Sauce Types

Spicy Pasta Recipes

Like your pasta with a spicy kick? Step right this way amico. Italians have been using piquant peperoncino in their cooking since the sixteenth century, when chilli peppers first arrived in Italy from the Americas. Whether fresh, dried, crumbled or fried, chilli finds its way into a host of spicy pasta sauces – from tongue-tickling tomato numbers to chilli-laced seafood dishes.

Heat things up in your kitchen by following one of our spicy pasta recipes, or check out our menu to see what spicy pasta dishes we’re delivering around the UK this week.

Spicy Pasta Recipes Order Now

Our Favourite

Spicy Pasta Dishes

Hailing from Rome, penne all’arrabbiata is arguably Italy’s most famous spicy pasta dish. Combining olive oil, tomatoes, garlic and chilli, the name of the dish - arrabbiata - refers to the ‘angry’ heat of the sauce. Further south, in the region of Calabria, fiery local chillies play a starring role in spicy, spreadable ‘nduja. This smoky sausage normally partners tomatoes in a spicy pasta sauce, but we also love ‘nduja stuffed inside parcels of fresh pasta. Spicy pasta recipes also crop up along Italy’s coast, where freshly caught crab is often paired with chilli.

MEAT

Tagliatelle with ‘Nduja, Lemon & Mascarpone

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 40 MINUTES
Difficulty: EASY

SEAFOOD

Chilli & Crab Ravioli

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 2 HOURS
Difficulty: MEDIUM

VEGETARIAN

Penne all’Arrabbiata

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 30 MINUTES
Difficulty: EASY

MEAT

'Nduja & Burrata Tortelloni

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 70 MINUTES
Difficulty: MEDIUM

MEAT

Bucatini all'Amatriciana

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 30 MINS
Difficulty: EASY

MEAT

La Calamarata

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 40 MINS
Difficulty: EASY

SEAFOOD

Fresh Linguine in a Crab & Chilli Sauce

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 30 MINUTES
Difficulty: EASY

MEAT

'Nduja & Taleggio Ravioli

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 90 MINUTES
Difficulty: MEDIUM

MEAT

Fregula Risotto with Sausage, Saffron and Chilli

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 40 MINS
Difficulty: EASY

VEGAN

Vegan Pasta alla Puttanesca

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 30 MINS
Difficulty: EASY

SEAFOOD

Spaghetti alla Busara

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 40 MINS
Difficulty: INTERMEDIATE

VEGAN

Fiery Vegan Arrabbiata Sauce

Serves: 4
Cooks time: 10 MINUTES
Difficulty: EASY

MEAT

How to make Amatriciana Sauce

Serves: 2
Cooks time: 30 MINS
Difficulty: EASY

“You may have the universe if I may have Italy.”
- Giuseppe Verdi

WATCH OUR VIDEO

How to make fettucine
with spicy 'nduja

Pronounced an-du-yah, the spicy and spreadable ‘nduja hails from Calabria in the south of Italy. Today we show you how to use this spicy sausage to recreate one of our most popular recipes on the menu.

- Serves: 4
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cooking Time: 40 minutes

READ FULL RECIPE

Spicy Pasta FAQs

How can you spice up pasta dishes?

In Italy, the most common way to add spice to pasta is to gently fry a piece of fresh or dried chilli alongside olive oil and garlic. You can use the spicy oil as a standalone sauce, or to add heat to your favourite pasta dish. You can also use dried red chilli flakes – but it’s best to pair them with wet ingredients like tomatoes so they don’t burn.

How to serve pasta like an Italian

How can you make pasta sauces less spicy?

Italians tend to use chilli sparingly, so many spicy pasta recipes won’t blow your head off. If you’ve been heavy-handed with the chilli, acidic ingredients like lemon juice, tomatoes and wine all help to reduce the heat. Adding dairy for a spicy, creamy pasta is another good option.

View our creamy pasta recipes

Which wines go well with spicy sauces?

For a spicy tomato sauce, we’d opt for a medium-bodied red wine with moderate acidity. Primitivo is a good option as it’ll match the spiciness without competing with it. If your sauce features fiery ‘nduja, we’d go for Sangiovese – the high acidity will cut through the rich, spiced pork.

How to pair wine and pasta

PASTA DELIVERED TO YOUR DOOR

Our Weekly Menu

Ready to spice up your mealtimes? Treat yourself to a true taste of Italy with our range of freshly made pasta recipes. From classics like arrabbiata to customer favourites like spicy 'nduja, you’re never far from spicy pasta with our menu. Our dishes are available for delivery across the UK.

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