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This authentic Sicilian spaghetti recipe is so easy and it takes only 5 ingredients to make it! Spaghetti Siciliana is a fiery mix of hot pasta mixed with lots of garlic, sun-dried tomatoes, chillies and olive oil. Simple and gorgeous!
If spaghetti is your favourite type of pasta, take a look at my Spaghetti Puttanesca recipe, that takes only 15 minutes to throw together!
As some of you know, I just returned from Italy 2 days ago and this recipe, along with Sicilian sun-dried tomatoes in a small tupperware container, was one of the things I brought home with me.
I was so blessed to be surrounded by amazing Italian homecooks, who gave me tips and advice on cooking authentic dishes from various regions of Italy. The sun-dried tomatoes were an unexpected gift from our dear hostess.
You gotta love Italian generosity and hospitality! I just briefly mentioned during lunch that I liked the tomatoes and she immediately pulled them off the table, put a lid on and handed them to me while saying, “Can you take them on the plane?”
As I was leaving, another friend quickly told me how to prepare this amazing spaghetti recipe. And in two days I’ve been home I’ve cooked it twice!
I was absolutely thrilled. You can never have too many spaghetti recipes!
Spaghetti Recipes
Spaghetti is quite possibly the most popular pasta shape outside of Italy. It is most definitely the first one we learn to love as children.
My kids enjoyed their first taste of Spaghetti with simple Tomato Sauce for a long time until they graduated into appreciating more complex flavours like Spaghetti Bolognese, meaty ragu cooked with vegetables for hours!
Now as teens their absolute favourite pasta dish is Spaghetti Carbonara. So delicious, creamy and once again so simple. The hallmark of Italian cuisine!
This pasta is beautiful in its simplicity. So flavourful and satisfying! Here is what you will need.

What ingredients go into Sicilian spaghetti?
- spaghetti
- olive oil
- sun dried tomatoes
- dried chilli flakes
- garlic
You can also add parsley and Parmesan cheese.

How to get most flavour
Before I start, I would like to say that the flavour of your dish will almost solely rest on the quality of sun-dried tomatoes, so keep that in mind when you are buying them. Get the best quality you can afford, after all you only need a little jar!
In a large pot of boiling and salted water cook your spaghetti according to package direction. I usually subtract 2 minutes off the cooking time suggested, this way you get them al dente.

Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a frying pan and add minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and red chilli flakes, cook while stirring over low heat for 1 minute, then add half of your chopped parsley. Set aside.
Drain your cooked pasta and toss everything together in the same pan, add salt to taste and remaining half of chopped parsley.
Serve with grated Parmesan cheese on top. Seriously, it couldn’t get any easier or tastier than that! Buon Appetito!

More traditional pasta recipes
- Pasta al Forno
- Fresh Pappardelle Carbonara with Arugula
- Tuna Pasta with Capers
- Bucatini Cacio e Pepe
Spaghetti alla Siciliana

Ingredients
- 2 tbsp This is an affiliate link.olive oil
- 3 cloves garlic
- 1-2 tsp red chilli flakes
- 4 tsbp This is an affiliate link.sun-dried tomatoes, chopped
- 2 tbsp flat leaf parsley, chopped
- 500g/1lbs This is an affiliate link.spaghetti
- salt, to taste
- 2 tbsp Grana Padano or Parmesan
Instructions
- In a large pot of boiling and salted water cook your spaghetti according to package direction.
- Meanwhile, heat 2 tbsp. of olive oil in a frying pan and add minced garlic, sun-dried tomatoes and red chilli flakes, cook while stirring over low heat for 1 minute, then add half of your chopped parsley. Set aside.
- Drain your cooked pasta and toss everything together in the same pan, add salt to taste and remaining half of chopped parsley. Serve with grated cheese on top.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.










This sounds delicious, but pasta is a no no for me. Do you think spaghetti squash would work? I was thinking maybe bake squash halves in shell, then fill cavity with sauce mixture. Also, could you add baked chicken, chopped or diced? Looking for ways to remove carbs and add protein.
This recipe doesn’t really make a sauce but rather seasoning to spaghetti. You can definitely apply the same flavours to squash and add chicken to it but it will be a completely different dish.
Not a fan of sun dried tomatoes, any other substitute?
Not for this recipe as the sun dried tomatoes are basically the main flavour that makes it what it is.
Lemon + lemon zest
I do this recipe all the time. My go to pastime. Sometimes a little ricotta on top
Ricotta on top sounds delish!!
Tried this recipe but with a twist i added chopped honey glazed bacon first i fried the bacon until its quite crisp and set aside and and ussing the oil from the bacon i added the olive oil and proceeded with your instruction and when all is combined I put back the fried bacon gave it a toss or two and added the cooked pasta it turned out great thanks for this recipe
Sounds delicious!! 🙂
Freezing leftovers….?
Hi Val you can certainly do it but I don’t like freezing pasta because I find it gets too soft when defrosted. I like mine al dente. If it doesn’t bother you, then yes!
My family was stationed in Sicily for 5 years and I miss the food. I have had this dish made with chopped anchovies. They give the dish a nice subtle saltiness.
I love anchovies and use them in so many pasta dishes! I can see how this spaghetti recipe would be enhanced by them. Thank you for sharing, Lori.
So delicious and quick
I have a five year old and a two year old that ate this with a side of salmon
Loved the pic
I am so happy to hear this dish is young kid approved! Your comment totally made my day, Ninaa.
Hello! I made this for dinner last night for hubby and me! We loved it! Sooo delicious! I prefer this over spaghetti sauce in the store any day!! So fresh and tasty and we love the spicy kick the red pepper flakes offer! Thanks for sharing! This is now on our favorite list!!
Wow. This looks good, I’m surprised there is no eggplant as I grew up with past Sicilians having them in there..but I was a child it could have been another dish 🤷♀️
The dish with eggplant you are referring to is called pasta alla Norma, Kristina but this is just another quick way of serving spaghetti.
Made this again tonight. Have to say it has become our fave spaghetti dish.
Thanks for Sharing
Oh yeah the better the sun dried tomatoes the better the dish.
Pure class
That’s awesome, Nigel! So pleased you love it.