Description
Sweet Pepper & Sausage Pasta combines savory Italian sausage with sweet bell peppers and a lightly sweetened tomato sauce. Tossed with pasta, it’s an easy, flavorful weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
- ½ lb mild or spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
- 2 tbsp tomato paste, divided
- 2 tbsp olive oil, divided
- ½ sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 2 medium red or yellow bell peppers, sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
- 1½ tsp light brown sugar
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 tsp balsamic vinegar
- 8 oz dry short-cut pasta (rigatoni, penne, or fusilli)
- Kosher salt, to taste
- ½ cup reserved pasta water
- Toasted breadcrumbs, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Cook pasta according to package instructions, reserving ½ cup pasta water.
- In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium heat. Add sausage and cook until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Add remaining olive oil to skillet. Sauté onion and bell peppers until softened, 5–6 minutes.
- Add garlic, tomato paste, brown sugar, oregano, and balsamic vinegar. Stir to combine and cook 1–2 minutes.
- Return sausage to skillet and add cooked pasta. Toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water if needed for sauce consistency.
- Serve warm, topped with toasted breadcrumbs if desired.
Notes
- Use sweet or hot Italian sausage based on your flavor preference.
- For extra richness, sprinkle with Parmesan cheese before serving.
- Leftovers reheat well for lunch or dinner the next day.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Sauté
- Cuisine: Italian