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Arrabbiata Sauce Recipe
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5 from 4 votes

Spicy Arrabbiata Sauce Recipe

This arrabbiata sauce recipe is a spicy Italian pasta sauce made with tomatoes, garlic, and red chili flakes, easy to make and adjust the spice level.
Prep Time10 minutes
Cook Time30 minutes
Course: Main Course, sauce
Cuisine: American, Italian
Keyword: chili flakes, tomato sauce
Servings: 6
Calories: 76kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 small onion chopped
  • 1-2 spicy peppers of choice chopped (optional, for extra spicy - I recommend Calabrian chili or Fresno pepper)
  • 4 cloves garlic crushed (or more to taste)
  • 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes or more to taste for extra spicy
  • 3 14- ounce cans diced tomatoes San Marzano tomatoes are great, though you can use others - see the recipe notes - add 1 more can for saucier arrabbiata sauce
  • 1 cup cherry tomatoes
  • Salt and cracked black pepper to taste
  • For Serving: Cooked pasta noodles, fresh chopped basil, extra red pepper flakes, extra virgin olive oil, grated parmesan or romano cheese

Instructions

  • Heat the olive oil in a large pan to medium heat.
  • Add the onion and peppers (if using peppers). Cook for 5 minutes to soften.
  • Add the garlic and crushed red pepper flakes. Stir and cook for 1 minute, or until fragrant.
  • Add the diced tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, and salt and pepper to taste. Stir, then reduce heat and simmer for 25 to 30 minutes, breaking apart the tomatoes as needed, until the tomato sauce has broken down and thickened to your preference.
  • Stir in the fresh chopped basil. Taste and adjust for salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Serve with pasta!

Notes

Calories estimated without pasta noodles.
Use an extra 14-ounce can of diced tomatoes or tomato sauce for extra saucy arrabbiata sauce.
Stir 1/4 to 1/2 cup of reserved pasta water from boiling your pasta into the sauce to loosen it up, if desired. The starches add flavor and add body to the sauce.
Optional Extras for Spicy Food Lovers. I enjoy adding hot soppressata to my pasta (added when I cook the onions and peppers), as well as hot sauce. Makes it extra spicy.

Nutrition

Calories: 76kcal | Carbohydrates: 8g | Protein: 2g | Fat: 5g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 3g | Sodium: 34mg | Potassium: 290mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 683IU | Vitamin C: 26mg | Calcium: 41mg | Iron: 1mg