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Easy Shrimp Arrabbiata

October 12, 2015 by Laura 50 Comments

Disclosure – I was compensated by Dreamfields for recipe development and this post as part of #HealthyPastaMonth. As always, all opinions are my own.

In my family, pasta for dinner brings smiles to those around the table. While we do love it plain with just a bit of cheese and oil, or layered in a baked dish, our all-time favorite is topped with sauce.

Great flavor without fuss is my mantra. Simple fresh tomato-based sauces are fabulous, but once the summer tomatoes are gone, I look for ways to spice up the sauce. This easy shrimp arrabbiata fits the bill and makes weeknight dinner delicious, as well as quick.

Pasta Arrabbiata is a spicy pasta, perfect for a weekday dinner, but also elegant enough for company. | Mother Would Know

Arrabbiata is Italian for “angry,” a nod to the spiciness of this sauce. By adding shrimp, you make the dish into a protein-rich full main course. Traditionally arrabbiata sauce is paired with penne pasta, but I prefer rotini because the spiral shape holds the sauce better. Red pepper flakes are the spice in this version; start with ½ teaspoon, which will give the sauce a bit of a kick, without making it fiery. If you and your family or guests like food on the hot side, consider adding more, up to another ½ teaspoon. The optional tiny bit of sugar cuts the acidity of the tomato sauce.

And while many Italian chefs and home cooks would not add grated cheese to a seafood pasta like this one, in my house grated cheese on pasta is a given. 

Pasta arrabbiata with cheese, an easy and delicious weeknight dinner. | Mother Would Know

The ingredients are simple and the sauce comes together while the pasta cooks.

Ingredients for easy pasta arrabbiata | Mother Would Know

I use frozen shrimp so that I always have the ingredients for this dish on hand. My choice was based on my own taste test and reading the label to make sure that the type I purchased had not been kept in sodium-laden seawater or a brine solution. (Best to avoid “hidden” sodium.) Of course, if you have easy access to good quality fresh shrimp, by all means use them. 

Dreamfields pasta is my kind of ingredient. Made with US-grown premium durum wheat semolina, a one-cup cooked serving (2 ounces dry) has 5 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein. My official taste tester has given Dreamfields his seal of approval; he announced that he could not tell the difference between that and the imported Italian pasta he loves with a passion. Delicious and healthier – that’s a winning combination in my book.  

Pasta arrabbiata is an easy and tasty weeknight dinner. | Mother Would Know

As part of the #HealthyPastaMonth, Dreamfields is offering one of my readers a family pack of their pasta (1 of each of the 7 shapes) plus a $25 gift card. To enter, just check out the giveaway entry form at the bottom of this post. 

Print Recipe
Easy Shrimp Arrabbiata Yum
This simple version of pasta arrabbiata is a one-dish weeknight dinner that is elelgant enough to serve company.
Easy Shrimp Arrabbiata | Mother Would Know
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
  • 8 ounces Dreamfields rotini
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 pieces medium onion cut into thin (about 1 cup)
  • 1 clove largegarlic minced (about 1/2 teaspoon)
  • 12-16 ounces medium peeled & deveined shrimp either fresh or defrosted from frozen (about 24-28)
  • 1-28 ounce can no-salt-added petite diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1/2 -1 teaspoon crusted red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar optional
  • Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese optional
  • leaves Fresh basil optional, for garnish
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 20 minutes
Servings
Ingredients
  • 8 ounces Dreamfields rotini
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
  • 1 pieces medium onion cut into thin (about 1 cup)
  • 1 clove largegarlic minced (about 1/2 teaspoon)
  • 12-16 ounces medium peeled & deveined shrimp either fresh or defrosted from frozen (about 24-28)
  • 1-28 ounce can no-salt-added petite diced tomatoes
  • 1/4 cup tomato paste
  • 1/2 -1 teaspoon crusted red pepper flakes
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon sugar optional
  • Grated Parmesan or Romano cheese optional
  • leaves Fresh basil optional, for garnish
Easy Shrimp Arrabbiata | Mother Would Know
Instructions
  1. Cook pasta according to directions on the package.
  2. Meanwhile, heat 1 tablespoon of the oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the onion slivers to the skillet and sauté until transparent (about 5 minutes), stirring occasionally. Add the minced garlic; sauté 2 more minutes, stirring frequently. Push onion-garlic mixture to one side of the skillet.
  3. Add the remaining tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Add the shrimp; sauté until transparent (about 4 -6 minutes), turning halfway through cooking. Transfer shrimp to a medium bowl and set aside.
  4. Add tomatoes, tomato paste, pepper flakes, salt, and sugar if desired, to skillet. Simmer 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally. Return shrimp to sauce; stir to combine. Remove from heat.
  5. Top pasta with sauce. Sprinkle with cheese and top with basil as desired.
Share this Recipe

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Pasta arrabbiata is a quick weekday dinner, but elegant too. | Mother Would Know

Filed Under: Archives, Fish & Seafood, Recipes Tagged With: pasta, pasta sauce, shrimp, tomato sauce

Comments

  1. Jeffrey says

    October 12, 2015 at 7:47 am

    I’ve actually never had shrimp with pasta sauce but really want to try it, bet the combined flavors are awesome!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:27 am

      Jeffrey, I hope you will try it – the combination is quite flavorful and the recipe comes together in just a few minutes. Seafood with red (tomato-based) sauce is wonderful. Have you ever had cioppino? I’ll put a recipe up on the blog for it soon – a combination of different seafoods in red sauce – also fabulous.

      Reply
  2. Sandy Headtke says

    October 12, 2015 at 10:46 am

    I love Spicy Shrimp, this recipe is a keeper.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:23 am

      Sandy, Wonderful. It’s become a favorite around here, with the chef as well as the eaters.

      Reply
  3. cris says

    October 12, 2015 at 11:40 am

    I have never made Shrimp Arrabbiata but it looks incredibly delicious!!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:23 am

      Cris, Hope you’ll try it. This recipe is quite simple. You could even cheat by buying the shrimp already cooked and skipping that step, but don’t tell anyone I suggested that:)

      Reply
  4. Terry Cross says

    October 12, 2015 at 12:43 pm

    This looks delicious and so easy!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:22 am

      Terry, Thanks – it is both of those (delicious and easy), making it a wonderful weeknight meal.

      Reply
  5. Cheryl Larson says

    October 12, 2015 at 1:20 pm

    Oh that looks so good, will have to try it

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:21 am

      Cheryl, Hope you do try it – now a family favorite around here.

      Reply
  6. Susan P. says

    October 12, 2015 at 6:35 pm

    Pasta has always been part of our meal plan and Dreamfields makes it easy to make pasta dishes nutritious. #HealthyPastaMonth I also prefer rotini because the spirals hold the sauce.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:19 am

      Susan, Nice to meet a fellow rotini-lover. And yes, agree wholeheartedly on the kudos to Dreamfields.

      Reply
  7. Michelle @ A Dish of Daily Life says

    October 12, 2015 at 9:16 pm

    My husband’s mother is Italian, and it is a running joke in our family that SOME of us add parmesan to our seafood pastas. I would be one of those someones. I love a little kick to my sauces…this looks delicious! Definitely trying it and entering your giveaway too!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:17 am

      Michelle, Great on all counts. I’ll tell my husband that there are “real” Italians who add cheese (I’m always reminding him that we’re breaking a tradition when he insists on cheese with all pasta, even when it includes seafood.

      Reply
  8. Jennifer Essad says

    October 12, 2015 at 9:41 pm

    I’m sure we’ll enjoy your recipe, I really appreciate how quick and easy this dinner is!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:16 am

      Jennifer – I hope you’ll try it. My family loved it and I know we’ll have it again soon.

      Reply
  9. Kelly @ TastingPage says

    October 12, 2015 at 10:51 pm

    Love the “angry” in this recipe – a nice kick!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:16 am

      Kelly, Angry and yet so delicious – what a combination:)

      Reply
  10. Yaj says

    October 13, 2015 at 1:40 am

    love this pasta

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 13, 2015 at 11:15 am

      Many thanks Yaj

      Reply
  11. HS says

    October 14, 2015 at 1:33 pm

    I love Dreamfields Rotini.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 15, 2015 at 10:44 am

      I’m a huge rotini fan too, as you can see:)

      Reply
  12. Elena says

    October 14, 2015 at 3:19 pm

    Looks delicious. I love Dreamfields pasta

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 15, 2015 at 10:44 am

      Elena, Thanks. Glad you love Dreamfields. I do too:)

      Reply
  13. Elle P. says

    October 14, 2015 at 3:32 pm

    I love love love pasta dishes!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 15, 2015 at 10:44 am

      Elle, A girl after my own heart!!

      Reply
  14. Sarah Hall says

    October 14, 2015 at 4:50 pm

    I like the Dreamfields elbow macaroni as you can use it in so many dishes.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 15, 2015 at 10:43 am

      Sarah, You’re so right – and mac ‘n cheese weather (with Dreamfields elbow macaroni) is right around the corner, at least here in the mid-Atlantic US.

      Reply
  15. Lisa Brown says

    October 15, 2015 at 11:36 am

    Looks great and love the rotini style pasta.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 19, 2015 at 12:28 pm

      Lisa, Thanks – hope you’ll try this version of pasta arrabbiata soon.

      Reply
  16. Vickie says

    October 15, 2015 at 9:11 pm

    Love seafood and pasta too..no better combination.
    Thanks

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 19, 2015 at 12:28 pm

      Vicki, Yes, I think seafood and pasta are an amazingly good combination. Hope you’ll try this version.

      Reply
  17. Jillian Too says

    October 17, 2015 at 5:24 pm

    I love how the rotini holds the sauce. Looks delicious!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 19, 2015 at 12:23 pm

      Jillian – thanks. Hope you make pasta arrabbiata sometime soon.

      Reply
  18. latanya says

    October 17, 2015 at 8:36 pm

    This recipe sounds delicious.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 19, 2015 at 12:23 pm

      Thanks Latanya – hope you try it.

      Reply
  19. Tina W says

    October 18, 2015 at 8:12 pm

    Penne Arrabbiata is my favorite, and I’d never thought of adding shrimp to it! Going to try this soon!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 19, 2015 at 12:21 pm

      Ah, Tina – so glad to meet another pasta arrabbiata fiend. Do try adding the shrimp – so easy and quite delicious. Plus it turns the pasta into a one-dish supper.

      Reply
  20. Heather Hayes Panjon says

    October 20, 2015 at 7:27 am

    Your Recipe Looks Delicious!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 26, 2015 at 9:59 pm

      Heather, Many thanks. Best, Laura

      Reply
  21. Sally V says

    October 23, 2015 at 6:17 pm

    Love this recipe, nice and simple. Can’t wait to try it!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 26, 2015 at 9:55 pm

      Sally, Many thanks. Hope you do try it – a perfect weeknight dinner. Best, Laura

      Reply
  22. Amanda Sakovitz says

    October 24, 2015 at 6:56 am

    This looks so delicious and fresh!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 26, 2015 at 9:51 pm

      Amanda, Many thanks. I hope you’ll try it – so easy too. Best, Laura

      Reply
  23. Thomas Murphy says

    October 25, 2015 at 8:03 pm

    Looks good! Thanks for the giveaway.

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 26, 2015 at 9:49 pm

      Thomas, You’re quite welcome! Best, laura

      Reply
  24. Russ says

    October 26, 2015 at 7:30 pm

    Is the tomato paste missing from the list of ingredients?

    Reply
    • Laura says

      October 26, 2015 at 9:40 pm

      Russ, Many thanks for catching that – I’ve fixed the reference to include it in the list of ingredients as well as the instructions.

      Reply
  25. allie @ Through Her Looking Glass says

    April 21, 2016 at 11:28 am

    What a delicious, spicy dish Laura. We love shrimp around here and glad to have another way to enjoy it!

    Reply
    • Laura says

      April 25, 2016 at 11:45 am

      Thanks Allie. It’s a great weeknight meal.

      Reply

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