Simple pasta dinners are kind of my specialty and this easy pasta with sausage and peppers is definitely one of my favorites. It’s a super quick meal, the leftovers are great for lunch the next day (or the next *few* days), and it’s surprisingly hearty for just how simple it is. So the next time you need a quick dinner fix, give this pasta with sausage and peppers a try. I think you’re going to love it!
What’s in Pasta with Sausage and Peppers
One of the main reasons that I love this recipe is that it’s incredibly simple. The Italian sausage is already chock-full of herbs and spices, so you don’t have to add a whole lot more to the skillet to make everything flavorful. Here’s all you’ll need to make this awesome pasta dish:
- Italian Sausage: makes this dish hearty and adds TONS of flavor to the meal.
- Onion and Bell Peppers: these vegetables add color, texture, and a slight sweetness to the meal, which perfectly balances the rich sausage and spicy red pepper.
- Seasonings: I kept the seasonings simple since the sausage will add so much flavor. All you need is some fresh garlic, basil, oregano, and crushed red pepper. But you could totally use an Italian seasoning blend in place of the individual herbs.
- Pasta: I like to use penne pasta for this dish because the shape pairs well with the size of the sausage and peppers, and the ribbed texture helps grab onto the sauce.
- Jarred Pasta Sauce: Using a store-bought sauce keeps this recipe incredibly simple and the ingredient list short. It’s a shortcut worth taking, IMHO!
- Feta: a little sprinkle of feta cheese on top adds one last pop of flavor that really takes this dish to the next level! If you don’t have feta, a little grated Parmesan would also be awesome. ;)
What Kind of Sausage to Use
I think Italian sausage pairs best with this recipe and sweet, hot, or mild Italian sausage will all work fine. I prefer to use sausage in links so I can slice it into medallions, but you could also use loose Italian sausage if that’s what’s available.
If you prefer a chicken sausage to pork, you could definitely use that, just make sure it’s seasoned similarly to Italian sausage. You may also need to add a little extra fat to the skillet to make up for the fat that renders out of the pork sausage.
What Kind of Sauce to Use
I seriously love this dish with literally any kind of jarred pasta sauce, and for that reason I usually just reach for the most generic and inexpensive red sauce available. This time around I used Kroger’s Tomato + Basil tomato sauce. Nothing fancy, but still good, and definitely inexpensive! If you want to make your own sauce, you can try our simple Weeknight Pasta Sauce recipe (minus the ground beef).
Pasta with Sausage and Peppers
Servings 4Ingredients
- 2 Italian sausage links (about ½ lb.) ($2.40)
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil ($0.04)
- 1 red bell pepper ($1.50)
- 1 yellow onion ($0.37)
- 1 24oz. jar pasta sauce ($1.67)
- 1/2 tsp dried basil ($0.05)
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano ($0.05)
- 1/4 tsp crushed red pepper ($0.02)
- 1/2 lb. penne pasta ($0.67)
- 1 oz. feta, crumbled ($0.69)
- 1 Tbsp chopped parsley (optional) ($0.10)
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium. Add the cooking oil and sausage links to the skillet and cook the sausage for a few minutes on each side, or until well browned (it does not need to be cooked through at this point).
- Remove the sausage to a clean cutting board and slice the sausage into medallions. Return the sausage to the skillet and continue to cook until the sausage is cooked through and browned on the cut sides. Remove the sausage to a clean plate.
- Meanwhile, slice the bell pepper and onion into thin strips. Add the sliced onion and bell pepper to the skillet after removing the sausage. Stir and cook the vegetables over medium heat, just until they begin to soften slightly.
- Add the sausage back to the skillet along with the pasta sauce, basil, oregano, and red pepper to the skillet. Stir everything to combine and heat through.
- Bring a large pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add the pasta and continue to boil until tender (about 7 minutes). Drain the pasta in a colander, then add it to the skillet and stir to combine with the sauce.
- Top the skillet with crumbled feta and chopped parsley (if desired), then serve.
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How to Make Pasta with sausage – Step by Step Photos
Heat 1 Tbsp cooking oil in a large skillet over medium. Once hot, add two Italian sausage links (about ½ lb. total) to the skillet and cook on each side until well browned. The sausage will not be cooked through at this point, but that’s okay.
Remove the partially cooked sausage to a cutting board and slice them into ¼-½ inch wide medallions.
Return the sliced sausage to the skillet and continue cooking over medium heat until the sausage is browned on the cut sides. Remove the cooked sausage to a clean bowl.
Meanwhile, slice one red bell pepper and one yellow onion into ¼-inch wide strips.
Add the sliced peppers and onions to the skillet with the remaining fat from the sausage. Continue to cook over medium heat until the peppers and onions just begin to soften. The moisture from the vegetables will help lift the browned bits from the sausage off the bottom of the skillet.
Add the cooked sausage back to the skillet along with one 24 oz. jar of pasta sauce, ½ tsp dried basil, ½ tsp dried oregano, and ¼ tsp crushed red pepper. Stir everything to combine and heat through.
Bring a pot of water to a boil for the pasta. Once boiling, add ½ lb. penne pasta and continue to boil until tender (about 7 minutes). Drain the penne in a colander, then add it to the skillet with the sauce. Stir to combine.
Sprinkle a small amount of crumbled feta (about 1 oz.) and a little chopped parsley (if desired) over top just before serving.
Enjoy!
Really tasty. I thought it would fast and easy and it’d be ok. So much nicer than okay. Will go onto the regular rotation. Added both mushroom and spinach I had that needed to go.
For anyone thinking “that seems like a lot of pasta sauce for just that amount of sausage/capscium/pasta”… Beth is right (of course). I bought the large bottle just in case, sure I wouldn’t need it. I did.
Super easy and good! I added a clove of minced garlic at the end of sautéing the onions and peppers. Happy to make a delicious meal that I had all the ingredients (except feta) already in my pantry/fridge! Very good, make this!
I just made this for meal prep for the week, it was really easy and I tasted a bit and it was delish! I love having those tupperware containers in my fridge for the week. Cooking for one is challenging but meal prep takes all the work out of it.
Ohh this looks so good, I think I’d add a lot more sausage though as I find it hard to use up sausage. I agree with jarred pasta sauce, it’s not very expensive and it saves a lot of time and tastes good too.
Delicious and super easy! Yum!
Love this yummy dish! Super easy to make and was a hit for everyone of my crew!
Great flavor and easy to make, with minimal and easy to find ingredients. A good weeknight dinner that comes together quickly. Even my picky eaters enjoyed it.