried oregano is really concentrated in flavor.
- Garlic cloves– balances the sweetness of the tomatoes by adding the rich taste that we all know and love!
What Is Spaghetti Arrabiata?
Spaghetti arrabiata is an authentic Italian spaghetti pasta dish with a spicy tomato sauce. Arrabiata sauce is made with meaty Roma tomatoes, aromatic herbs, fresh garlic, and red pepper flakes for a little spice.
In this homemade pasta sauce, the fresh tomatoes are roasted with olive oil and herbs, mashed up, and tossed in with the spaghetti.
I think you’ll love this classic Italian dish for its lip-smacking spicy flavors and as it’s quick and easy to whip up.
How To Make Spicy Spaghetti Arrabiata
Make arrabbiata sauce if you’re looking for an easy pasta recipe perfect for any pasta night. I love spicy food, so this is one of my favorite Italian recipes to cook. This is a crowd-pleaser, as everyone loves an irresistible steaming bowl of spaghetti!
Here are the simple steps to put together this delicious spicy spaghetti recipe:
Step 1: First, preheat your oven to 400°F. Add salt to a pot of boiling water for the pasta, and bring it to a boil.
Step 2: Next, in a mixing bowl, combine the oil, herbs, red chili flakes, spices, salt, black pepper, and garlic.
Step 3: Slice the fresh tomatoes in half, coat each in the oil mixture, and place them cut-side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour any leftover oil over the tomatoes. Place the tomatoes in the oven and roast them for 30 minutes or until softened.
Step 4: While the tomatoes are in the oven, cook the spaghetti in a pot of water according to the package instructions—Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water for later. Drain the rest of the water and set the spaghetti aside.
Step 5: Add the cooked tomatoes, excess oil, and reserved pasta water to a large mixing bowl. Smash the tomatoes using a potato masher (or a fork or food processor) until they become tomato puree. Check the seasoning and adjust if necessary.
Step 6: Add the sauce to the cooked spaghetti and toss them together to serve. Serve with fresh parmesan cheese, if desired.
Pro Tips
- Salt your pasta water well; it should be as salty as seawater.
- Don’t overcook the pasta; al dente pasta will have a little bite left in it.
- Use a rimmed baking sheet to keep the juices in the pan.
- If your pasta sauce tastes a little too tart, add a sprinkle of sugar.
- For a flavorful sauce, shop for the ripest reddest tomatoes you can find.
- Dial the heat level up and down by adjusting the amount of chili or red chili flakes you use.
Swaps & Substitutions
- Use your pasta of choice, if you prefer; this sauce will cling beautifully to penne, tagliatelle, or linguine.
- Add a little crispy bacon, shrimp, or meatballs to your pasta sauce for protein.
- Play around with the spice level by increasing or decreasing the number of chili flakes you use.
- Serve this spicy pasta with a bit of grated parmesan cheese.
- Use fresh basil leaves instead of dried ones if you prefer; add fresh herbs at the end so that they don’t turn black in the oven.
Recipe FAQs
While both are tomato-based, arrabiata sauce is spicier than marinara as it is made with chili or pepper flakes. Arrabiata sauce is similar to a spicy marinara sauce.
Yes, you can free your tomato sauce in an airtight container for up to three months.
Adding a little of the starchy pasta water to the sauce will help it thicken up a little.
Yes, as none of the ingredients are animal-product based, it is a totally vegan dish.
By adding fewer or no chili or red pepper flakes.
Storage
This spicy spaghetti sauce will keep in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Allow it to cool completely before packing it into an air-tight container.
You can reheat the leftovers in a pan on the stove, on a low heat, or in the microwave.
The sauce can also be stored in the freezer for up to 3 months.
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If you try this recipe or any recipe from Happy Honey Kitchen, please rate the recipe and leave a comment below! Enjoy!
Spicy Spaghetti Arrabiata
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Equipment
- Large pot for cooking spaghetti
- Sheet Pan
Ingredients
- ½ lb. spaghetti reserve ¼ cup of pasta water
- 2 lbs. whole Roma tomatoes 6-8 tomatoes
- ½ cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 cloves garlic minced
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon basil dried
- 1 teaspoon oregano dried
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400°F. Add salt to a pot of boiling water for the pasta, and bring it to a boil.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the oil, herbs, red chili flakes, spices, salt, black pepper, and garlic.
- Slice the tomatoes in half, coat each in the oil mixture, and place them cut-side up on a rimmed baking sheet. Pour any leftover oil over the tomatoes. Place the tomatoes in the oven and roast them for 30 minutes or until softened.
- While the tomatoes are in the oven, cook spaghetti in a pot of water according to the package instructions. Reserve ¼ cup of the pasta water for later. Drain the rest of the water and set the spaghetti aside.
- Add the cooked tomatoes, excess oil, and reserved pasta water to a large mixing bowl. Smash the tomatoes using a potato masher until they become crushed tomato sauce. Check the seasoning and adjust if necessary.
- Add the sauce to the cooked spaghetti and toss to combine. Serve with fresh parmesan cheese, if desired.
Notes
- You can customize the spice level by using more or less of the red pepper flakes.
- Use a rimmed baking sheet to keep the juices in the pan.
- If you don't have a potato masher, you can use a fork, hand blender, or food processor to crush the tomatoes.
- Add a little crispy bacon, shrimp, or meatballs to your pasta sauce for protein.
Beverly
This is so good! My family loved the change up from our normal pasta sauces.
Anonymous
Adding balsamic vinegar and feta to this is awesome!!