Italian arrabbiata sauce is a flavorful tomato-based sauce with a spicy kick from the addition of plenty of crushed red pepper flakes! It's a fantastic sauce to use with so many dishes - or to take your spaghetti night to the next level! It's simple to make and oh-so delicious!
Spicy Italian Sugo all'Arrabbiata Recipe
If there’s one thing everyone can agree on, it’s the fact that pasta is delicious. Spaghetti night is always a family favorite at my house.
And while there are many ways to enjoy it, I love the spicy twist on a classic tomato sauce that makes arrabbiata sauce, also known as sugo all’arrabbiata, unique.
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🥘 Arrabbiata Sauce Ingredients, Notes, & Substitutions
While you’re likely to have many of these ingredients, you may need to pick up a few things. If they’re in season, fresh herbs make this even better!
- 2 tablespoons Olive Oil - All olive oil is different. For best results, find a great extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) you really love the flavor of!
- ¼ cup Yellow Onion - Sauteing these will make your whole house smell amazing!
- 1 tablespoon Garlic - Garlic is a staple of many cuisines, but especially Italian.
- ¼ teaspoon each, Salt & Pepper - Start with the listed amount, but add as much as you’d like for the flavor you desire.
- 1 tablespoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes - I love adding a little kick. Add more if you like it extra spicy!
- 2 tablespoons Tomato Paste - The best way to store the inevitably extra tomato paste is in the smallest container possible or a plastic bag in the fridge, eliminating extra air.
- 3 ½ cups Tomatoes - You’ll need whole, peeled sweet tomatoes, preferably San Marzano.
- 2 cups (1-16 ounce can) Crushed Tomatoes - No need to drain these!
- ¼ cup Fresh Basil - Basil is sweet and flavorful, blending well with most Italian food.
- 2 tablespoons Fresh Oregano - Oregano always reminds me of pizza, but it can go on anything!
*Be sure to see the free printable recipe card below for ingredients, exact amounts & instructions with tips!*
🧂 Substitutions
Not everyone has access to fresh herbs all year long. It’s absolutely OK to use dried, but you’ll need to reduce the amount.
Dried Basil - Replace ¼ cup chopped, fresh basil with 4 teaspoons dried.
Dried Oregano - Substitute 2 teaspoons of dried oregano for 2 tablespoons of freshly chopped.
🔪 How To Make Arrabbiata Sauce
There are no special tools for this delicious sauce. Just pull out a large saucepan or pot to put everything in and a wooden spoon for stirring.
Step 1: Start by heating the oil. Pour 2 tablespoons (30 milliliters) of extra virgin olive oil into a large saucepan or pot and bring it to a simmer over medium heat. Carefully drop in 1⁄4 cup (40 grams) of diced yellow onion and saute for 4 to 5 minutes. The onions should be translucent.
Step 2: Add garlic, seasonings, and paste. When the onions are ready, add 1 tablespoon (8 grams) of minced garlic, 1⁄4 teaspoon (1.5 grams) of both salt and pepper (to taste), and 1 tablespoon (8 grams) of crushed red pepper flakes. Saute for about 1 minute. Mix in 2 tablespoons (32 grams) of tomato paste. Keep stirring for about 2 minutes or until the paste turns a deep red color.
Step 3: Transfer tomatoes and simmer. Move 3½ cups (521.5 grams) of peeled tomatoes to the pan and break them apart, crushing slightly, with a wooden spoon while they cook. Then add 2 cups (484 grams) of crushed tomatoes, juice and all. Reduce heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 20 to 25 minutes.
Step 4: Mix in the herbs. When you’re done cooking down the tomatoes, add in ¼ cup (6 grams) of chopped, fresh basil and 2 tablespoons (10 grams) of chopped, fresh oregano. Stir them in and simmer for another 10 to 15 minutes. The longer you cook it, the thicker the sauce will become, so time it according to your preferences. Add salt and pepper as needed and remove from the heat to cool before serving.
Serve arrabbiata sauce on your favorite pasta topped with a bit of Parmesan or mixed into a holiday Frutti Di Mare! Maybe have some garlic bread to dip into the arrabbiata sauce. You can also garnish with a couple of leaves of fresh basil.
🙂 😀 Testimonials
I love this recipe and probably make it once a week! It's so easy, delicious, and versatile!
Courtney from Washington
💭 Angela's Pro Tips & Recipe Notes
- If you accidentally overdo it on the spicy red peppers, add tomatoes. Tomatoes are neutral and will help dilute the spice. They will need to be cooked down in order to blend with the rest of the sauce. Or, if you’re in a time crunch, just add a bit of plain tomato sauce. It will work to the same effect. Read my post on how to fix too much pepper.
- To thicken your sauce, simmer it longer. It’s very difficult–if not impossible–to overcook this sauce. As long as you're simmering it over low heat, adding cook time will only aid in thickening it and developing the flavor.
- Arrabbiata sauce can be used for more than just pasta! Try spreading it on a meatball sub with mozzarella. Use it as a dipping sauce for toasted ravioli or mozzarella sticks. Make pizza bread. Be creative! It’s a very versatile sauce.
🥡 Storing & Reheating
Arrabbiata sauce will stay good for three to five days in the fridge. Cool it completely before storing it in an airtight container.
To freeze, put it in an airtight container with enough space for expansion. It will get bigger when it freezes. For individual or smaller portions, store in freezer bags laid flat with excess air squeezed out.
Keeping them flat will make them easier to stack when they become solid. Eat at any point in the next 3 months for the best flavor.
Reheating Arrabbiata Sauce
To thaw, let the frozen sauce sit in the fridge overnight. If you’re short on time, you can put the sealed container in a large bowl of cool water for 30 to 40 minutes, depending on the amount of sauce.
When thawed, pour it into a saucepan and heat on medium-low heat until it reaches the desired temperature.
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❓ Recipe FAQs
These plum tomatoes are a special variety. They’re a bit longer and thinner than the ones in the grocery store and are picked specifically for their balanced flavor. San Marzano tomatoes combine that sweet, tomato taste with the perfect amount of acidity.
Plus, they have fewer seeds and break down well when cooked for sauces. While they were originally grown in the volcanic soil of southern Italy, they are now more widely farmed. You can even grow them in your own garden!
The mindset behind Italian cooking is that using fresher, higher-quality ingredients will lead to a fresher, higher-quality meal. From finding a good olive oil to buying fresh garlic, your ingredients make a difference.
Fresh garlic will definitely add more flavor to your arrabbiata sauce, but if you’re in a pinch, you can try out the powdered version.
This sauce does have some spice to it, but only the perfect amount! The beauty of arrabbiata lies in its spiciness, which can be adjusted to suit your preference.
For a milder sauce, reduce the red pepper flakes or add a touch of honey to balance the heat. You could also try my classic marinara sauce for a spice-free variation!
I'm curious to know how you like your arrabbiata – mild, fiery, or somewhere in between? If you've added your own special touch to this classic sauce, share your variations in the comments!
😋 Italian Favorite Recipes
- Baked Italian Meatballs - Flavorful meatballs that can be enjoyed on their own or added to your favorite dishes.
- Spaghetti Bolognese - A classic spaghetti dish that is loved by both kids and adults alike.
- Garlic Parmesan Angel Hair Pasta - Thin angel hair pasta is tossed in a creamy garlic Parmesan sauce.
- Air Fryer Garlic Bread - Tasty garlic bread that is made right in your air fryer.
- Lasagna - A traditional Italian recipe that features layers of lasagna noodles, cheese, and sauce.
- Italian Chicken Pastina Soup - An Italian version of chicken noodle soup.
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📖 Recipe Card
Arrabbiata Sauce (Sugo all'Arrabbiata)
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoon olive oil (extra virgin)
- ¼ cup yellow onion (finely diced)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (finely minced)
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 1 tablespoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 tablespoon tomato paste
- 3 ½ cups tomatoes (whole, peeled, San Marzano sweet tomatoes are preferred)
- 2 cups crushed tomatoes (16 ounce can, do not drain)
- ¼ cup basil (chopped fresh basil leaves, or use 4 teaspoons dried basil)
- 2 tablespoon oregano (chopped fresh oregano, or use 2 teaspoons dried oregano)
(Note: 2x or 3x only changes the ingredient list)
Instructions
- Heat a large pot with the olive oil to medium. Once the oil begins to shimmer, add the diced onion and saute for 4-5 minutes or until translucent.
- Add the minced garlic, salt & pepper, and crushed red pepper flakes and continue sauteing for a minute. Stir the tomato paste into the sauteed onion and garlic and continue to stir until the paste turns a deeper red color, about 2 minutes.
- Transfer peeled tomatoes into the pan, then crush and break them apart as they cook using a wooden spoon or spatula. Add in the crushed tomatoes, stir, and reduce heat to medium-low. Simmer uncovered for 20-25 minutes.
- Stir in the herbs (basil and oregano) and continue simmering for an additional 10-15 minutes or until the sauce thickens to your desired consistency. Taste and adjust salt and pepper as needed, then remove from heat and allow to cool.
Notes
- If you accidentally overdo it on the spicy red peppers, add tomatoes. Tomatoes are neutral and will help dilute the spice. They will need to be cooked down in order to blend with the rest of the sauce. Or, if you’re in a time crunch, just add a bit of plain tomato sauce. It will work to the same effect. Read my post on how to fix too much pepper.
- To thicken your sauce, simmer it longer. It’s very difficult–if not impossible–to overcook this sauce. As long as you're simmering it over low heat, adding cook time will only aid in thickening it and developing the flavor.
- Arrabbiata sauce can be used for more than just pasta! Try spreading it on a meatball sub with mozzarella. Use it as a dipping sauce for toasted ravioli or mozzarella sticks. Make pizza bread. Be creative! It’s a very versatile sauce.
Kim says
I was skeptical that this sauce would have enough flavor, but it was amazing! Light and flavorful, it was perfect with the fruitti de mare, and I look forward to trying it with other Italian dishes.
halina says
Przepis super na pewno zrobię
"Great recipe for sure"
Mario Valente says
Du piments en flocons ?! Quelle horreur ! Pour cette recette, il vous faut plutôt 2 piments oiseaux hachés finements pour une vraie Arrabiatta. Le reste de la recette est correct... mais elle ne mentionne pas le persil qui est essentiel. Mais qui a élaboré cette recette ?