Penne Arrabbiata is a traditional Italian spicy sauce pasta made w/ garlic, tomatoes & chili peppers cooked in olive oil, try it with shrimp
When you are in need for a quick and easy weeknight meal, pasta is always a good option. My Arrabiata Pasta with Shrimp recipe is ready in less than half an hour and is packed full of flavor. Made with penne pasta, shrimp is cooked in a delicious garlic sauce that the whole family will love.
This post is sponsored by Walmart and SheKnows Media. As always, all opinions are my own.
When I was 11 years old and moved to the U.S. I remember going to an Italian restaurant and seeing Arrabiata Pasta on the menu, and I thought oh cool, I’m Arab I’ll order the Arrabiata pasta. Ummm…that’s not an arabic-style pasta, it’s a spicy-style pasta! I learned a very hot lesson! After that, I learned that Arrabiata is actually an Italian word that means “angry,” which is a reference to the spiciness of the sauce! Yowzers!
What is in spicy arrabiata sauce?
The basic ingredients to make the spicy pasta sauce are garlic, tomatoes and dried red chili peppers and they are cooked in olive oil. It’s a rich and flavorful sauce for pasta and is quick and easy to make.
I recreated the recipe this week with a shortcut by using the new Sam’s Choice Italia Roasted Garlic Pasta Sauce. It’s actually made by hand in Italy and imported to the U.S. just for Walmart. The other wow factor is that it uses 100% Italian olive oil and fresh Italian cherry tomatoes. I did not feel one bit guilty about this convenient short-cut. It may even be better than making my own sauce!
How to make Arrabiata Pasta with Shrimp
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to the pan, season with salt and black pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until shrimp is opaque, transfer to a bowl.
- Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
- Add the garlic pasta sauce and basil, season with salt and pepper and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the Sam’s Choice Italia penne pasta until al dente.
- Add the pasta to the cooked sauce and stir in the shrimp. Toss to combine.
What I love about this pasta is that it’s bronze cut quality, and I didn’t know what that meant until I researched it – it means the sauce will stick better to the pasta. Can I just say what a difference that makes with the flavor? Yes, all the difference!
This is such an authentic tasting pasta sauce that it’s best to keep the recipe pure and simple to really enjoy the flavors.
But that doesn’t mean leaving out the Parmesan cheese.
Never.
Arrabiata Pasta, you may have misled me that one fine day when I was a curious 11-year old at my first Italian restaurant, but we’re friends now. In fact, you are the tastiest angriest pasta ever!
Top tips to make this recipe
- Don’t overcook the shrimp. They cook quickly and only need 2-3 minutes each side. If you over cook them, they can become tough and rubbery.
- Salt the water you will be cooking the penne in generously. This will help to add flavor to the dish right from the start.
- Cook the penne pasta al-dente. The pasta will continue cooking when you add it back to the sauce.
- If you like your pasta spicy, add a few more chili flakes. Similarly, if you prefer your food a little less spicy, then you can reduce the amount of chili flakes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Penne is for sure my favorite pasta to use in arrabiata, but you can try any you like! Make sure that it’s bronze cut, as it really makes a difference! It’s best to use pasta with a large surface area so that it captures all of the yummy arrabiata sauce.
Arrabiata and marinara are both tomato based sauces, but arrabiata has added chili for an extra spicy hit! Remember, arrabiata isn’t just for pasta, it’s great on meatballs or as a sauce to spread on your pizza base too!
I like to cook up a big batch of the sauce and just grab it when I need a really quick weeknight meal. Once the sauce is cooked, let it cool and transfer it to an airtight container and store in the fridge and it will be good for about 4 to 5 days. The sauce also freezes well, just thaw it at room temperature and reheat on the stovetop.
For more pasta recipes:
- Easy Baked Spaghetti
- Spaghetti with Meatballs
- Spaghetti Squash Lasagna Boats
- Baked Pasta with Ground Turkey
- Healthy Shrimp Scampi
- Garlic Lemon Tuna Pasta
Thank you Walmart for sponsoring this post!
This flavorful pasta arrabiata is such a tasty weeknight meal, and it was a hit with the whole family! The sauce was so flavorful, you would never think it wasn’t fresh!
If you’ve tried this healthy-ish feel good Arrabiata Pasta with Shrimp recipe or any other recipe on FeelGoodFoodie, then don’t forget to rate the recipe and leave me a comment below! I would love to hear about your experience making it. And if you snapped some shots of it, share it with me on Instagram so I can repost on my stories!
Arrabiata Pasta with Shrimp
Ingredients
- 3 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined
- 4 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
- 24 oz garlic pasta sauce I used Sam’s Choice Italia
- 1/4 cup fresh basil roughly chopped
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- 8 oz penne pasta I used Sam’s Choice Italia
- Parmesan cheese for serving
- Basil for serving
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Add the shrimp to the pan, season with salt and black pepper, and cook for 2-3 minutes per side until shrimp is opaque, transfer to a bowl.
- Heat remaining 2 tablespoons of the olive oil in the same skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and red pepper flakes and cook, stirring, until fragrant, 1-2 minutes.
- Add the garlic pasta sauce and basil, season with salt and pepper and cook for 20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Bring a pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente.
- Add the pasta to the cooked sauce and stir in the shrimp. Toss to combine.
- Serve with grated Parmesan cheese and fresh basil, if desired.
Notes
- Preparation: The arrabbiata sauce can be made up to 3 days ahead and refrigerated in an airtight container. Or it can be frozen for up to 1 month.
- Storage: Refrigerate any leftover pasta in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
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Nutrition: Please note that the nutrition label provided is an estimate based on an online nutrition calculator. It will vary based on the specific ingredients you use.
