What To Serve With Pasta Arrabbiata: 15 Amazing Sides!
If you love your Italian food with a bit of a spicy kick, pasta arrabbiata might be what’s on the menu!
Literally meaning ‘angry’ in Italian, it’s a bold dish that packs a real punch and will put some fire in your belly.
If you’re wondering what to serve with pasta arrabbiata, you’ve found exactly what you’re searching for.
We’re going to take a look at the best sides and accompaniments to make your meal into a real feast…
What to serve with pasta arrabbiata
Some of the best sides to serve with spicy pasta arrabbiata include your favourite pizza, steamed greens, a big Italian salad, courgette fries with garlic aioli, Italian herb and cheese breadsticks, Amalfi style prawns, Caprese skewers, Italian puff pastry pinwheels, and figs wrapped in parma ham.
Many of these choices can be served as accompaniments alongside your main course, or as starters to share with your favourite tipple.
Read on to discover more ideas, and grab the best tried and tested recipes…
1. Your favourite pizza
It would be hard to think of a duo quite as comforting as pizza and pasta!
You don’t have to choose between the two, and serving up both and inviting everyone to dig in makes for an easy, fuss free family night that will be a big hit with grown ups and little ones alike.
Best of all, you can put your own twist on the combination by choosing whichever pizza toppings you love the most.
A fun dinner time activity is to set up a pizza station in your kitchen and invite everyone to create their own pizzas.
Put popular toppings like cheese, mushrooms, peppers, jalapeños, pepperoni, and olives in little bowls, then enjoy your pasta arrabbiata whilst the pizzas bake in the oven.
2. Steamed green veggies
Pack in some extra goodness by choosing simply steamed green veggies for what to serve with pasta arrabbiata.
This makes for a balanced meal that will count towards your daily veggie target.
Steaming is super quick, and it’s also thought to retain more of the vitamins and minerals than boiling.
Choose mangetout, green beans, courgette, or anything else that you happen to have in your fridge that needs using up.
Add a grind of fresh black pepper, and you’re ready to go. For a little extra indulgence, grate over some parmesan cheese just before serving.
(Keen to explore more Italian cooking? Take a look at what to serve with zuppa toscana soup).
3. Big Italian salad
This big Italian salad is perfect served with traditional Italian comfort food like pasta arrabbiata.
What really makes it special is the dressing, which is so much better than any shop bought version that you’ll ever find!
It takes a matter of minutes to prepare, but it adds so much to the table in terms of vibrancy, colour, and taste.
4. Courgette fries with garlic aioli
Courgette fries pair beautifully with such a wide range of traditional Italian dishes, including pasta arrabbiata.
They’re also exceptionally versatile in the sense that they’re fun but quite sophisticated, and are suitable for everything from a Tuesday night dinner, through to a special occasion when you want to really impress your guests.
Try this recipe for courgette fries, which produces delightfully crunch and crispy mouthfuls.
Alternatively, if you have an air fryer at home, this method is a good way to skip the deep fat frying, which many home cooks find a little overwhelming and messy.
Though they’re good just on their own, courgette fries are wonderful with a generous dollop of homemade aioli for dipping.
5. Italian broccoli
Italian broccoli with olive oil and garlic is a super simple side dish that takes just 15 minutes from start to finish, and it’s a tasty and nutritious choice for what to serve with pasta arrabbiata.
Though it’s delicious as is, there are so many different variations you can consider if you want to shake things up a little.
For example, you could add anchovies, fresh lemon juice, or red chilli flakes to really ramp that heat up another level alongside your fiery pasta!
I love to add some lemon juice to this side dish for pasta arrabbiata, as the freshness and acidity brings a bright and clean taste to the table, and it can help to lighten up what’s otherwise a fairly rich and carb heavy main meal.
6. Roasted garlic bread
Imagine a piping hot garlic bread, with a crisp and crusty exterior and delicious, intense flavours of roasted garlic…
No one can resist this side dish, and it’s perfect for practically every pasta dish you could think of!
This roasted garlic bread recipe is easy to follow, but do bear in mind that you’ll need to roast your garlic and then bake the bread in the oven for 40 to 70 minutes.
As such, it’s a good choice for weekends when you have a little more time on your hands, or evenings after work when you’re happy to dine a little later.
(For more ways to enjoy pasta, check out what to put on pasta instead of sauce!)
7. Italian herb and cheese breadsticks
Italian herb and cheese breadsticks are always a great choice for what to serve with pasta arrabbiata, or for that matter, any other pasta dish that you might be planning to cook!
They have a real rustic vibe, and are great for sharing alongside some olives for a relaxed Italian meal.
8. Amalfi style prawns
If you love seafood, I highly recommend trying these Amalfi style prawns.
The vibrant lemon and mint flavours make them an ideal choice for a starter too, and they take just 5 minutes to cook. It’s an elegant dish with lots of flavour, and they’re a real treat when served alongside spicy pasta.
A dish like this calls for the best quality prawns that you can find, so pay a visit to a local fishmonger to check out what they have in stock.
9. Tuna carpaccio
I love to serve this tuna carpaccio as a starter for pasta dishes! Lime juice, capers, and red onion make this dish extra special, and it’s the kind of appetiser that’s perfect for weekend entertaining.
This dish is delicious served just as it is, though it also works wonderfully with bite sized pieces of toasted baguette.
10. Caprese skewers
If you’re short on time but want a side dish for pasta arrabbiata that’s sure to be a talking point at the table, make some Caprese skewers!
These are so simple that you don’t even need to follow a recipe. Just thread tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella cheese on to cocktail skewers, and finish with a drizzle of olive oil or good quality balsamic vinegar.
If you’ve got kids who love getting involved in the kitchen, this is a fantastic job for them that doesn’t require handing heat or any sharp knives.
11. Antipasti platter
When you choose an antipasti plate for what to serve with arrabbiata, you can make sure that you have something for everyone.
Add nibbles such as olives, sun-dried tomatoes, breadsticks, deli meats, and cheeses to a platter in the middle of the table and let everyone help themselves.
Eating like this is a really sociable way to enjoy food, and it’s also completely stress free.
(If you love pasta for dinner, you might also be interested in vodka pasta sides).
12. Stuffed courgette flowers
You’ve probably eaten courgettes before, but have you ever made use of the flowers?
They have a delicate flavour and though they can be enjoyed raw, they lend themselves well to being stuffed with cheese and then fried in a light batter.
This recipe for stuffed courgette flowers is a beautiful starter or side dish at a dinner party, and you’ll stuff your flowers with ricotta, sultanas, and pine nuts.
13. Italian pinwheels
I always try to keep some puff pastry in my freezer, so I can make my own Italian pinwheels to accompany pasta dishes!
Simply roll out flat, and spread with your chosen fillings. Tomato, cheese, and fresh herbs is always a good combination, then roll, slice into bitesized pieces, and bake in the oven until golden.
If you’re expecting guests, you could have these ready and waiting for their arrival, and serve with a glass of wine or a cocktail.
14. Arancini rice balls
Arancini rice balls have their roots in Sicilian cuisine, and they’re a perfect side dish for pasta recipes. They’re stuffed, coated in breadcrumbs, and finally deep fried so they’re golden brown, crispy, and totally delicious.
Don’t be scared to make the recipe your own by adding any fresh herbs that you might have in the fridge, chopped ham, and chopped peppers.
If you happen to have some leftover risotto from a previous night’s dinner, making arancini is a great way to use it up!
15. Figs wrapped in parma ham
Sweet, juicy figs are an absolute treat when wrapped in silky, salty parma ham! It’s a simple side dish that takes minutes to prepare, but it’s a wonderful way to showcase the best produce you can find and make the most of seasonal figs in early autumn.
Secure the meat with a cocktail stick, and you can serve these delicious little morsels with a glass of wine as your guests arrive and everyone gathers round to enjoy the conversation.
The best side dishes for pasta arrabbiata
Choose from these sides for arrabbiata:
- Your favourite pizza
- Steamed greens
- A big Italian salad
- Courgette fries with garlic aioli
- Italian herb and cheese breadsticks
- Amalfi style prawns
- Caprese skewers
- Italian puff pastry pinwheels
- Figs wrapped in parma ham
Need some ideas for a sweet treat to serve up afterwards? Visit my guide to the best desserts for spaghetti for some delicious Italian inspired puddings!
