Brown the sausage first so the peppers cook in the drippings. Use fully cooked smoked sausage if you want a faster pan, or raw Italian sausage if you want it crumbled.
Ingredients
Check off ingredients as you get them ready. Adjust servings using the control beside the recipe. Amounts that start with a whole number scale with the serving size. Fractions such as 1/2 cup stay as written, so adjust those by eye.
- 12 oz short pasta, such as penne
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 3/4 lb raw Italian sausage, casings removed
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 bell peppers, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (15 oz) crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 cup chopped parsley
How to make it
- Boil the pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of the pasta water, then drain.
- Meanwhile, heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Cook the sausage, breaking it up, until browned and the center reaches 160°F (71°C), about 7 minutes.
- Add the onion and peppers. Cook for 6 minutes, until softened.
- Stir in the garlic for 30 seconds. Add the tomatoes, salt, and pepper, and simmer for 5 minutes.
- Toss in the pasta and enough pasta water to make a light sauce. Finish with parsley.
If you use smoked sausage that is already cooked, slice it and brown it for flavor, then follow the same pepper steps.
Substitutions
- Chicken sausage works. Cook raw chicken sausage to 165°F (74°C).
- Zucchini slices can replace one of the peppers. Add them near the end so they do not fall apart.
Storage
Refrigerate for up to 4 days. Reheat with a splash of water until the sausage is steaming hot, 165°F (74°C).
Pan and tools
- A pot for the pasta
- A large skillet for the sausage and peppers
- An instant-read thermometer for the sausage
What to prep first
Slice the peppers and onion, and put the pasta water on to boil, before the sausage hits the skillet. The two pans should finish together.
What to serve with it
The peppers are in the sauce. A handful of arugula on top, or a side salad, is plenty. Pass Parmesan if you like.
Leftovers for lunch
This keeps for a few days. Reheat in a skillet with a splash of the pasta water or plain water so the noodles loosen.
If it goes wrong
If the sausage is browned outside and under 160°F (71°C) in the center, cover the skillet and cook it through before the peppers go in. Watery peppers were crowded. Cook them in a hotter pan, in one layer.
Make it part of your week
Save this recipe in the weekly planner so the grocery list is ready before you shop.
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