Calabrian Chili Spinach Pasta (Only 20 Minutes!)
Updated Jan 30, 2026
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This Calabrian Chili Spinach Pasta is a quick, flavorful weeknight dinner made with garlic, shallots, baby spinach, and Calabrian chili paste folded into a buttery, lightly spicy sauce. It has just the right balance of heat and freshness, and comes together in just 20 minutes.
Looking for more pastas that take less then 30 minutes to make? Try my Easy Creamy Sun-Dried Tomato Pasta, Lemon Cacio e Pepe, or Italian Chicken Sausage and Brussels Sprouts Pasta next.
🐝 Quick Look: Calabrian Chili Spinach Pasta Recipe
- ⏱ Prep Time: 5 minutes
- 🔥 Cook Time: 15 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 20 minutes
- 🍽 Serves: 2
- ⚡ Calories: ~545 per serving
- 🍳 Cook Method: Boiled pasta, quick stovetop sauce
- 🧂 Main Ingredients: Pasta, Calabrian chili paste, garlic, baby spinach, butter
- 👩🍳 Flavor Profile: Spicy, garlicky, buttery, fresh herbs
- ⭐ Difficulty: Easy. 20 minute recipe
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Big flavor, minimal ingredients: Calabrian chili paste, garlic, and butter create a bold, savory sauce without the need for a long ingredient list. If you enjoy Calabrian chili paste, try my Calabrian Chili Shrimp Scampi Pasta or Spicy Calabrian Chili Pasta next.
- Ready in just 20 minutes: This is a true weeknight pasta that comes together fast, making it perfect for busy evenings. Creamy Orange Tomato Pasta is another extra-fast pasta recipe to try.
- Easy to customize: Adjust the heat, swap in your favorite short pasta shape, or add protein like shrimp or Crispy Parmesan Chicken to make it your own.
- Fresh but comforting: Baby spinach and parsley keep the dish bright and balanced, while butter and Parmesan add just enough richness.
Table of Contents
Key Ingredients
See the recipe card below for the complete list of ingredients with exact quantities.
- Calabrian Chili Paste: Calabrian chili paste adds a spicy, slightly smoky heat that gives this pasta its signature flavor. I often use Cento, but Trader Joe’s Bomba Sauce is another great option. Heat levels vary by brand, so start small and adjust to taste.
- Shellbow Pasta: Short pasta shapes like shells or shellbows work best for this recipe because they hold onto the chili butter sauce. Shelbows are also sold as lumache or pipe rigate.
Recipe Tip
- Calabrian chili paste: Heat levels vary by brand. Start with 1 teaspoon if you are sensitive to spice and add more to taste.
- Pasta shape: Shells, shellbows (also called lumache or pipe rigate), or other short pasta shapes work best for holding the sauce.
- Butter: Salted butter works best here. If using unsalted butter, season a bit more aggressively at the end.
- Add protein: Shrimp or sliced chicken such as Crispy Parmesan Chicken can be added to make this pasta more filling.
How to Make Calabrian Chili Spinach Pasta
See the recipe card below for full instructions and exact amounts.
- Cook the pasta until al dente. Meanwhile, sauté minced shallots and garlic in olive oil until soft and fragrant.
- Add Calabrian chili paste along with salt and black pepper and cook briefly to bloom the flavors.
- Add the spinach and stir until just wilted.
- Add the cooked pasta, butter, parsley, and a few splashes of hot pasta water. Stir until a glossy sauce forms.
Calabrian Chili Spinach Pasta FAQs
This pasta has a moderate kick from the Calabrian chili paste, but the heat level can be easily adjusted. Different brands vary in spice, so start with 1 teaspoon if you are sensitive to heat and add more to taste. The butter and Parmesan also help balance the spice.
Short pasta shapes work best because they hold onto the sauce. Shells and shellbows are great options, and shellbows are also sold as lumache or pipe rigate. Other short shapes like orecchiette or rigatoni will also work well.
Yes. Shrimp or sliced chicken are easy additions and pair well with the chili butter sauce. Cook the protein separately or in the skillet before adding the shallots and garlic, then continue with the recipe as written.
More Recipes with Calabrian Chili Paste
30 Minutes or Less
Calabrian Chili Shrimp Scampi Pasta
30 Minutes or Less
Spicy Calabrian Chili Pasta
30 Minutes or Less
30 Minute Miso Calabrian Chili Shrimp Pasta
Calabrian Chili Spinach Pasta
Equipment
Ingredients
- 8 ounces Pasta
- 1 teaspoon Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1 Shallot, minced
- 4 cloves Garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Calabrian Chili Paste, adjust to taste
- Kosher Salt & Black Pepper, to taste
- 2 cups Baby Spinach
- 1 tablespoon Salted Butter
- ¼ cup Fresh Parsley, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons Parmesan Cheese , freshly grated (for serving)
Instructions
- Cook pasta: Bring a large pot of well-salted water to a boil. Cook pasta until al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain.
- Sauté aromatics: Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add shallot and garlic and cook for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring often, until fragrant and softened.
- Bloom chili paste: Add Calabrian chili paste along with a pinch of salt and black pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, stirring often, to bloom the flavors.
- Wilt spinach: Add spinach to the pan and stir until just wilted, about 30 to 60 seconds.
- Finish pasta: Add cooked pasta to the skillet along with a few splashes of reserved pasta water. Toss to combine. Add butter and parsley and stir until the butter melts and the sauce lightly coats the pasta. Add more pasta water as needed for a glossy finish.
- Serve: Divide among bowls and finish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese.
Notes
- Pasta shape: Shells and shellbows (also called lumache or pipe rigate) both work well for this recipe because they hold onto the chili butter sauce. Other short pasta shapes like orecchiette or rigatoni also work.
- Butter: This recipe was originally tested with a salted, infused Kerrygold butter blend that is no longer available. Salted Kerrygold butter works perfectly and is now what I recommend.
- Salt levels: Because salted butter and Parmesan both add salt, start light with kosher salt and adjust at the end.
- Calabrian chili paste: Heat levels vary by brand. Start with 1 teaspoon if you are sensitive to spice and increase as needed.
- Pasta water: Use hot reserved pasta water to help emulsify the sauce and coat the pasta evenly. Reserve the pasta water before draining, or cook the pasta alongside the sauce and transfer it directly from the pot to the skillet so some pasta water comes along with it.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Who doesn’t love a 20 minute recipe?! I especially love this one because it’s packed with flavor from the Calabrian chili paste. I hope you love it!