A classic Italian pasta, this spaghetti fra diavolo is quick, easy, and delivers tons of flavor. The homemade spaghetti sauce comes together fast, making it a great weeknight recipe. Served with garlic bread, a simple salad, and red wine, this spaghetti recipe is sure to earn a place in your dinner routine. 

Spaghetti Fra Diavolo Pasta

It’s no secret we love pasta! But this spicy spaghetti fra diavolo is one of the most made – and loved – pasta recipes in our household. Even my picky toddler happily slurps this down! 

The homemade spaghetti sauce is simple, saucy, and SPICY! And we almost always have the ingredients needed on hand. Especially in the summer when our herb garden is in full bloom. 

By nature, it’s a vegetarian recipe, but you can certainly add shrimp, ground beef, or Italian sausage. This pasta fra diavolo is a breeze to make on busy nights when cooking time needs to be short and snappy. Because let’s be real… who’s got time for crazy and complicated?!

How to Make Spaghetti: Ingredients for Spaghetti Fra Diavolo

• Spaghetti Noodles: I use dried spaghetti, but fresh pasta will work! You can also use almost any variety of pasta noodle here, so don’t feel like you’re married to spaghetti.
• Olive Oil: Don’t be scared by the amount called for. It gives the tomato sauce structure and flavor!
• Fresh Garlic: 10 whole cloves!!! Again, don’t be tempted to scale back here. Garlic is the backbone of this dish!
• Crushed Red Pepper Flakes: Feel free to cut back a little bit here, if you want to reduce the heat.
• Crushed Tomatoes with Basil: I don’t suggest subbing diced tomatoes here, as the sauce will end up much chunkier and less cohesive.
• Fresh herbs: Basil, parsley, and mint, oh my! Please, do not sub dried herbs.
• Salt: This recipe NEEDS all of the salt called for. And you’ll also need salt for the pasta water. Reduce the salt if you must, but be warned it will leave you with a blander pasta sauce.
• Black Pepper: This spice adds even more spice and flavor!

I also suggest having garlic bread or crusty bread on hand, for dipping. Red or white wine, for drinking. And freshly grated parmesan cheese, for sprinkling. 

Let’s make Homemade Spaghetti Sauce

• Warm the oil in a large skillet until it shimmers. You’ll add the garlic and cook for 1 to 2 minutes. Be sure to stir frequently and cook until the garlic is fragrant BUT NOT BROWN.
• Add in the crushed red pepper and tomatoes and stir well to combine. Cook for about 15 minutes. It might look like the oil won’t ever combine with the tomato sauce, but just keep stirring. It’ll all come together. 
• Toss the fresh herbs into the tomato sauce and season with salt and pepper. Stir well to combine, then taste the sauce and adjust seasonings as you desire! If the sauce tastes at all bitter, you can always add a teaspoon of granulated sugar. 
• Add the cooked pasta to the sauce. Then slowly drizzle in reserved pasta water, mixing as you add it, and letting it fully absorb before adding more. Add as much or little as you desire to reach your desired sauciness level. 
• Remove from heat and divide the pasta among shallow pasta bowls. Serve with cheese, wine, bread, and extra crushed red pepper flakes if you dare, eat at once!

Can I make Tomato Sauce in Advance? 

• Yes, you can make this tomato sauce right before you plan on serving the recipe. Or you can make it up to 3 days in advance! 
• Cook the sauce as directed, then let the sauce cool completely at room temperature. 
• Transfer the sauce to an airtight container and place it in the fridge. When you’re ready to use the sauce, briefly reheat it on the stovetop before adding the pasta. 

How to Cook Spaghetti Noodles 

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a rolling boil. Place the pot over medium high heat and don’t add the pasta until the water is really boiling! 
2. Add the pasta and stir well. Cook until al dente. The time will vary depending on the pasta you use. Keep a close eye and start testing after 7 minutes. You don’t want to over cook the pasta. 
3. Before you drain the pasta, be sure to reserve at least 1 and 1/2 cups of the pasta water. Pasta water thins the sauce and adds tons of flavor! 
4. Drain the pasta right away, then toss in the tomato sauce. Don’t run the pasta until cold water or leave it sitting in the colander (if you can avoid it). 

Can I add Ground Beef or Italian Sausage?

• Absolutely! Although this spaghetti recipe is typically vegetarian, you can totally bulk it and add meat. We make this with meat sauce whenever we’re craving a heartier pasta recipe.
• You’ll add the meat after you add the oil and cook it, breaking it up with a spoon, until there’s no remaining pink. You can use this cooking method with ground beef or Italian sausage.
• If you don’t want a meat sauce but still want to add some protein, try adding cooked shrimp to this recipe. It’s delicious! I like to cook my shrimp in the oil, over medium-high heat, for about 2 minutes on each side.

Spaghetti Noodles: Can I Use a Different Pasta Shape?

• Yes, this spicy fra diavolo sauce is delicious with almost any variety of pasta.
• We love this homemade spaghetti sauce with bucatini, penne, and rigatoni best.
• But use your favorite noodle, because every pasta pairs great with this sauce.
• Gluten free pasta has come a long way, and it works well with this sauce, too. Our favorite gluten free spaghetti is Jovial brand.

Can I use Spaghetti Squash or Zucchini Noodles?

• The short answer is yes, of course you can! This homemade spaghetti sauce is delicious on almost any type of noodles.
• Obviously vegetable “noodles” won’t be as hearty as spaghetti noodles, so just keep that in mind. And the texture will also be significantly different.
• If you’ve never cooked spaghetti squash before, here’s a recipe on how to roast spaghetti squash.
• To make zucchini noodles, you’ll need a spiralizer or you can buy them pre-made.