Sweet Pepper Sausage Pasta (Printable Format)
Sweet peppers and sausage mingle with caramelized onions and pasta for a flavor-packed comfort dish.
# Needed Ingredients:
→ Pasta
01 -
8 ounces short-cut pasta such as rigatoni, penne, or fusilli
→ Meat
02 -
1/2 pound mild or spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
→ Produce
03 -
1/2 sweet onion, thinly sliced
04 -
2 medium red or yellow bell peppers, sliced
05 -
3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
→ Pantry
06 -
2 tablespoons tomato paste, divided
07 -
2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
08 -
1 1/2 teaspoons light brown sugar
09 -
1 teaspoon dried oregano
10 -
1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar
11 -
Kosher salt, to taste
12 -
1/2 cup reserved pasta water
13 -
Toasted breadcrumbs, for garnish (optional)
# Preparation Steps:
01 -
Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add Italian sausage, breaking apart with a spoon, and cook until browned and fully cooked through. Stir in 1 tablespoon tomato paste and cook for 1 to 2 minutes until fragrant and caramelized. Transfer sausage to a plate and set aside.
02 -
In the same skillet, heat 1 tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add sliced onions and bell peppers. Cook, stirring often, for 15 to 20 minutes until vegetables are softened and deeply caramelized. Add remaining 1 tablespoon tomato paste, garlic, brown sugar, dried oregano, and balsamic vinegar. Season generously with kosher salt and continue cooking for an additional 2 to 3 minutes until mixture becomes jammy. If mixture becomes dry, add a splash of water and simmer briefly.
03 -
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook, stirring occasionally, until just shy of al dente, about 1 minute less than package instructions. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta cooking water, then drain pasta.
04 -
Return cooked pasta and sausage to skillet with peppers and onions. Add 1/4 cup reserved pasta water. Stir over medium heat for 2 to 3 minutes, allowing sauce to thicken and coat pasta. Add additional pasta water as needed for desired sauce consistency. Serve immediately, garnished with toasted breadcrumbs if desired.
# Supplementary Details:
01 -
Caramelizing the peppers and onions slowly enhances sweetness and depth of flavor.