Arrabbiata Meat Sauce

Last Updated on October 13, 2023 by Annie

Spicy, filling, and easy to make, this hearty Arrabbiata Meat Sauce has it all. This spicy, meat sauce coats pasta perfectly making a delicious and easy Italian dinner in just 30 minutes.

A skillet with Arrabbiata pasta and a cutting board in the back with slices of bread in the back.

What is Arrabbiata Pasta?

Arrabbiata sauce is an Italian pasta sauce made from tomatoes, garlic, and red pepper flakes. Translated directly in Italian Arrabbiata means ‘angry’ which refers to the spiciness of the sauce. Most recipes for Arrabbiata pasta are made with penne pasta, however you can easily serve it up with whatever pasta strikes your fancy.

Is it spicy?

If you like a little heat, this arrabbiata meat sauce is the perfect fit for you! The crushed red pepper spices this sauce perfectly for just the right amount of heat. If you do not enjoy spicy food I recommend cutting back the amount of crushed red pepper to about half what the recipe calls for.

How to Make Arrabbiata Meat Sauce

Ingredients You’ll Need

  • Ground Beef– You can also use other forms of ground meat in this recipe such as ground chicken or ground turkey.
  • Olive Oil- For cooking the onion and the red pepper flakes.
  • Red Pepper Flakes- Also called crushed red pepper.
  • Onion + Garlic- For a delicious depth of flavor in the sauce.
  • Crushed tomatoes- You can also use whole tomatoes I just find the crushed tomatoes make it easier to blend the sauce.
  • Basil- Fresh basil, ripped for stirring in at the end and garnishing.
  • Salt + Pepper- For a little spice and flavor.
  • Pasta- For serving your sauce with.
Ingredients for Arrabbiata meat sauce on a wooden counter.

Step-By-Step Directions

  • Cook the meat: In a large pot, brown the ground meat over medium heat. Crumble the meat while you cook and brown it. Once cooked through, remove the cooked meat from the pan and set aside.
  • Cook red pepper flakes and onion: Add olive oil and crushed red pepper flakes to the pot and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant but not burnt. Add the diced onion and cook for about 2-3 minutes.
  • Add garlic: Once the onions have softened, add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring the garlic into the onion and olive oil.
  • Add sauce: Next pour in the crushed tomatoes, season with salt and pepper, and cook for about 15-20 minutes.
  • Blend to smooth the sauce: At this point you can choose your own adventure. If you like the sauce to be a touch smoother, stick your immersion blender in and blend up the sauce to a smoother consistency. If you like it chunky, keep as is.
  • Toss in the meat: Next add the cooked meat back into the pot and stir to combine. Simmer on low for about 10 more minutes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in fresh chopped basil before serving.
  • Serve your arrabbiata meat sauce with cooked pasta, garnish with fresh basil, and enjoy.

Helpful Kitchen Tools

Some tools you might find helpful while making this spicy arrabbiata meat sauce include:

  • Meat Chopper– Use to break up and crumble the ground meat while you cook it.
  • Immersion Blender– For blending the crushed tomatoes to a thinner finish.

Ingredient Alternatives

  • Meat- Swap out ground beef for ground turkey, ground chicken, or even a plant-based meat alternative.
  • Canned Tomatoes- For this recipe I used crushed tomatoes but you can also use whole or diced, you just may need to blend the sauce a bit more before adding the meat back in.
  • Basil- If you don’t have fresh basil, swap it out with dried basil. Start with 3 Tablespoons of dried basil and adjust from there.
  • Pasta- Serve with any kind of pasta you wish, I enjoyed eating it with penne, shells, and spaghetti. You can also sub traditional pasta with a gluten-free or lentil pasta depending on your dietary needs.
A skillet with Arrabbiata pasta topped with basil.

Notes about storage and reheating

You can keep your arrabbiata meat sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. I prefer to store the sauce separate from the pasta to prevent the pasta getting too soggy.

If you want to freeze the sauce, use a freezer safe, airtight container and store the meat sauce for up to 3 months. When you are ready to use, allow the sauce to thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then heat in a sauce pan until it’s reached the desired temperature.

Make it a meal

This Arrabbiata pasta goes perfectly with:

Other delicious pasta recipes

Did you make this delicious Arrabbiata Meat Sauce?? I would love to hear how it went! Leave a comment below or snap a picture and share it with me on Instagram by tagging @mylifeafterdairy so I can share your life after dairy adventures!

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A bowl of Arrabbiata meat sauce and pasta with a slice of bread on the right.

Arrabbiata Meat Sauce

This quick and easy arrabbiata meat sauce makes a delicious and filling Italian dinner in just 30 minutes.

Course Dinner
Cuisine Italian
Keyword Meat Sauce, Pasta, Pasta Sauce
Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 30 minutes
Servings 8 servings

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Ground Beef
  • 3 Tablespoons Olive Oil
  • 3-4 teaspoons Crushed Red Pepper
  • 1 small Onion
  • 6 cloves Garlic
  • 2 (28 oz cans) Crushed Tomatoes
  • ½ cup Fresh Basil Leaves chopped
  • ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Fresh Cracked Pepper

Instructions

  1. In a large pot, brown one pound ground meat over medium heat. Crumble the meat while you cook and brown it. Once cooked through, remove the meat from the pan and set aside.

  2. Add 3 Tablespoons olive oil and 3-4 teaspoons crushed red pepper flakes to the pot and cook for about 30 seconds, until fragrant-be careful not to burnt. Add 1 diced onion and cook for about 2-3 minutes.

  3. Once the onions have softened, add 6 cloves garlic and cook for about 30 seconds, stirring the garlic into the onion and olive oil.

  4. Next pour in the 2-28 ounce cans of crushed tomatoes, season with ½ teaspoon salt and ½ teaspoon pepper, and cook for about 15-20 minutes.

  5. At this point you can choose your own adventure. If you like your sauce to be a touch smoother, stick your immersion blender in and blend up the sauce to a smoother consistency. If you like it chunky, keep as is.

  6. Next add the meat back into the pot and stir to coat. Simmer on low for about 10 more minutes and season with salt and pepper to taste. Stir in ½ cup fresh chopped basil before serving.

  7. Serve your arrabbiata meat sauce with cooked pasta, garnish with fresh basil, and enjoy.

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