Italian Sausage Pasta

Zesty Italian sausage is cooked with red peppers, garlic, tomatoes, and seasonings, then added to freshly cooked pasta for a perfect savory dinner.

Flavor: This pasta dish is packed with zesty Italian flavors and can be as mild or spicy as you like.
Skill Level: With simple ingredients, skillet meals like this one make cooking and cleanup a breeze.
Serving: Garnish with fresh basil or parmesan and serve with your favorite garlic bread or a simple green salad.

rigatoni , oil , italian seasoning , garlic , salt and pepper , italian sausage , crushed tomatoes , parmesan , tomato paste , basil , diced tomatoes , pepper , onion with labels to make Italian Sausage Pasta

Ingredient Tips for Italian Sausage Pasta

Sausage: Choose mild or spicy Italian sausage depending on how spicy you want it; use bulk sausage or remove it from casings. Try swapping the sausage for leftover ground beef, chicken, or turkey.
Pasta: This recipe calls for rigatoni, but feel free to use rotini, bowtie, or penne pasta.
Veggies: Peppers, onions, and tomatoes make up the base of this recipe. Spinach, kale, asparagus, and even a bag of vegetable medley add color, texture, and a nutritional bump to this recipe.
Seasonings: Savory homemade Italian seasoning is perfect for this recipe. No time to make it? Store-bought works, too!

cooking peppers to make Italian Sausage Pasta

cooking meat with onions and garlic to make Italian Sausage Pasta

How to Make Italian Sausage Pasta

Cook pasta until al dente. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water.
Cook peppers in oil until they’re softened and charred. Set aside.
Brown sausage and onions. Drain any fat and then add garlic.
Stir in the remaining ingredients (full recipe below).
Simmer until slightly thickened (adding more pasta water if needed).
Stir in pasta, and top with basil and parmesan before serving.

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Leftover Italian sausage pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Or bake them into a casserole with a breadcrumb topping at 350°F to make a whole new dish.

Freezing isn’t recommended, but this recipe is so easy, simply start fresh!

Perfect Pairings for Italian Sausage Pasta

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image of Everyday Comfort cookbook by Holly Nilsson of Spend With Pennies plus text

Sausage & Roasted Pepper Linguine in a bowl with tomatoes in the background

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Italian sausage pasta is a hearty and flavorful dish made with savory sausage, tender noodles, and a rich tomato sauce.

Prep Time 20 minutes

Cook Time 45 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 5 minutes

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Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook to al dente according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water and then drain well.
Heat olive oil in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add red peppers and cook, stirring often, until peppers are charred and starting to soften. Remove from pot and set aside.
To the Dutch oven, add Italian sausage and onion. Brown sausage, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain any fat. Add garlic and cook 30 seconds more.
Stir in diced tomatoes (with juices), crushed tomatoes, charred red peppers, ½ cup pasta water, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper. Let simmer uncovered for 30 minutes or until slightly thickened, adding additional pasta water if needed.
Taste and season with additional salt and pepper if needed. Stir pasta into the sauce. Top with fresh basil and parmesan cheese.

*nutrition calculated without garnish
Store leftover Italian sausage pasta in an airtight container in the fridge and enjoy it within 4 days.

Nutrition information provided is an estimate and will vary based on cooking methods and brands of ingredients used.

Course Dinner, Entree, Main Course

Cuisine American, Italian

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