This spicy rigatoni arrabbiata pasta sauce is bold & fresh made with olive oil, fresh/canned tomatoes, garlic, basil, and chili flakes! Ready in 30 minutes, this easy vegetarian sauce is a great addition to your next pasta night.
Arrabbiata is a simple tomato sauce with a bit of heat, perfect for smothering thick rigatoni pasta in! Serve this spicy rigatoni arrabbiata with easy homemade garlic knots, thick sourdough garlic bread, or a fresh side salad with avocado and tomatoes.
Put a little spice in your next pasta night, with this amazing (and simple) rigatoni arrabbiata pasta! Made with just a few simple ingredients this sauce is easy to make and brings a ton of flavor to the table. Between the olive oil, basil, garlic, and chili flakes, this sauce has it all.
The word arrabbiata means “angry” in Italian. This spicy pasta sauce is perfect when you want a bold sauce that pairs well a thick pasta like rigatoni. It’s vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and packed with lots of veggies and good nutrients (you can read all about the health benefits of tomatoes here and olive oil here).
This Spicy Rigatoni Arrabbiata Recipe Is:
- Hot
- Bright
- Loaded with Flavor
- Garlicky
- Simple
- Versatile
- Vegan, Vegetarian, Gluten Free, and SO good!
Simple Spicy Rigatoni Pasta Recipes
This rigatoni arrabbiata pasta is the tastiest, freshest dinner recipe. It’s perfect for a hearty meal for the family, and also great to make for company if you are having guests for dinner.
It makes a great holiday pasta dish as well – a simple plant-based recipe to serve with a salad and garlic bread. It takes only 30 minutes to cook, so you can enjoy extra time to prep sides or a salad. Browse all our easy pasta recipes here!
What’s In This Spicy Rigatoni Pasta Sauce with Chili Flakes Recipe?
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- Rigatoni Pasta – I love the thick ridged rigatoni surface – it allows the sauce to stick to every inch!
- San Marzano Diced Tomatoes – an essential in any good tomato sauce is getting the best quality canned tomatoes you can find! I always use San Marzano tomatoes for sauces, especially in dishes where tomatoes are the star.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: I like to use this fruity olive oil which has a fantastic flavor and deep color- it’s inexpensive & like to keep a few liters stocked up in my pantry. For the quality of oil you get, it’s an excellent value.
- Garlic
- Red Chili Pepper Flakes: for a little heat! This is what gives this rigatoni arrabbiata it’s signature flavor.
- Fresh Basil
- Pink Himalayan Sea Salt: I like to use a pink Himalayan Sea Salt in my kitchen, which has more natural minerals than plain processed table salt. It’s inexpensive, so I’d recommend this salt if you’re looking for an easy way to level up your spice pantry.
- Tellicherry Peppercorns: It’s amazing the flavor difference you can get with really good black pepper. I like these tellicherry peppercorn which is the same price is buying pre-ground, and has exponentially more flavor.
One of the Best Vegetarian Italian Pasta Recipes
This spicy rigatoni arrabbiata sauce is fantastic plant-based Italian recipe that everyone will love. It’s loaded with fresh vegetables, herbs, spices, and good olive oil. It’s a great way to get some extra vegetables onto the table too!
You can see all my Italian Recipes here for more fresh & delicious dinner ideas. From sauces to garlic bread, pastas to soups, Mangia!
How Do I Make This Spicy Rigatoni with Arrabbiata Sauce?
- Cook rigatoni according to package instructions. Drain, toss with olive oil, and set aside.
- In a large pot, add 4 tablespoons of olive oil and begin by sautéing the garlic and onions over low heat. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes until edges begin to brown.
- Add the diced tomatoes to the pot, including adding canning liquid/sauce as well. Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes. Add basil, salt, and pepper. Stir until all ingredients are well combined. Simmer on low for 20 minutes.
- When the sauce is finished cooking, add the sauce over cooked rigatoni, and garnish with extra basil and pepper flakes. Mangia!
Watch my quick YouTube video on how it’s made:
Make Spicy Arrabbiata Sauce Vegetarian for a Healthy Version
This vegetarian arrabbiata rigatoni pasta is a simple way to get extra veggies in your diet. I’m all about making recipes plant-based when I can. Vegetarian cooking does NOT have to be bland, boring, or flavorless… It’s quite the opposite when done right.
By building meals around vegetarian pantry staples and swapping in a few plant-based ingredients you can make healthier meals for you and your family. I made a list of my 125 favorite vegan pantry ingredients that we use on a weekly basis, and check out all my vegetarian recipes here that are on The Herbeevore. These easy and healthy recipes are fantastic meatless meals for your table.
More Bold Pasta Sauce Recipes You’ll Love!
Chickpea Parmesan Pasta Recipe (Vegetarian, High Fiber/Protein)
Bucatini Pomodoro Recipe (Vegetarian)
Orzo Pesto Salad Recipe (Vegetarian)
Instant Pot Baked Ziti Recipe (Vegetarian)
Penne with Zucchini Recipe (Vegetarian, High in Fiber)
Get the Same Ingredients I Use For This Spicy Vegan Tomato Sauce!
As always, if you make this vegan and vegetarian rigatoni arrabbiata recipe be sure to leave me a comment, rate this recipe, and tag me @theherbeevore on Instagram so I can feature you. I love seeing all your photos of my recipe recreations!
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Spicy Rigatoni Arrabbiata
Equipment
- Sauce Pan
Ingredients
- 16 ounces rigatoni use gluten free if necessary
- 1/3 cup olive oil
- 6 cloves garlic minced
- 1 medium sweet onion chopped
- 1 teaspoon Crushed Red Pepper Flakes plus extra for garnish
- 2 28-ounce cans San Marzano Tomatoes
- 1/4 cup Fresh Basil julienned, plus extra for garnish
- 2/3 teaspoon Himalayan sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground Tellicherry Black Pepper
Instructions
- Cook rigatoni according to package instructions. Drain, toss with olive oil, and set aside.
- In a large pot, add 4 tablespoons of olive oil and begin by sautéing the garlic and onions over low heat. Cook for 6 to 7 minutes until edges begin to brown.
- Add the diced tomatoes to the pot, including adding canning liquid/sauce as well. Stir in the crushed red pepper flakes. Add basil, salt, and pepper. Stir until all ingredients are well combined. Simmer on low for 20 minutes.
- When the sauce is finished cooking, add the sauce over cooked rigatoni, and garnish with extra basil and pepper flakes. Mangia!
Notes
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Very delicious