Quick & Zesty Sausage and Pepper Pasta Recipe That Kids Adore

Sausage and pepper pasta brings together a symphony of robust flavors that dance across your palate with Mediterranean charm.

Italian cuisine loves reimagineing simple ingredients into something extraordinary through careful preparation and passion.

Rich, hearty sausage provides a deep, savory foundation for this delightful dish that promises comfort in every bite.

Colorful bell peppers add brightness and crisp texture, creating a balanced meal that feels both rustic and refined.

Home cooks appreciate how quickly this recipe comes together, making it perfect for busy weeknight dinners or casual gatherings with friends.

The combination of spicy sausage and sweet peppers creates a harmonious blend that satisfies even the most discerning taste buds.

Authentic ingredients and straightforward techniques ensure spectacular results every single time.

Why Sausage and Pepper Pasta Hits All the Right Notes

• Savor Rich Flavor Explosion: This recipe delivers an incredible taste symphony where spicy sausage, sweet bell peppers, and tangy tomatoes dance together, creating a mouthwatering blend that surprises your taste buds with every single bite.
• Craft Quick Weeknight Comfort: Designed for busy home cooks, this one-pan meal comes together in under 30 minutes, offering maximum deliciousness with minimal kitchen effort and requiring just basic cooking skills.
• Experience Textural Harmony: The dish combines perfectly browned sausage crumbles, tender pasta, soft vegetables, and a velvety sauce that provides multiple delightful textures in each satisfying forkful.
• Customize with Ease: Versatile ingredients allow simple swaps like different protein options, vegetables, or spice levels, making this recipe adaptable to personal preferences and pantry availability.

Sausage and Pepper Pasta Ingredients You’ll Need

• Pasta: A classic base for this hearty dish, perfect for absorbing rich flavors and creating a satisfying meal.
• Tomato Paste: Adds deep, concentrated tomato flavor and helps thicken the sauce.
• Crushed Tomatoes: Provides a fresh, vibrant tomato base with natural sweetness.
• Chicken Stock: Enhances the overall depth and richness of the sauce.

• Sausage: Brings robust, savory flavor and adds protein to the dish, preferably a spicy Italian variety.
• Onion: Adds sweet and aromatic undertones to the sauce and provides depth of flavor.
• Bell Peppers: Introduces a colorful, slightly sweet vegetable element with a tender texture.
• Garlic: Offers a pungent, aromatic base that elevates the entire dish's flavor profile.

• Red Chili Flakes: Provides a subtle heat and spicy kick to the pasta.
• Italian Seasoning: A blend of herbs that adds authentic Mediterranean flavor.
• Parmesan Cheese: Offers a salty, nutty finish and creamy texture to the dish.
• Salt and Pepper: Essential for balancing and enhancing the overall taste.
• Olive Oil: Used for sautéing and adding a smooth, rich base to the cooking process.

How to Cook Sausage and Pepper Pasta at Home

Step 1: Prepare Pasta

Grab a large pot and fill it with water. Add a generous pinch of salt and bring to a rolling boil. Cook pasta according to package instructions until perfectly al dente. Before draining, carefully scoop out of pasta water and set aside.

Step 2: Brown the Sausage

Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Toss in sausage pieces and break them apart with a wooden spoon. Sizzle for 4-5 minutes until they develop a gorgeous golden-brown color.

Step 3: Sauté Colorful Vegetables

• Diced onions
• Sliced bell peppers

Add the vegetables to the sausage. Let them dance in the pan for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally until they become tender and slightly caramelized.

Step 4: Infuse with Aromatic Seasonings

• Chopped garlic
• Red chili flakes
• Italian seasoning

Stir and cook for 1 minute, allowing the spices to release their magical flavors.

Step 5: Create Luscious Sauce Base

Blend in tomato paste, then pour chicken stock and crushed tomatoes. Stir thoroughly and let the mixture simmer on low-medium heat for 10 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking.

Step 6: Marry Pasta and Sauce

Introduce the cooked pasta directly into the sauce. Toss enthusiastically to ensure every pasta strand gets perfectly coated. If the sauce seems too thick, splash in some reserved pasta water to achieve your desired consistency.

Step 7: Final Flavor Flourish

Sprinkle grated Parmesan into the dish. Season with salt and pepper to your taste. Serve immediately, with an optional extra shower of Parmesan on top for the ultimate comfort meal.

Tips for a Satisfying Sausage and Pepper Pasta

• Choose Quality Sausage: Select fresh Italian sausage with robust flavors like spicy or sweet for maximum taste impact.
• Master Al Dente Pasta: Cook pasta just until it's tender with a slight bite to prevent mushiness and maintain perfect texture.
• Control Pepper Sweetness: Roast bell peppers beforehand to enhance their natural sweetness and develop deeper flavor profiles.
• Create Sauce Harmony: Simmer sauce slowly to allow seasonings to blend and intensify, creating a more complex and rich taste.
• Pasta Water Magic: Reserve pasta water as a secret weapon to adjust sauce consistency and help ingredients bind together smoothly.

How to Keep Sausage and Pepper Pasta Fresh

• Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container within two hours of cooking. Cool the pasta completely before sealing to prevent bacterial growth and maintain optimal texture.
• Freezing: Preserve this delicious meal by transferring to a freezer-safe container, removing excess air. Freeze for up to three months, ensuring maximum freshness and flavor retention.
• Reheating: Revive the pasta by gently warming in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of chicken stock or water to restore moisture. Stir frequently to prevent sticking and ensure even heating. Alternatively, microwave in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to distribute heat evenly and prevent dryness.

Best Sidekicks for Sausage and Pepper Pasta

• Savor Spicy Red Wine Pairing: Grab a bold, medium-bodied red like Chianti or Zinfandel to complement the spicy sausage and pepper flavors, cutting through the richness with its vibrant acidity.
• Enhance with Fresh Herb Salad: Create a light, zesty side salad with mixed greens, fresh basil, parsley, and a lemony vinaigrette to balance the hearty pasta and provide a crisp contrast.
• Match with Crusty Garlic Bread: Serve warm, toasted garlic bread alongside the pasta to soak up the delicious sauce and add an extra layer of garlicky goodness to your meal.
• Cool Down with Crisp White Wine: Choose a Pinot Grigio or Sauvignon Blanc to refresh the palate and offer a light, citrusy counterpoint to the rich, spicy sausage and tomato sauce.

New Twists on Sausage and Pepper Pasta

• Spicy Southwest Sausage Pasta: Replace Italian seasoning with taco seasoning, add diced jalapeños, and top with fresh cilantro for a zesty Mexican-inspired version.
• Mediterranean Herb Sausage Pasta: Swap chicken stock for white wine, add crumbled feta cheese, and mix in fresh oregano and basil for a Greek-style adaptation.
• Creamy Sausage and Pepper Pasta: Stir in heavy cream or cream cheese at the end for a rich, velvety sauce that adds extra indulgence to the dish.
• Vegetarian Pepper Pasta: Substitute sausage with plant-based sausage crumbles or roasted chickpeas, maintaining the same vegetable and seasoning profile for a meat-free alternative.

Sausage And Pepper Pasta Delight Recipe

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4.6 from 8 reviews

• Total Time: 25 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Sausage and Pepper Pasta Delight brings Italian-inspired comfort to your dinner table with hearty sausage, colorful bell peppers, and perfectly al dente pasta. Rich flavors meld together, creating a satisfying meal that promises warmth and deliciousness you’ll crave again and again.

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Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Main Protein:

• 400 g (1 lb) Italian sausage, casings removed, cut into bite-sized pieces

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 green bell pepper, sliced
• 2 large garlic cloves, finely chopped

Pasta and Other Ingredients:

• 250 g (8.8 oz) pasta
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
• 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
• 2 tablespoons tomato paste
• 200 ml (1 cup) chicken stock
• 1 x 400 g (14 oz) can crushed tomatoes
• 30 g (⅓ cup) grated Parmesan

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Instructions

1. Prepare a generously salted large pot of water (about 4 quarts) and cook pasta according to package instructions until it reaches al dente texture. Carefully extract and reserve of pasta water before draining.
2. Heat olive oil in a spacious skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high temperature. Crumble and brown sausage pieces for 4-5 minutes, breaking them into smaller fragments using a wooden spoon.
3. Introduce diced onions and sliced bell peppers into the sausage-filled pan. Sauté for approximately 5-6 minutes, stirring periodically until vegetables soften and develop slight caramelization.
4. Incorporate minced garlic, red chili flakes, and Italian seasoning. Allow ingredients to mingle and release aromatic flavors for 60-90 seconds.
5. Blend tomato paste thoroughly into the mixture, then gradually pour chicken stock and crushed tomatoes. Stir components to create a cohesive sauce and reduce heat to low-medium. Simmer for 10-12 minutes, occasionally stirring to prevent sticking.
6. Transfer cooked pasta directly into the sauce, gently tossing to ensure comprehensive coating. Adjust sauce consistency by gradually adding reserved pasta water if needed.
7. Finish the dish by folding in grated Parmesan cheese. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper according to personal preference. Serve immediately, with optional additional Parmesan sprinkled on top for enhanced flavor profile.

Notes

• Quick and Easy Weeknight Meal that combines hearty sausage, colorful bell peppers, and perfectly cooked pasta in a rich, flavorful tomato sauce.
• Versatile Dish allows you to swap Italian sausage with chicken sausage or use different colored bell peppers for a personalized touch.
• Reserved Pasta Water is a pro cooking hack that helps create a silky, well-coated sauce by adding starchy liquid to thin or bind the sauce.
• One-Pan Wonder saves time on cleanup and allows flavors to develop deeply by cooking everything in the same skillet.
• Customize Heat Level by adjusting red chili flakes to suit your spice preference, making it friendly for all taste buds.
• Fresh Parmesan Cheese adds a luxurious, salty finish that elevates the entire dish’s complexity and depth of flavor.

• Prep Time: 5 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Italian-American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 520 kcal
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 820 mg
• Fat: 32 g
• Saturated Fat: 11 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
• Trans Fat: 0.5 g
• Carbohydrates: 35 g
• Fiber: 4 g
• Protein: 28 g
• Cholesterol: 85 mg