Classic Italian Sausage & Peppers Pasta 🌶️🌿🥩🍝 Bold, Rustic, and Bursting With Sweet Peppers and Savory Sausage in Every Bite

This dish channels old-school Italian-American comfort: juicy sausage, sweet bell peppers, caramelized onions, and pasta tossed in a garlicky tomato sauce.

It’s hearty, fast, and totally satisfying — the kind of meal that tastes like it simmered all day, but hits the table in under 40 minutes.

Ingredients (Serves 3–4)

For the pasta

• 12 oz rigatoni, penne, or fusilli
• Salted water for boiling
• ½ cup reserved pasta water

For the sausage & vegetables

• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1 lb Italian sausage (hot or sweet, casings removed)
• 1 small red onion, sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 yellow or orange bell pepper, sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• Optional: ¼ tsp red pepper flakes

For the sauce

• 1 (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes or tomato puree
• 2 tbsp tomato paste
• ¼ cup pasta water (to loosen, as needed)
• Optional: splash of balsamic vinegar or dry red wine

To finish

• Grated Parmesan
• Fresh basil or parsley
• Optional: drizzle of chili oil or olive oil

Instructions

Step 1: Cook the pasta
Boil pasta until al dente. Reserve pasta water, then drain.

Step 2: Brown the sausage
In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium-high. Add sausage, breaking it up with a spoon. Cook until browned and just cooked through. Remove and set aside.

Step 3: Sauté peppers & onions
In the same skillet, add a bit more oil if needed. Add onions and peppers. Cook 6–8 minutes until softened and lightly charred. Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook 1 minute more.

Step 4: Build the sauce
Add tomato paste and stir to coat. Pour in crushed tomatoes and a splash of pasta water or wine. Simmer 5–7 minutes until thickened slightly.

Step 5: Combine
Return sausage to the pan. Stir in cooked pasta and toss to coat in the sauce. Add more pasta water if needed to loosen.

Step 6: Serve hot
Top with Parmesan, fresh herbs, and a drizzle of olive or chili oil.

Flavor Variations

• Use roasted garlic or shallots for sweetness
• Add fennel seeds or smoked paprika for depth
• Stir in spinach or arugula at the end for freshness
• Use orecchiette or shells to catch the sausage crumbles
• Add a splash of cream for a rosé-style twist

Pro Tips

• Brown sausage well — the fond adds big flavor to the sauce
• Cook peppers until softened but not mushy for ideal texture
• Tomato paste = flavor boost — toast it briefly before adding sauce
• Pasta water helps emulsify and cling sauce to the noodles
• Use quality sausage — it’s the backbone of the dish

Final Thoughts

Classic Sausage & Peppers Pasta is bold, saucy, and endlessly comforting. It’s a rustic dinner staple that feels both nostalgic and exciting — no baking, no layering, just straight-up skillet satisfaction.

Sear it. Simmer it. Let the peppers bring the sweetness. 🌶️🌿🥩🍝

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