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    Home » Recipes » Pasta » Spicy Fusilli Arrabiata

    Published: Jan 3, 2022 · Modified: Apr 23, 2023 by Sarah Baumeister · This post may contain affiliate links · Leave a Comment

    Spicy Fusilli Arrabiata

    Jump to Recipe Print Recipe

    Spirals of fusilli pasta noodles cooked until al dente and then smothered in a creamy and spicy arrabiata sauce, Spicy Fusilli Arrabiata is simple to make and full of flavor and spice!

    plated pasta garnished with basil

    This recipe for spicy fusilli arrabiata is very similar to this gigi hadid spicy vodka sauce pasta (pasta alla vodka), but with a few key differences.

    • That vodka sauce is made with a base of olive oil and butter, this spicy fusilli recipe only uses butter.
    • Pasta alla Vodka has vodka in it, this spicy fusilli is made without vodka.
    • That recipe is made with a base of tomato paste, whereas this recipe is made with a base of jarred arrabiata sauce that cream is then added to.

    If you want to try a spicy pasta recipe with more protein, check out this Spicy Chicken Pasta.

    orange pasta sauce being stirred in a skillet

    I find that the final products are very similar taste wise. This one has a lot more tomato to it (a 32 ounce jar as opposed to a few tablespoons), but in the end they are both spicy, creamy, tomato-based pasta dishes. This recipe also doesn't require the caramelization of tomato paste, so it is a little quicker to make.

    If you have ever had the pleasure of enjoying jon and vinny's spicy fusilli recipe, this pasta dish is very similar!

    Ingredients for Spicy Fusilli Arrabiata

    ingredients for spicy fusilli on a white background
    • fusilli pasta
    • arrabiata sauce (I use Rao's)
    • butter
    • heavy cream
    • shallots
    • garlic cloves
    • freshly grated parmesan cheese
    • red pepper flakes
    • salt
    • pasta water

    How to Make Spicy Fusilli Pasta

    Begin by mincing your garlic and finely chopping the shallot.

    Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and add in finely chopped shallot and minced garlic. Stir to cook until fragrant, about two minutes.

    shallots and garlic minced on a green cutting board
    garlic and shallots sauteing in a dark skillet

    Add in entire jar of arrabiata sauce and stir. Bring up to a simmer.

    Add in cream and stir until combined. Add in freshly grated parmesan cheese and stir to melt.

    sauce poured on top of sauteed shallots and garlic with a spoon stirring
    parmesan being stirred into sauce
    red pepper flakes sprinkled on top of finished spicy fusilli sauce

    Add red pepper flakes and salt to taste. Start with ½ tsp. of red pepper flakes if you are sensitive to heat.

    While the sauce is being made, prepare pasta according to packaging instructions, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.

    spicy fusilli pasta not yet stirred in a large skillet
    spicy fusilli pasta stirred together in a large skillet

    Add drained, cooked pasta to the prepared sauce, along with ½ cup of pasta water and stir to completely coat.

    Serve warm.

    How to serve spicy fusilli

    Serve this creamy arrabiata sauce pasta as is, or topped with fresh basil for a bit of color. We also love topping it with a few drops of goat cheese.

    A simple caesar salad pairs really well with the flavors of this pasta dish.

    spicy fusilli arrabiata plated in a white bowl with cheese and basil in the background

    What type of pasta is fusilli

    Fusilli is a semolina based, twisted pasta noodle. It is a short pasta and most similar to rotini or gemeli.

    Storage

    Store in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3-4 days. The sauce will soak into the pasta the longer it sits. If you would like to avoid that, store the pasta and sauce separately.

    plated pasta garnished with basil

    Spicy Fusilli Arrabiata

    Sarah Baumeister
    Spicy Fusilli Arrabiata is a creamy pasta dish made with jarred arrabiata sauce, heavy cream, and red pepper flakes.
    5 from 3 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Prep Time 5 minutes mins
    Cook Time 15 minutes mins
    Total Time 20 minutes mins
    Course Pasta
    Cuisine Italian
    Servings 6 servings
    Calories 470 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 1 lb. fusilli pasta
    • 1 32 oz. jar arrabiata sauce I use Rao's
    • 4 tbsp. butter
    • ½ cup heavy cream
    • 1 large shallot minced
    • 3 garlic cloves
    • 1 cup freshly grated parmesan cheese
    • 1 tsp. red pepper flakes
    • 1 tsp. salt
    • ½ cup pasta water

    Instructions
     

    • Begin by mincing your garlic and finely chopping the shallot.
    • Melt butter in a skillet over medium heat and add in finely chopped shallot and minced garlic. Stir to cook until fragrant, about two minutes.
    • Add in entire jar of arrabiata sauce and stir. Bring up to a simmer.
    • Add in cream and stir until combined. Add in freshly grated parmesan cheese and stir to melt.
    • Add red pepper flakes and salt to taste. Start with ½ tsp. of red pepper flakes if you are sensitive to heat.
    • While the sauce is being made, prepare pasta according to packaging instructions, reserving ½ cup of pasta water.
    • Add drained, cooked pasta to the prepared sauce, along with ½ cup of pasta water and stir to completely coat.
    • Serve warm.

    Nutrition

    Serving: 1gCalories: 470kcalCarbohydrates: 51gProtein: 14gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 8gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 61mgSodium: 1527mgFiber: 5gSugar: 10g
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Hi, I'm Sarah! I am a wife, mother, and believer. I have been cooking since I could stand and am excited to share my love for being in the kitchen with all of you. You will find a variety of recipes here from healthy family dinners, to ways to prepare venison, to soups, to baked goods, we love it all!

    Learn more about me →

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