Penne Arrabbiata with Grilled Chicken
Penne Arrabbiata with Grilled Chicken is a popular Italian-American pasta dish featuring tube-shaped penne pasta tossed in a spicy tomato-based 'arrabbiata' sauce, meaning 'angry' in Italian, and topped with tender, grilled chicken breast. The sauce typically includes garlic, red chili flakes, and fresh basil, creating a fiery yet flavorful profile. While the classic arrabbiata is a simple Roman pasta, adding grilled chicken transforms it into a more substantial, protein-rich meal.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is well-balanced, offering a good mix of carbohydrates from the pasta, protein from the chicken, and healthy fats from olive oil used in the sauce and grilling. It provides key nutrients like lycopene from the tomatoes, iron, and B vitamins from the chicken, with a typical serving containing roughly 500-700 calories, depending on portion size and specific ingredients.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 550 kcal |
| Protein | 35 g |
| Carbs | 55 g |
| Fat | 20 g |
| Fiber | 6 g |
| Sugar | 7 g |
| Sodium | 850 mg |
| Potassium | 650 mg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Vitamin A | 80 mcg RAE |
| Calcium | 80 mg |
| Iron | 3.5 mg |
| Phosphorus | 380 mg |
| Vitamin B6 | 0.6 mg |
| Niacin (B3) | 10 mg |
Per 1 plate (350 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The name 'arrabbiata' humorously references the 'angry' heat from the chili flakes, which is a hallmark of Roman cuisine's love for bold, simple flavors. Nutritionally, the combination of grilled chicken with a tomato-based sauce is a smart way to boost protein intake while keeping the dish relatively light compared to cream-based pasta alternatives.
