Sometimes you just don't have the time boil a whole big pot of water to make pasta. Maybe you also don't want to dirty a pan for a sauce either. Trader Joe's Penne Arrabbiata is a decent choice in the freezer aisle, but may need some adapating to what you like.
The pros: Â Trader Joe's Penne Arrabbiata is al dente pasta with a slightly spicy tomato sauce. Out of the microwave was pretty good for freezer food.
The cons:  Don't expect the Arrabbiata sauce to blow you away. It's just ok because there is one classic flavor missing.
The verdict: Â For $2.99 you get a bag of pasta that is ready in under 10 minutes. You can make this on the stove top or in the microwave. I was surprised by how al dente the pasta came out from the microwave. Usually the microwave tends to be the worst way to prepare an item. Thus, for me it's the best way to really test a product's limits.
The sauce is a slightly chunky tomato sauce with lots of parsley mixed in. What really makes an Arrabbiata angry is the spice. This has a good amount of heat coming from the chili peppers. There was a flavor here that was missing and I'm shocked that a pasta coming from Italy would miss this: basil.
This is a good starting point, but I think this product will need your love and attention if you choose to buy it. You'll need either some Italian seasoning or some basil, plus some cheese for sprinkling.
Not a terrible product, but not outstanding either. This goes in the just ok. Will I buy this again? I might keep a bag on hand just in case for a quick meal for 2. Otherwise, I can also live without this.
The bag in the freezer aisle: Â 
The nutritional information:
The ingredients, allergy information and where Trader Joe's Penne Arrabiata is made:
How to prepare:
Out of the package you get:
After being cooked (in the microwave in my case) you get:
Would I buy this again?  This was ok, I'd rather just make my own pasta and add some red sauce with some red chili flakes and call it Arrabbiata.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
RossC says
We have had this a number of times.. As you say, its one of those meals to keep in the freezer just in case... As with many of TJ's offerings, I usually add a bit of this or a bit of that to make it my own.. I've not used the microwave to cook any of TJ's meals so, I don't have that method for comparison..
David says
Sorry will not be buying this again - way too salty for my taste buds and the package content shows 25% of the daily rise of sodium / top ingredient. Not tasty and not good for you.
becomebetty says
Hey David! Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on this product. Hope you'll stop by again!