This Spicy Penne Arrabiata is a healthier pasta recipe featuring a spicy tomato sauce with bell peppers. This Italian pasta dish comes together in 30 minutes and in one pot for easy clean up!
Beyond cold winter nights in, pasta is suitable for just about any occasion. Date night, Monday night, feeling lazy after work night, when you've run out of dishes night…seriously, shall I go on? You really don't even need an excuse to whip yourself up a big bowl of this Penne Arrabiata.
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Plus, you can justify this comfort food dinner because of the healthier Arrabiata sauce, making it a lower-calorie main dish. The only thing I would change with the recipe is to add mushrooms. I am a mushroom fiend, you know…
This one pot Arrabiata pasta will be on your table in just 30 minutes and it makes a whole bunch of leftovers so you can also meal prep it. And the sauce is just incredible!
What does Arrabiata mean?
Giggle a bit if you want to (I did!), but translated from Italian, Arrabiata means “angry”. So, let's make some angry pasta!
Apparently, the dish is named for the spicy tomato sauce. So really, we're going to make healthier angry pasta, because this Arrabiata pasta recipe uses turkey sausage rather than traditional Italian pork sausage.
This One Pot Spicy Turkey Sausage Arrabiata Pasta will solve your last minute dinner woes. With this speedy recipe, you can move from the fridge to the couch (err, I mean dinner table) in just 30 minutes, with barely any cleanup. Unbelievable, I know.
Can you freeze Penne Arrabiata?
As is the case with most pasta sauces, this spicy sauce freezes well, and you can freeze the pasta, too! Did someone say meal prep pasta?
If you want to freeze this penne Arrabiata, just be sure that it's completely cool before you place it into containers for freezing. Glass meal prep containers are perfect to use for freezing this pasta dish.
When you want to reheat, just pull a serving out of the freezer, sprinkle a little bit of water overtop and microwave for 7-8 minutes, stirring halfway through. I doubt you'll even have leftover Arrabiata Pasta to freeze for future servings in the first place (it's THAT good!), but if you do, just know that it reheats like new!
Pasta Arrabiata Ingredients
Besides the sausage, you'll add in some onions, garlic and red pepper to this penne arrabiata. You can add any type of bell peppers and if you really want to kick things up a notch, you can also use fire-roasted tomatoes in place of the canned diced tomatoes.
Between the turkey sausage, the peppers and then the chili flakes you'll also throw in there, this is the spicy pasta with a kick you've been searching for! And if you don't like it spicy but still want the flavours of arrabiata sauce, you can always leave out the chili flakes.
Garnish with fresh basil and freshly grated parmesan cheese and you've got the most delicious pasta EVER!
Arrabiata Sauce
This version of penne arrabiata uses both a can of diced tomatoes and a jar of tomato sauce to create a chunky, flavourful sauce that tastes like it's been made from scratch.
Because this is a one pot pasta arrabiata, you'll cook the turkey sausage, onions and garlic first before adding in your tomatoes – this way you'll get some of the leftover flavour from the browned meat to make the sauce taste richer without adding more calories.
The pasta will cook directly in the canned tomatoes and tomato sauce to absorb all the flavour, and the garlic, salt & pepper and chili flakes will take care of the rest.
Do you drain pasta after cooking?
Remember, this is a one-pot pasta dish, with penne pasta cooking right in the pan with the Arrabiata sauce!
Honestly, no draining is required at all, for any pasta dish. Although many people drain pasta to cool it down, all it really does is strip the starch away, leaving the pasta unable to cling to the sauce.
With this one pot pasta recipe, you minimize clean up and the dish cooks super fast. Stir in the bell peppers at the end to avoid overcooking and then you're ready to serve. It's that easy!
Are you going to give this Turkey Sausage Penne Arrabbiata a try? If you do be sure to tag me on Instagram and Twitter. How do you handle spice? I'm loving it these days as you can tell!
If you're having trouble warming up this winter, this arrabiata sauce will definitely do it for you. I used dried red pepper flakes but you can just as easily use fresh red chilies. I can always go for spicy food, and this dish is no different!
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One Pot Spicy Turkey Sausage Arrabiata
Ingredients
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 4 turkey sausage links
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/2 tsp red chili flakes
- 1 (796mL) can diced tomatoes
- 1 (680mL) jar tomato sauce
- 1 1/2 cups water
- 1 lb dried penne pasta
- 1 red bell pepper, chopped
- chopped fresh basil, for garnish
- Fresh grated parmesan cheese, for garnish
Instructions
- In a large pot, heat 1 tbsp olive oil on med-high heat. Add turkey sausage, searing for about 2-3 minutes per side.
- Using tongs, remove sausage and when cool, slice into bite-sized pieces. Meanwhile, add onion and garlic to pot and sauté for about a minute.
- Add sausage pieces back into pan, add salt, pepper and red chili flakes and sauté for another 2-3 minutes. Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce and water and bring to a boil.
- Add penne, then cover with lid and cook, stirring occasionally, for another 8-10 minutes until pasta is fork tender and most of the liquid is absorbed. Stir in red pepper, and cook for another 2-3 minutes.
- Serve hot with grated parmesan and fresh basil overtop!
Anshula says
I just have to try this! It looks so good!
Taylor Stinson says
Thank you 🙂
Krystal says
That looks so good! You’re making me hungry!
Taylor Stinson says
hehe thanks Krystal, that’s the goal!
val says
Looks delicious! HUGE fan of one pot meals 🙂 Pinning this one!
Taylor Stinson says
Thank you Val!! It makes for great freezer food 😉
Julia says
This sounds really yummy and not too hard to make. A good idea for the weekend. Thank you!
Taylor Stinson says
Thanks Julia! Let me know how you like it if you try it 🙂
Marcia Greenberg says
How many ounces is the jarred passata please? Thanks
Taylor Stinson says
Hey Marcia – so sorry it’s a 680mL (22oz) jar!
Jess says
I never cook, but wanted to have a special wedding anniversary dinner ready for my husband tonight and this came out AMAZING! thank you so much!!
Taylor Stinson says
Aww I am SO happy to hear that Jess!!! This pasta is one of my faves 🙂 So glad you enjoyed!!!
chicwish says
Is it possible to modify this recipe for vegetarians?
Taylor Stinson says
Yes, you can just leave the sausage out 🙂
Devon B. says
When you say tomato sauce, do you mean a pre-made pasta sauce or a plain tomato puree?
Taylor Stinson says
You can use either!
Sean says
Thanks for pointing out that I need to drain the water after cooking the pasta, I was going to add all the other ingredients and eat it like soup.
And the information about putting it in the freezer was quite a revelation. I might even put other things in the freezer one day, but not before a lot of careful research.
Taylor Stinson says
Thank you for your rude comment on my blog. I’m glad you obviously had the time on your hands to write it 🙂