Spicy Pasta Sauce Recipe (Easy Arrabbiata Sauce)

This spicy pasta sauce recipe is an easy tomato-based sauce made with olive oil, garlic, red pepper flakes, canned tomatoes, oregano, and fresh basil. It's bold, simple, and perfect for pasta, gnocchi, pizza, lasagna, or dipping warm bread. 

This easy arrabbiata-style sauce is one of those recipes that is lovely to have tucked away in the freezer. Grant and I often make a big batch and freeze it in portions for quick pasta nights. One of our favorite Friday night dinners is Italian meatball subs with our homemade Italian meatballs, this spicy tomato sauce, and lots of melted mozzarella.

This spicy red pasta sauce is made from scratch using pantry ingredients and a few fresh aromatics. It's rich, garlicky, a little fiery, and easy to adjust depending on how much heat you like.

Scroll down for step-by-step photos, helpful tips, and serving ideas!

Jump to:

• Why You'll Love This Spicy Pasta Sauce
• What Is Arrabbiata Sauce?
• Ingredients You'll Need
• Seasonality Note
• How to Make Spicy Pasta Sauce
• Substitutions, Flavor Variations or Add-Ins
• What to Serve with Spicy Pasta Sauce
• Best Wine Pairings
• Storage Instructions
• FAQ's
• More Pasta Recipes
• Spicy Pasta Sauce Recipe (Easy Arrabbiata Sauce)

Why You'll Love This Spicy Pasta Sauce

• Easy pantry recipe - Made with canned tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, herbs, and chili flakes.
• Adjust the heat - Use more or less chili flakes depending on how spicy you like it.
• Great for meal prep - Make a double batch and freeze it in portions for easy dinners.
• So versatile - Serve with pasta, gnocchi, meatballs, lasagna, pizza, or crusty bread.

What Is Arrabbiata Sauce?

Arrabbiata sauce is a spicy Italian tomato sauce made with olive oil, garlic, tomatoes, and dried chili flakes. The word arrabbiata means "angry" in Italian, which refers to the heat from the chili.

It is traditionally served with penne as penne all'arrabbiata, but this spicy pasta sauce also works beautifully with spaghetti, rigatoni, gnocchi, pizza, lasagna, meatballs, and warm bread for dipping.

Ingredients You'll Need

This spicy tomato pasta sauce is made with simple ingredients that build flavor as they cook.

• Extra virgin olive oil - Forms the base of the sauce and carries the flavor.
• Onions - Add sweetness and balance the tomatoes.
• Garlic - Gives the sauce its classic savory flavor.
• Fresh oregano - Adds Italian herb flavor (or use dried).
• Crushed red pepper flakes - Provide the heat.
• Canned whole peeled tomatoes - San Marzano tomatoes are lovely if you can find them, but any good-quality whole peeled tomatoes will work. Avoid chopped tomatoes, as they tend to be less flavorful and can affect the texture of the sauce. 
• Red wine vinegar - Brightens and balances the sauce.
• Salt and black pepper - For seasoning.
• Fresh basil - Stirred in at the end for freshness.

See the recipe card for quantities.

Seasonality Note

Because this spicy pasta sauce is made with canned tomatoes, it's a lovely year-round recipe.

In summer, you can make it with ripe fresh tomatoes if you have them in abundance. In fall and winter, it becomes one of those cozy pantry sauces that's easy to batch cook, freeze, and pull out for a quick weeknight dinner.

How to Make Spicy Pasta Sauce

Prep the tomatoes

Add the canned tomatoes (with their juice) to a blender or food processor and give them a quick blitz until slightly smooth but still rustic.

Chef's Tip: You don't want a completely silky sauce here. A little texture gives the sauce a lovely homemade feel.

Sauté the aromatics

Heat the olive oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium heat. Add the onions and cook for 6-8 minutes until soft and translucent.

Add the garlic, oregano, and chili flakes. Cook for 1-2 minutes until fragrant.

Chef's Tip: Let the chili flakes toast gently in the oil - this helps release their flavor without making the sauce harsh.

Add tomatoes

Pour in the blended tomatoes and stir well. Bring the sauce to a gentle simmer.

Cook uncovered for 30-40 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce has thickened and the flavors have developed.

Chef's Tip: Keep the sauce at a gentle bubble rather than a hard boil. This gives you a richer sauce and helps prevent the tomatoes from catching on the bottom of the pot.

Season

Stir in the red wine vinegar, then season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Taste and adjust the heat, salt, and acidity if needed.

Finish with basil and serve

Stir in the fresh basil just before serving.

Serve with your favorite pasta, gnocchi, meatballs, or use it as a base for other recipes.

Substitutions, Flavor Variations or Add-Ins

This spicy tomato pasta sauce is easy to adapt depending on what you have.

• Fresh tomatoes - Use ripe summer tomatoes instead of canned tomatoes. Peel them if you prefer a smoother sauce.
• Italian seasoning blend - Use 1-2 teaspoons of our homemade Italian seasoning blend instead of fresh or dried oregano.
• Creamy spicy pasta sauce - Add cream or mascarpone at the end for a richer pasta sauce.
• Extra vegetables - Add finely chopped carrots, celery, or roasted peppers with the onions.

What to Serve with Spicy Pasta Sauce

This spicy pasta sauce is so versatile. Use it anywhere you need a bold tomato sauce with a little heat.

• Pasta - Traditionally served with penne for penne all'arrabbiata, but it also works beautifully with spaghetti, rigatoni, fusilli, linguine, or orecchiette.
• Gnocchi - Serve with boiled gnocchi or baked gnocchi for a cozy dinner.
• Meatballs - Spoon over our Easy Italian Meatballs or use it for spicy meatball subs with mozzarella.
• Lasagna - Use it as a spicy red sauce for lasagna. Try it with our Mediterranean Vegetable Lasagna or Pesto Chicken and Zucchini Lasagna.
• Pizza sauce - Simmer until thick and spread over pizza dough.
• Dipping sauce - Serve warm with No Knead Focaccia, breadsticks, polenta fries, zucchini fries, or Cheesy Ciabatta Garlic Bread.

Best Wine Pairings

This spicy pasta sauce pairs best with wines that have good acidity and enough fruit to balance the heat.

• Chianti Classico - A classic Italian red with bright acidity that pairs well with tomato-based sauces.
• Montepulciano d'Abruzzo - Soft, juicy, and easy-drinking with pasta and herbs.
• Primitivo - A fuller red with ripe fruit that complements garlic, chili, and rich tomato sauce.
• Nero d'Avola - A bold Sicilian red that stands up to the heat.
• Dry Rosé - A lighter option, especially for summer or vegetable dishes.

Storage Instructions

Fridge: Store the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.

Freezer: This sauce freezes really well. We like to make a double batch and freeze it in 1 cup portions. It's easy to defrost quickly and turn into pasta for dinner in about 20 minutes.

Reheating: Reheat gently in a saucepan over medium-low heat, stirring occasionally, until warmed through. Add a splash of water or pasta water if the sauce has thickened too much.

Make Ahead: This sauce is a great make-ahead recipe. The flavor gets even better after a day in the fridge.

FAQ's

More Pasta Recipes

If you love easy Italian-inspired recipes, you may also like our:

• Easy Italian Meatballs in Tomato Sauce
• Lemon Ricotta Pasta
• Italian Lasagna with Bechamel Sauce
• Vegetarian Italian Pasta Salad
• Italian Chickpea Soup Recipe

This spicy pasta sauce recipe is everything we love about simple Italian-style cooking - good tomatoes, olive oil, garlic, herbs, and just enough chili to make it interesting.

Make a batch for pasta night, freeze a few portions for later, or use it for spicy meatball subs, gnocchi, pizza, and lasagna.

Give it a try and let us know in the comments how it turned out! Don't forget to Pin it for later or share it with a friend.

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The nutrition is an estimate only. It was calculated using Nutrifox, an online nutrition calculator.