Hot Sausage and Pepper Pasta
Hot sausage and pepper pasta is packed with jumbo black olives, fresh bell pepper slices, and sliced Italian sausage. This easy 30 minute pasta dish is a crowd pleaser!
Table of Contents
Bell pepper and sausage pasta
It may be one degree shy of Hell’s kitchen in Florida, but I’m digging into a warm bowl of pasta no matter what. Pasta is life.
This hot sausage and pepper pasta is a fun spin on the classic pepper and sausage skillet meal everyone knows and loves. Hot Italian sausage makes any meal super tasty, but wow, this dish is supreme.
Onion and garlic is sautéd in the sausage grease after it’s done cooking. Crushed tomatoes are added to the pan to create the sauce, then simmered with the sausage to infuse the flavors. Bell peppers are thinly sliced and tossed in the pan with cooked pasta and olives. The flavors and aroma is unimaginable.
This dish is easy to prepare and cooks quickly. The sauce does not need to simmer like traditional Italian sauces, thanks to the additional added flavor of the hot sausage. Fair warning: you might not have leftovers… it’s just that good.
Hot sausage and pepper pasta ingredients
- Spaghetti pasta- Any pasta will be perfect for this recipe, but slurping long strands of spaghetti really hits different.
- Bell peppers- Have fun with this dish and use different colored bell peppers to add color and vibrance!
- Hot Italian sausage- The sausage adds flavor to the sauce that is truly irresistible.
- Onion
- Garlic
- Jumbo olives– Big, juicy jumbo black olives really adds something to this dish, but feel free to skip if your not a big olive fan.
- Spices- Basil, red pepper flakes, and oregano are the key players in flavoring this red sauce.
Chef’s tips
- Use snacking peppers for a sweeter sauce. If you want to really spruce this dinner up, use snacking peppers, which are smaller and thinner than regular bell peppers. They are crunchy, sweet, and super delicious!
- Sauté the onion and garlic in the sausage grease. Cook the sausage in the pan first. Next, remove the sausage and place them to the side, but leave the grease. Sauté the diced onion and garlic in the hot sausage grease to infuse the flavors.
- Don’t cook the pasta all the way. Cook the pasta for 2 minutes under the recommended al dente cooking time. After the pasta is done cooking, you will toss the pasta with the sauce and continue to cook for 2-5 more minutes, which will continue to cook the pasta until it is done.
How to make sausage and pepper pasta
- Cook the sausage. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the sausage links and cook on each side for about 2 minutes. The sausage does not have to cook thoroughly as it will be added to the sauce to simmer for additional time.
- Sauté the onion and garlic, then add the sauce. Once the sausage is done cooking, remove it from the pan and place to the side. Leave the grease in the pan, then add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent (about 3 minutes). Next, add the crushed tomatoes, salt, and spices, and give it a good stir. Slice the sausage into 1/2 inch thick pieces, then let it simmer.
- Cook the pasta. Heat up a large pot of salted water to a roaring boil. Add the pasta and cook it for 2 minutes under the al dente cooking time. Save 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta.
- Toss the pasta in the sauce. Add the pasta to the sauce and mix well. Turn the heat to medium heat and add the pasta water as needed to maintain a good sauce consistency. Add the sliced peppers and olives, then cook for 5 minutes.
- Serve. Top this delicious dish with parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and a pinch of red pepper flakes!
How to store and reheat sausage and pepper pasta
Store the pasta dish in an airtight container and place in the fridge for up to 4 days.
To reheat this dish, place an individual serving in the microwave for 1 minute, or place it in the oven at 350 degrees for 5 minutes.
What goes with sausage and pepper pasta
- Oven roasted asparagus is such an easy side dish that is healthy, delicious, and fast cooking.
- Crispy pan fried broccoli florets are equally healthy and addicting! Robust olive oil and raw garlic adds a perfect touch of flavor.
- These White Wine and Lemon Roasted Artichoke Halves are packed with flavor and nutrition. With complimenting hints of white wine and lemon, with lemon zest, the artichokes are juicy and delicious!
- This delicious Italian sub salad is jam packed with all the best Italian sub ingredients and drizzled with a homemade vinaigrette- without the bread!
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Hot Sausage and Pepper Pasta
Equipment
- Sharp knife
- Cutting Board
- Large pan
- Large pot
Ingredients
- 1 lb spaghetti pasta
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 5 links hot Italian sausage
- 1 small yellow onion finely chopped
- 3 cloves of garlic finely chopped
- 1 28 oz. crushed tomatoes
- 1 tsp basil
- 1/2 tsp oregano
- 1/8 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 2 bell peppers thinly sliced
- 1 15 oz can of jumbo black olives
Instructions
- Cook the sausage. Heat a tablespoon of olive oil over medium heat. Once the pan is hot, add the sausage links and cook on each side for about 2 minutes. The sausage does not have to cook thoroughly as it will be added to the sauce to simmer for additional time.
- Sauté the onion and garlic, then add the sauce. Once the sausage is done cooking, remove it from the pan and place to the side. Leave the grease in the pan, then add the onion and garlic and sauté until the onion is translucent (about 3 minutes). Next, add the crushed tomatoes, salt, basil, oregano, red pepper flakes, and give it a good stir. Slice the sausage into 1/2 inch thick pieces,place back in the pan, then let it simmer.
- Cook the pasta. Heat up a large pot of salted water to a roaring boil. Add the pasta and cook it for 2 minutes under the al dente cooking time. Save 1 cup of the pasta water. Drain the pasta.
- Toss the pasta in the sauce. Add the pasta to the sauce and mix well. Turn the heat to medium heat and add the pasta water as needed to maintain a good sauce consistency. Add the sliced peppers and olives, then cook for 5 minutes.
- Serve. Top this delicious dish with parmesan cheese, fresh parsley, and a pinch of red pepper flakes! Mangia!
Nutrition
Nutrition values are estimates, for exact values consult a nutritionist.
