Sausage and Peppers Pasta
A savory Sausage and Peppers Pasta featuring al dente pasta tossed with colorful peppers, spicy Italian sausage, and a flavorful sauce!
If you need a quick, easy dinner idea, then you’ve got to try this sausage and peppers pasta. The noodles are perfectly cooked so that they soak up all those amazing flavors.
For our recipe, we used spicy Italian sausage and a medley of colorful bell peppers. Then we added onions, garlic, diced tomatoes, and some Italian seasonings.
Best of all, this homemade meal is done in less than 40-minutes!
Recipe Tips:
- To create a thicker tomato sauce, consider adding extra diced tomatoes. You may need to add extra spices if you choose to add the extra tomatoes.
- You don’t have to slice the sausages, they can be served whole. However, the cook time may need to be increased slightly once they’re added back to the pan. You don’t want to consume raw sausages!
- We like to use a variety of peppers. Red bell peppers and yellow bell peppers yield some of the best flavor and beautiful colors.
- Add a pinch or two of red pepper flakes for a touch of heat.
- We use penne pasta but most short pasta will work.
- Parmesan cheese or Pecorino Romano cheese make excellent toppings for this dish.
Can I use any type of sausage for this pasta dish?
Yes, you can use any type of sausage for this pasta dish according to your preference. The recipe is versatile and can accommodate various types of sausages such as Italian sausage, kielbasa, chorizo, chicken sausage, or even a meat-free sausage for a vegetarian option.
However, each type of sausage will impart a unique flavor to your dish, so choose accordingly based on your taste. Changing the type of sausage may also change the cook time.
Can I use gluten-free pasta?
Absolutely, gluten-free pasta can be used in this sausage and peppers pasta recipe. Once cooked, simply substitute it for the regular pasta in the recipe. It will absorb the flavors of the sausage and peppers just as well.
How can I reheat the pasta without it becoming too dry?
To reheat the sausage bell pepper pasta without it becoming too dry, you can add a small amount of water, chicken broth, or a little bit of olive oil before microwaving or heating it in a skillet. This will prevent the pasta from drying out and help retain its moisture.
Can I add other vegetables to the dish?
Yes, you can add other vegetables to this sausage and peppers pasta dish. Feel free to add vegetables based on your personal preferences or what’s currently in season.
Zucchini, mushrooms, spinach, or even cherry tomatoes would make great additions. Just remember to adjust the cooking time depending on what vegetables you add.
Is it possible to add more sauce to this dish?
Yes, you can definitely add more sauce to this sausage and peppers pasta dish. If you prefer your pasta to be saucier, add additional diced tomatoes (drained this time), some tomato sauce, tomato paste with pasta water, or crushed tomatoes.
Keep in mind that you may need to increase the Italian seasoning to compensate for the increase in tomatoes.
Alternatively, skip the diced tomatoes and Italian seasonings, and purchase a jar of pasta sauce at the grocery store or use homemade marinara sauce. Stir it into the sausage and peppers for a delicious dinner.
How to Store Leftovers:
Refrigerator: Leftover sausage and peppers pasta can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheating: To reheat the next day, simply microwave it on half power for a couple of minutes, stirring in between to ensure even heating. Alternatively, you can reheat it in a skillet over medium heat until it’s heated through.
Freezing: For longer storage, you can freeze the pasta. Ensure it’s cooled down before transferring it to freezer-safe containers or bags. It can be stored in the freezer for up to 2 months. To reheat, allow it to thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then heat it in the microwave or in a skillet.
Ingredients
- 16 ounces cooked pasta noodles, penne, ziti, rigatoni, etc.
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil, canola, vegetable, olive, etc.
- 5 Italian sausage links
- 1 cup red bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
- 1 cup white onion, thinly sliced
- 1 tablespoon garlic, minced or pressed
- 28 ounces diced tomatoes, 1 large can; undrained
- 2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil, and cook the pasta noodles according to the package directions. While the noodles cook, prepare the sausage and peppers sauce.16 ounces cooked pasta noodles
- Heat a large, 12-inch skillet or larger, over low-medium heat. Add the oil and sausages. Cook the sausages turning every 3-4 minutes until the outsides are browned. Remove from the pan to a waiting plate.1 tablespoon cooking oil5 Italian sausage links
- To the same skillet, add the peppers and onions. Cook for 5-7 minutes or until the peppers and onions begin to soften, then add the garlic. Cook for an additional 30 seconds to 1 minute. Cut the sausage into ½ inch thick circles and add back to the pan.1 cup red bell pepper1 cup yellow bell pepper1 cup orange bell pepper1 cup white onion1 tablespoon garlic
- Add the diced tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Stir to combine, and simmer over low heat for 8-10 minutes or until the sausage is cooked through. Taste, and add salt and pepper if desired.28 ounces diced tomatoes2 tablespoons Italian seasoning
- Stir in the cooked pasta noodles, and serve warm with a side salad or garlic bread.
Notes
- The calories listed are an approximation based on the ingredients in the recipe card and a serving size of about 2 cups of the sausage and peppers pasta. Actual calories will vary.
- This dish is meant to be enjoyed with all the ingredients together. Removing any of the ingredients will alter the flavor and could cause the recipe to taste drastically different than intended.
- The sausages can be left whole and served family style. Ensure the whole sausages are cooked through before serving.
Just saw your note in Recipe Tips. No need to get back to me. Thanks.
This recipe was not for the ninja foodi? If so why do you say to saute in a big skillet
Hi Linda!
We don’t have any Ninja Foodi recipes. This recipe was made in a Lodge brand cast iron skillet as shown in the photos. We simmered the ingredients, except for the pasta noodles which were cooked separately. The recipe in recipe card matches the photos and post/article. I’m not sure where it says Ninja Foodi, but it’s definitely not for that appliance. We hope you have a good weekend! 🙂
I made a half recipe and it was delicious!
We tried this today for dinner and we enjoyed it. Thank you for a quick and delicious meal
Hi Wendy!
We’re glad you and your family enjoyed the pasta! Thanks so much for coming back to comment. We hope you have a wonderful week! 🙂
Hello,
Thank you for this recipe idea. What we did, used Boarshead chicken sausages; chorizo & Italian. Got the tomatoes, used 2 cans, drained Rotel. This was a successful Sunday dinner. Took a picture, would love to attach.
Good Morning George, we’re glad to hear you enjoyed the dish. You can email us the photo if you like. We don’t allow attachments on our comments. You can imagine the kinds of photos we might get if we allowed that lol! Feel free to send it to Kim or me at one of the email addresses below. Thank you again for commenting and have a great day 🙂
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