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Upgrade your dinner with this simple recipe that gives a spicy twist to the classic penne pasta with tomato.
Penne Pasta with Spicy Sauce
When I want a kick of heat for pasta night, nothing gets better than this spicy penne pasta. If I don’t have chicken on hand to make my epic buffalo chicken pasta, I make this meatless recipe that is quicker and just as delicious.
Ingredients
The sauce is made with garlic cloves, crushed red pepper flakes, Italian seasoning, crushed Italian tomatoes, a little bit of sugar, salt, and pepper. I use penne pasta, but you can combine any pasta with this sauce.
How to Make Spicy Penne Pasta
Here’s what you need to know about each step of this simple pasta recipe:
- Sauté the garlic, then add the red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning. Then add the crushed Italian tomatoes, sugar, salt, and pepper. Let it simmer for 20 minutes.
- Cook the pasta and, before draining, reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
- Combine the pasta with the sauce and slowly pour in the pasta water to adjust the sauce’s thickness to your liking.
How to Serve It
To keep this penne pasta meatless, serve it with an everyday side salad or spicy green beans. If you want to add a protein, pan-seared chicken pieces and baked salmon pair deliciously!
Easy Spicy Penne Pasta
Ingredients
- 16 oz penne pasta
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic, minced or grated
- ½ teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
- 2 teaspoons Italian seasoning
- 28 oz can crushed Italian tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- ½ teaspoon salt & pepper
Instructions
Make the sauce
- Heat the oil over medium-high heat in a large skillet. Sauté the garlic for 30 seconds, then add the red pepper flakes and Italian seasoning and toast the spices for another 30 seconds.
- Add the crushed Italian tomatoes, sugar, salt, and pepper, and stir to combine. Bring the sauce to a low simmering boil, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it simmer for 20 minutes.
Cook the pasta
- Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Before draining, reserve 1 cup of the pasta water and set it aside. Drain the pasta.
Combine
- Combine the pasta with the sauce and ½ cup of the reserved pasta water. Toss to combine well, turn off the heat.
- Serve topped with parmesan cheese.
Carla says
This penne is exactly what I needed today. Simple, spicy and delicious. Loved the garlic in it, too.
Dee says
We loved the spice in this penne pasta, all around crowd pleaser!
Ashley says
awesome penne pasta recipe, the spicy kick is perfect!
Ruth says
This spicy penne had just the right amount of kick!
Angie says
this spicy penne pasta is delicious and super easy!