--- title: "Meatless Friday: Pasta Arrabiata" description: "Barb Szyszkiewicz shares a recipe for a meatless pasta sauce that cooks as quickly as the pasta itself: perfect for busy days." image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/2021%20Arrabbiata%20Sauce%20BSzyszkiewicz%203.jpg ---                                           [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-pasta-arrabiata#) [MEATLESS FRIDAY](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/tag/meatless-friday) # Meatless Friday: Pasta Arrabiata Nov 12, 2021 7:00:00 AM  |  by [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/2021%20Arrabbiata%20Sauce%20BSzyszkiewicz%203.jpg) *Barb Szyszkiewicz shares a recipe for a meatless pasta sauce that cooks as quickly as the pasta itself: perfect for busy days.* It's always good to have a busy-day recipe in your pocket, and this one definitely qualifies. You can adjust everything to your family's tastes, and the recipe makes 12 servings. It can be cut in half, but it takes no extra time to make 12 servings, and you can freeze the rest for future meals. Pasta Arrabbiata literally means "angry pasta" but it's up to you how angry you make it. Keep in mind that if you're making extra of this recipe to freeze for another meal that the spice will intensify in the freezer. Unlike a lot of recipes for tomato-based pasta sauce, this one does not call for basil or oregano. The tomatoes you use in this recipe make a big difference. You want a good, thick variety of crushed tomatoes -- not something too thin. I found canned coarsely ground tomatoes at Wegmans (store brand) and they worked perfectly. You can thicken up the sauce a bit with a tablespoon of tomato paste. ![2021 Arrabbiata Sauce BSzyszkiewicz 2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2021%20Arrabbiata%20Sauce%20BSzyszkiewicz%202.jpg?width=1080&name=2021%20Arrabbiata%20Sauce%20BSzyszkiewicz%202.jpg)   We served this sauce over spinach ravioli; you can use it on any pasta you like. > [For #MeatlessFriday, try this pasta sauce that cooks as quickly as the pasta itself: perfect for busy days. #catholicmom](https://ctt.ac/9UFN9) #### Pasta Arrabbiata Makes 6 cups (12 servings) ##### Ingredients 3 tbsp olive oil 6 to 8 large cloves of garlic, minced 1 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (or more, to taste) 2 28-oz cans coarsely ground tomatoes (or crushed tomatoes plus a bit of tomato paste) 1 tsp brown sugar, packed 1 tbsp kosher salt (or to taste) 1 1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper Garnish: Fresh parsley ##### DIRECTIONS Add the oil to a 3-quart or larger saucepan over medium heat. Add garlic and cook for one minute; don't let the garlic brown. Stir in red pepper flakes, tomatoes, sugar, salt, and black pepper. Reduce the heat and simmer the sauce, stirring occasionally, 15 to 20 minutes while you cook the pasta. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley.   ![2021 Arrabbiata Sauce BSzyszkiewicz 1](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/2021%20Arrabbiata%20Sauce%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.jpg?width=1080&name=2021%20Arrabbiata%20Sauce%20BSzyszkiewicz%201.jpg) --- Copyright 2021 Barb Szyszkiewicz Images copyright 2021 Barb Szyszkiewicz, all rights reserved. ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-pasta-arrabiata%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-pasta-arrabiata%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-pasta-arrabiata%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Meatless%20Friday%3A%20Pasta%20Arrabiata) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-pasta-arrabiata%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2Fmeatless-friday-pasta-arrabiata%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/BSzyszkiewicz%202022.jpg) ### [Barb Szyszkiewicz](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/barb-szyszkiewicz-ofs) Barb Szyszkiewicz, senior editor at [CatholicMom.com](http://catholicmom.com), is a wife, mom of 3 young adults, and a Secular Franciscan. Barb enjoys writing, cooking, and reading, and is a music minister at her parish. Find her blog at [FranciscanMom](http://franciscanmom.com) and her family’s favorite recipes with nutrition information at [Cook and Count](http://cookandcount.wordpress.com). Barb is the author of *[The Handy Little Guide to Prayer](https://amzn.to/2LQB2oL)* and * [The Handy Little Guide to the Liturgy of the Hours](https://amzn.to/3wbDB8k)*, available from Our Sunday Visitor. ## Related Blog Articles [ Meatless Friday: Spinach and Shrimp Pasta Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-spinach-and-shrimp-pasta) [ Meatless Friday: Shrimp Scampi Pasta with Spinach and Mushrooms Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-shrimp-scampi-pasta-with-spinach-and-mushrooms) [ Meatless Friday: Pasta Salad with Salmon Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/meatless-friday-pasta-salad-with-salmon) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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