Easy Hot Italian Sausage and Peppers Pasta Recipe
This Hot Italian Sausage and Peppers Pasta recipe perfectly combine spicy and hearty into an easy pasta recipe for busy weeknights. The simple ingredient list makes this authentic Italian pasta dish an easy, perfect weeknight dinner. You need several common ingredients; spicy sausage (you can also use mild or sweet sausage meat if you don’t want the heat), banana peppers, onions, pepper drops, penne pasta, marinara sauce, parmesan cheese, and a little good olive oil. It’s like a pasta version of a traditional Italian sausage sandwich!
It’s All About The Sausage
The most important ingredient in any Italian sausage and peppers pasta recipe is the savory sausage. I like to source local ingredients when I can, and I recently found an excellent sausage shop in Pittsburgh. It’s called Frankie’s Sausage, located in Pittsburgh’s Sharpsburg neighborhood, and all they do is make and sell flavorful Italian sausage. Frankie’s only makes sweet Italian sausage, mild Italian sausage, and hot Italian sausage (they got wild and crazy recently and added an excellent breakfast sausage). The sausage used in this version of the recipe is a hot Italian ground pork sausage, but you could tone down the heat with a mild Italian sausage, or even a turkey sausage or Italian chicken sausage would work. Cooking the sausage as whole links makes it easier to slice than if you try to slice it raw. You could also brown bulk sausage if you prefer.
Try This Easy Homemade Marinara
I’m making a homemade marinara sauce for this recipe, but you can easily substitute store-bought marinara sauces to save some time. But the marinara I’m making is so easy you should give it a try. The main ingredients are crushed tomatoes, herbs, garlic, and onion. Cook the onion and garlic over medium-high heat for a couple of minutes, add the herbs and crushed tomatoes (if you don’t have crushed tomatoes, you can add a can of tomato sauce), and simmer over low heat for about 20-30 minutes. That’s all it takes. And you have a flavorful marinara sauce.
I am using tri-colored banana peppers this time, but a traditional green banana pepper works fine. I just liked the added color. Chop the peppers and onions into large, bite-size chunks. In addition to the banana peppers, I’m also using a sweet & tangy pepper drop, a pickled Peruvian pepper, that gives a bold, zesty flavor with a tangy, sweet vinegar punch.
It’s Really So Easy, Less Than 20 Minutes
You will combine the sausage, peppers, and onion in a large skillet. Season with salt and black pepper (if you really want to up the spice level, add a pinch of red pepper flakes). Cook until slightly tender, and add the sauce. Let this simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes to boost the flavors. The cook time is not that long, making this a simple meal. Add the freshly cooked pasta, a little reserved pasta water if needed, and top with a bit of parmesan cheese and buon appetite.
For more pasta recipes, check out my Best Pappardelle Lamb Bolognese Recipe and Easy Slow Cooker Spaghetti Bolognese Sauce Recipe.
Easy Hot Italian Sausage and Peppers Pasta Recipe
Ingredients
Marinara Sauce
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1/2 cup chopped medium yellow onion
- 3 garlic cloves finely minced
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano or 1 ½ teaspoon fresh oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper freshly ground
- 1-2 tablespoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon fresh basil sliced thin plus more to garnish
Hot Italian Sausage & Peppers Pasta
- 1 lb hot Italian Sausage Links approximately 4 links
- 3 banana peppers
- 1 medium sweet onion
- 1 cup sweet & tangy pepper drops pickled Peruvian peppers
- 3-4 cups marinara sauce recipe above or store-bought
- 16 oz dried penne pasta
- olive oil
Instructions
Marinara Sauce
- Place a medium saucepan over medium heat and add 2 Tbsp olive oil. Once the oil is hot, add chopped onion stirring often until soft and golden (about 5 min). Add minced garlic and stir, cook 1 minute or until fragrant.
- Stir in 28 oz crushed tomatoes, oregano, parsley, salt, pepper, sugar, and basil. Bring to a light boil, then reduce heat and simmer partially covered for 15-30 minutes.
Hot Italian Sausage & Peppers Pasta
- In a large skillet, heat two tablespoons olive oil over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and brown on all sides. Cook until the sausage is cooked through, approximately 8 minutes.
- In the meantime, roughly chop the banana peppers and onion into bite-sized pieces. Slice the pepper drops in half lengthwise. Set aside.
- Remove the sausage from the pan and slice into bite-size pieces. Return the sausage to the pan and cook another 2-4 minutes until no pink remains.
- Add the peppers, onions, and pepper drops to the pan. Season with salt and pepper. Cook over medium-high heat for 5 minutes, until the peppers and onion are just starting to soften.
- Heat a large pot of salted water. Cook the pasta according to the directions. Drain and set aside until sauce is ready.
- Add the marinara sauce to the pan with the vegetables and cook uncovered for about 10 minutes.
- Combine the sauce and the cooked pasta. Serve topped with some freshly grated parmesan cheese and basil leaves.
