Italian Sausage Pasta Skillet

This Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe is a comforting yet veggie-packed meal that can be customized to each diner’s taste. Add spice, cheese or herbs!

Sausage and Peppers Pasta is a weeknight wonder!

What are the go to weeknight meals in your home?

For my family, it’s all about those all-in-one recipes, where your carbs, protein and veggies all come from the same recipe, no side dishes needed.

This Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe is a classic example. Ground sausage comes together with lots of onions and bell peppers in a simple tomato sauce, then you toss everything with pasta and dinner is served.

Italian Sausage Pasta Recipe ingredients

• pasta – I used mezzi rigatoni in my version, but just about any pasta shape will work here. I recommend a short, tube-like shape if possible (ziti, penne and regular rigatoni are some of my other favs here).
• sausage – the star of this dish! I chose a mild Italian sausage for my family, but you can also make it spicy. More on this later.
• garlic – adds a fragrant depth of flavor to the dish.
• bell peppers – the MVP veggie in this recipe. I used one red pepper and one yellow pepper, but any color combination of bell peppers works.
• onion – I used a yellow onion, but white onion works here too.
• white wine – this deglazes the pan and adds a bit of acidity. If you’d rather not use wine, use a little extra broth for that step instead.
• tomato sauce – canned tomato sauce adds a robust tomato flavor to this sausage and peppers pasta.
• broth – I prefer chicken broth here, but if you have veggie or beef broth on hand, those work too!
• oregano – dried oregano infuses the tomato sauce with a spaghetti sauce-like flavor.
• salt and pepper – seasons the dish to perfection.
• fresh herbs – optional, but finishing the dish with fresh basil or parsley adds a pretty and fragrant touch.
• Parmesan cheese – I like to add a sprinkle of Parmesan cheese to each serving of skillet pasta with sausage for that classic Italian cheesy goodness.
• Burrata or fresh mozzarella cheese – optional for a creamy and luxurious finish.
• red pepper flakes – add as little or as much as you want to each serving to kick up the heat!

How to make Pasta with Sausage and Peppers

1. Bring a pot of water to a boil and cook the pasta according to package directions.
2. Meanwhile, start cooking the sausage in a large skillet.
3. Add the garlic, bell peppers and onions to the sausage and continue cooking until the veggies are softened.
4. Deglaze the pan with wine, scraping up all the brown bits.
5. Add the tomato sauce, broth, oregano, salt and pepper to the skillet and simmer for a few minutes until the liquid has reduced by half.
6. Drain your pasta, reserving a bit of the cooking water in case you need it later.
7. Add the drained pasta to the skillet and toss and stir until everything is well combined.
8. If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of pasta cooking water to thin it out.
9. Scoop the pasta into bowls and garnish depending on each diner’s preference.

How to serve Spicy Sausage Pasta

This pasta can be served on its own directly from the skillet, or you can really jazz it up with a few final flourishes.

Fresh herbs like basil or parsley add vibrant color and flavor. Grated Parmesan cheese will add a salty bite that is always welcome with pasta.

Big slices of fresh mozzarella cheese or big pieces of torn burrata make for the most luxurious finish. They will slowly melt over each serving of pasta.

I love a hefty sprinkle of red pepper flakes to turn my serving into spicy sausage pasta, but kids may want to skip that. The great news is that each person can customize their serving.

What pairs well with sausage and peppers?

There’s veggies built right into this pasta, but if you’d like even more, I’d suggest a simple green salad with citrus vinaigrette. And nobody is going to turn down homemade garlic bread.

How about a rosemary cocktail to drink and some oven baked apples for dessert?

Skillet Pasta with Sausage storage

This Italian sausage pasta should be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

How long does sausage and peppers last in the fridge?

When stored properly, this pasta with sausage and peppers should last up to 3 days in the fridge.

Sausage Skillet Pasta FAQs