Homemade Penne Arrabbiata: Authentic Italian Spicy Pasta Recipe

Penne arrabbiata is a classic Italian spicy pasta dish. Learn how delicious, yet quick and easy it is to make in the authentic Italian way!

One of the things that frustrates me the most with Italian food in America is the misconception of what is actually termed “Italian food”. 

DISCLOSURES: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. The tomatoes were provided courtesy of the Consorzio di Tutela del Pomodoro San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP and ANICAV, however, I did not receive any compensation.

If you think that Olive Garden and other similar chain restaurants serve Italian food, you are sorely mistaken. I hesitate to even call it “Italian-American” food as most of their dishes are untraceable to anything that is actually Italian.

The Importance of Quality Ingredients

One of the biggest mistakes made when cooking an Italian recipe is not using top quality ingredients (and this does not mean the most expensive ingredients). I’ve written many posts which detail how and why it is crucial to have the best ingredients which will give you the optimal results with your dish. For example, my fish and tomato pasta recipe where I discuss using really good tomatoes.

Well, today I’d like to introduce you to the “cream of the crop” of really good tomatoes! I’m doing this on the suspicion that many of you may never have even heard of them before. It may seem daunting to read the name of these tomatoes, but if you remember it-it will afford you many benefits!

Are all San Marzano Tomatoes Created Equally?

The short answer is, no. In order to find the best San Marzano tomatoes that I am discussing with you now, you will need to look for the following words: dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino, DOP.  This is the “stamp of approval”, for lack of a better term, that you are buying the authentic and real product. These tomatoes are grown in a very specific area, “exclusively for the can cultivated in the 41 towns situated within the volcanic-rich production area of Agro Sarnese-Nocerino near Naples, Italy. They are the only cans that can use the DOP label” which assures its quality to you. The cans will always say, “pomodori pelati Italiani” which simply means “Italian peeled tomatoes”.

You can read more detailed information about these special tomatoes on the ilovesanmarzanodop.com website.

They’re fabulous for make this authentic Italian quick tomato sauce, too.

Or this Italian spaghetti sauce with meat (a nice sugo)!

“The true essence of just-harvested tomatoes picked under the European Mediterranean sun, a tomato
with the most beautiful fragrance, flavor and shade of red, with an elongated cylindrical shape – grown specifically for the can. Being the king of tomatoes, the Pomodoro San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP is fit for a king but accessible to all!”

If you’re going to make a classic Italian dish like penne arrabbiata, you don’t want to end up with something that tastes awful because you didn’t bother to use sweet tasting and non-acidic tomatoes. As I have said in past posts: if you want to do your own taste test, dip your finger into the tomatoes and taste them. 

If you make a face because they’re so sour and acidic, your dish will taste that way, too. However, if you were to try the Pomodoro San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP, guaranteed there will be no sour faces! EDITED: I forget that many people always add sugar to their tomato sauce. As Frank from Memorie di Angelina pointed out in the comments: there’s no need to add sugar to tomatoes when they are naturally sweet! 😍 Pomodoro San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino, DOP are easy to find online and at your local Italian market or deli.

Tips for Making this Recipe & Frequently Asked Questions

What is Penne Arrabbiata?

Penne in Italian means feathers, and if you know what a quill pen looks like, you’ll understand why this shape of pasta is named after them. It’s basically a quick and easy to make, spicy pasta dish.

Why is this dish called Arrabbiata?

Arrabbiata means angry in Italian, so this “angry pasta” is named because it’s spicy and hot!

Is Arrabbiata Sauce Spicy?

Yes, it is spicy, but don’t be put off by its name because you can make it as angry or spicy as you like! A little spicy pepper or a lot, either way or in between is delicious! If you don’t have fresh, use dried pepper flakes like this.

Can I adjust the spice level of the dish?

Absolutely, as noted above, you can make it mild to super hot. I used one of these cayenne peppers that I grew as they are quite spicy, however if you like, you can remove the seeds (which makes the dish less spicy). Love the heat? Add more! I would try to stick to cayenne or super chilis as using jalapenos, Scotch bonnet or other hot peppers will impart a very different flavor that isn’t normally used in penne arrabbiata. FYI, in Italy, you’ll see penne all’arrabbiata on menus as that’s what it’s actually called. I have to use the “penne arrabbiata” term so that US readers will find this recipe. 

How do you Make Penne Arrabbiata?

The sauce is the spicy part of penne arrabbiata, and it’s super quick and easy to make. In fact, the sauce will be ready before the pasta is finished cooking! 

What’s the difference between Arrabbiata sauce and traditional red sauce?

Truly, the only difference is the spiciness, but make sure you use an authentic Italian recipe for either sauce.

What is the difference between arrabbiata and amatriciana?

Arrabbiata pasta is vegetarian, whilst Amatriciana is not. The latter requires guanciale (cured pork cheek) and a hard, grating sheep cheese from Amatrice. Although Pecorino Romano can be used in its place.

How to Make this Authentic Italian
Penne Arrabbiata Recipe

recipe by Christina Conte (this is how my family and most Italians make this dish)        serves 5

FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW

What You’ll Need

Large pot, sauté pan, pasta fork.

Ingredients

• pasta
• salt
• extra virgin olive oil
• garlic
• cayenne peppers
• Italian parsley
• good quality tomatoes
• Italian basil leaves

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

Boil a big pot of salted water and start cooking your penne (use a good quality pasta like De Cecco or Rustichella d’Abruzzo, not Barilla if it’s made in the US). Don’t forget to keep stirring it whilst making the sauce.

Step 2: Make the Arrabbiata Sauce

In a large sautè pan, heat the oil over medium heat then add the garlic, chopped, fresh cayenne pepper (or dried flakes) and chopped parsley (you can also use dried parsley).

Purée the San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP for a smooth sauce (I use an immersion blender right in the can-just don’t lift it up while processing). When the garlic starts to turn a golden color, turn up the heat and add the tomatoes (have a lid ready) and continue to cook over high heat, removing the lid once the sauce is simmering. 

Don’t simmer the sauce too slowly though as it needs to cook quickly; adjust the heat as needed. Add salt.

Stir often and taste, adding more salt if necessary. Once the sauce is cooked, thickened and tastes good (you’ll be shocked at just how good it tastes), remove from the heat and add fresh basil leaves.

Step 3: Add the Pasta to the Arrabbiata Sauce

Step 4: Drain the Pasta

When the pasta is al dente (still a little hard in the middle, but not crunchy), turn off the heat. There are two ways to drain the pasta: CHOOSE ONE!

1. With slotted spoon or tool like in the photo above (my Nonna’s ❤️) drain the pasta and add directly to the pan with the arrabbiata sauce.
2. Save a cup of pasta water and set it aside before draining the pasta in a colander. Then add the pasta to the sauce in the pan. 

Stir the pasta and sauce together until well mixed (over the burner which will still be hot, or you can turn it on very low). If you used method #2, you will more than likely find your pasta is too dry; add some of the reserved pasta water.

DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO PUT THE NAKED PASTA ON A PLATE OR BOWL AND DUMP SAUCE ON TOP!

Pasta served this way tastes completely different, in a bad way. Trust me on this, but if you don’t believe me, do a side by side taste test using the exact same pasta and sauce. Okay? Told you so! 

Step 5: Plate & Serve the Penne Arrabbiata

You can serve the pasta on a plate, but serving it in a bowl (like the one in my photos) keeps the pasta hotter, longer. Add chopped parsley, or basil leaves, and serve with another hot pepper if you want more spiciness. You can also top with some real Parmigiano Reggiano. Don’t use any product called “parmesan cheese” as it’s  fake and will ruin the work of art you just created!

Now, all that is left to do is to enjoy this incredibly delicious authentic Italian pasta! Have some fresh, crusty bread nearby to do “la scarpetta” at the end (wiping the empty plate with bread)! Your taste buds will appreciate the effort you took to source good quality ingredients, especially the Pomodoro San Marzano dell’Agro Sarnese-Nocerino, DOP! Buon appetito! 

Italian Insider Recipe Idea: Penne Arrabbiata alla Vodka!

Love penne arrabbiata and penne alla vodka? You don’t have to choose! This recipe is made just like penne alla vodka (with the exception of pancetta in my recipe), so just follow my Zia Francesca’s penne alla vodka recipe, but add some cayenne peppers at the beginning and you’ll have the best of both worlds: delizioso!

Continue to Content

Penne Arrabbiata (Authentic Italian Spicy Pasta Recipe)

Yield: 5

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 13 minutes

Total Time: 18 minutes

An authentic Italian spicy pasta recipe made in under 20 minutes.

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Ingredients

• 1 lb Italian penne pasta (good quality Italian made pasta)
• 5 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (like Lucini)
• 3 or 4 large cloves of fresh garlic
• 1 or 2 fresh cayenne peppers (remove the seeds if you think it will be too spicy for you) or dried flakes
• 1 Tbsp chopped, fresh or dried Italian parsley
• 24 oz can Pomodoro San Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese-Nocerino (tomatoes)
• 2 tsp Kosher salt (more or less to taste, but this is for the sauce, you'll need lots more to salt the pasta water)

Instructions

Start Cooking the Pasta.

1. Boil a big pot of salted water and start cooking your penne (use a good quality pasta like De Cecco or Rustichella d'Abruzzo, not Barilla if it's made in the US).
2. Don't forget to keep stirring it whilst making the sauce.

Make the Arrabbiata Sauce

1. In a large sautè pan, heat the oil over medium heat then add the garlic, cayenne pepper and chopped parsley.
2. Purée the San Marzano dell'Agro Sarnese-Nocerino DOP for a smooth sauce (I use an immersion blender right in the can-just don't lift it up while processing).
3. When the garlic starts to turn a golden color, turn up the heat and add the tomatoes (have a lid ready) and continue to cook over high heat, removing the lid once the sauce is simmering. 
4. Don't simmer the sauce too slowly though as it needs to cook quickly; adjust the heat as needed. Add salt.
5. Stir often and taste, adding more salt if necessary. Once the sauce is cooked, thickened and tastes good (you'll be shocked at just how good it tastes), remove from the heat and add fresh basil leaves.

Add the Pasta to the Sauce.

When the pasta is al dente (still a little hard in the middle, but not crunchy), turn off the heat. There are two ways to drain the pasta: CHOOSE ONE!

1. With slotted spoon or tool like in the photo above (my Nonna's ❤️) drain the pasta and add directly to the pan with the arrabbiata sauce.
2. Save a cup of pasta water and set it aside before draining the pasta in a colander. Then add the pasta to the sauce in the pan. 

Stir the pasta and sauce together until well mixed (over the burner which will still be hot, or you can turn it on very low). If you used method #2, you will more than likely find your pasta is too dry; add some of the reserved pasta water.

DO NOT BE TEMPTED TO PUT THE NAKED PASTA ON A PLATE OR BOWL AND DUMP SAUCE ON TOP!

Pasta served this way tastes completely different, in a bad way. Trust me on this, but if you don't believe me, do a side by side taste test using the exact same pasta and sauce. Okay? Told you so! 

Serve the Penne Arrabbiata.

1. You can serve the pasta on a plate, but serving it in a bowl (like the one in my photos) keeps the pasta hotter, longer. Add chopped parsley and serve with another hot pepper if you need more heat!
2. Now, all that is left to do is to enjoy this incredibly delicious authentic Italian pasta! Have some fresh, crusty bread nearby to do "la scarpetta" at the end (wiping the empty plate with bread)! Buon appetito!

Christina Conte

Notes

FYI: Substituting inferior ingredients will give you inferior results.

Nutrition Information:

Yield: 5 Serving Size: 1
Amount Per Serving:Calories: 293Total Fat: 15gSaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 12gCholesterol: 0mgSodium: 942mgCarbohydrates: 35gFiber: 4gSugar: 4gProtein: 7g

Nutrition information is only an estimate.

Did you make this recipe?

Please leave a review by clicking on the 5 stars above, in the purple header (a form will appear) or tag me on Instagram! 😍

Christina’s Cucina is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. See disclosure at the top of the post for the tomato cans.