With juicy sausage and sweet bell peppers, this easy pappardelle pasta recipe is Italian comfort food at its best. On the table in 30 minutes and sprinkled with some Parmesan, it’s the perfect weeknight dinner.
The Best Pappardelle Pasta Recipe
With wide ribbon noodles soaking up a luscious sauce, this pappardelle pasta with fire-roasted tomatoes is an Italian opera of flavors. With a chorus of spicy onion and sweet bell peppers, every bite will hit the spot after a long day.
For an authentic flavor-base, the rendered sausage fat and a bit of olive oil are used to cook everything for an easy one-pot dish. Canned crushed tomatoes are also added because no one wants to stand over the stove forever on a weeknight. You can even swap the type of pasta if you want, but the pappardelle really gives it that “comfort food” feel.
Ready in 30 minutes with a handful of fresh ingredients, this tomatoey sausage pasta will become a staple dinner for nights-in when you’re craving Italian food. Best of all, you never have to leave your kitchen again for a taste of Rome.
Why You’ll Love This Sausage Pasta
This pappardelle pasta recipe will find its way to your weekly meal rotation in no time.
- Easy. It’s just like making any of your favorite pastas! Even beginner cooks can pull it off, especially if you go through my tips and tricks before getting started.
- Wholesome. Made with simple, healthy ingredients like olive oil, bell peppers, and crushed tomatoes, there’s no wondering what strange things might’ve been added to your meal. You’re the chef, you’re in charge!
- Prep-friendly. Boil the pasta or make the sauce in advance so all you have to do is toss it together and reheat it throughout the week.
- Great for weeknights. Who doesn’t love pasta for dinner? It’s a comforting meal after work, an easy option for gatherings, and a romantic dish for date nights.
What Is Pappardelle?
Pappardelle pasta is a type of Italian noodle that’s long, wide, and flat. It looks like a wider version of fettuccine and is usually egg-based. It can have ruffled edges too for a nice visual effect. The name comes from “pappare,” which means “to devour” in Italian. It makes a lot of sense, huh? The sauces used for this type of pasta are typically tomato and meat-based (beef, veal, pork, or sausage.) It’s served for lunch or dinner and can be made ahead for a quick meal.
Recipe Ingredients
Simple, fresh ingredients is the number one rule for Italian cuisine. This recipe is no different. Check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for exact amounts.
- Pappardelle pasta – This is a type of pasta shape.
- Olive oil – Corn, vegetable, and canola oil are fine too.
- Italian sausages – Feel free to use spicy sausage.
- Red onion – Don’t use white onion.
- Garlic – Please don’t use garlic powder.
- Mini bell peppers – Regular-sized ones work too.
- Crushed fire-roasted tomatoes – Any canned crushed tomatoes are great for this.
- Salt and pepper
- Basil and parmesan – These are optional garnishes.
How To Make Pappardelle Pasta With Sausage
This pappardelle pasta is a wonderful dinner option for hectic weeknights. You get bonus points for boiling the pasta or making the sauce in advance! Check the recipe card at the bottom of the post for more detailed instructions.
- Cook the sausage. Heat a large pan over medium-high heat. Add in the olive oil and Italian sausage. Cook it for 3-4 minutes per side or until browned. Remove it from the pan and set it aside to cool.
- Cook the onion. Add the sliced onion to the same pan. Sauté it for 4-5 minutes or until slightly caramelized. Add the garlic and stir it in.
- Add the bell peppers. Toss in the mini bell peppers and cook them for 2-3 minutes or until softened. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Add the tomatoes. Pour in the crushed tomatoes and mix well. Let the sauce simmer for 8-10 minutes.
- Boil the pasta. Bring a pot of water to a boil. Add in the pappardelle and cook it for 11-13 minutes or until al dente. You can also use the package instructions for reference.
- Finish the sauce. Drain the pasta and place it in a large bowl. Slice the browned sausage and add it to the sauce. Stir to combine and then pour it over the drained pasta.
- Stir it. Gently toss the pasta and sauce until well combined. Season with more salt and pepper to taste.
- Serve it. Garnish the pasta with fresh basil or parmesan cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy.
Recipe Tips & Variations
If you keep these tips in mind, you’ll make sausage pasta as yummy as the one at any Italian trattoria.
- Make it spicy. Sprinkle in red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper to taste to make the pasta spicy.
- Use other pasta types. Fettuccini, linguine, spaghetti, and tagliatelle are great swaps if you want to use other pasta types. Try to avoid penne and rigatoni.
- Flip the sausage. Don’t forget to flip the sausage once it hits the pan so that it’s evenly cooked and browned on all sides.
- Add spices. Feel free to add 1/4 teaspoon of your favorite spices like paprika, cumin, or ground mustard at a time until the sauce is seasoned to taste.
- Make it al dente. Cook the pasta until it’s barely under-cooked. This is known as “al dente”. Don’t worry about it still being raw because the pasta noodles will finish cooking once you add in the sauce.
- Prep ahead. Boil the pasta in advance and refrigerate it until you’re ready to prepare the sauce, or the other way around. Dinner will be ready extra quickly.
Serving Suggestions
This pappardelle pasta is the perfect main dish when served with some simple, Italian-inspired sides and salads. For salads, try my Kale and Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad or Tomato Panzanella Salad. I also love it with bruschettas like my Smashed Chickpea Crostini with Bruschetta. If you’re just looking for a simple veggie side, go for my Grilled Asparagus.
How to Store & Reheat Leftovers
Once cooled, refrigerate any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 4 days. Reheat it on the stove over low heat for 7-8 minutes. You can also reheat it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. For longer storage, place the leftovers in a freezer-friendly bag and squeeze out all the air. Freeze it for up to 3 months and thaw it in the fridge overnight before reheating as usual.
More Easy Pasta Dishes
- Pancetta Sweet Pea Orecchiette Pasta with Creamy Goat Cheese Sauce
- Creamy Kale & Sausage Pasta
- Chimichurri Avocado Pasta with Pan Seared Shrimp
- Basil Pesto Pasta with Grilled Vegetables
- Creamy Butternut Squash Pasta with Bacon
Pappardelle Pasta
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Total Time: 35 minutes
- Yield: 7 1x
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stove
- Cuisine: Italian
Description
This tomatoey pappardelle Pasta is a classic Italian comfort food full of juicy sausage, sweet peppers, and lots of parmesan cheese.
Ingredients
- 1 lb. Pappardelle Pasta
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 5 italian sausages
- 1 red onion, sliced
- 2 garlic cloves
- 10–12 mini sweet bell peppers, sliced
- 28 oz. Muir Glen crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
- salt & pepper to season
- optional garnish: 1/4 cup basil, chiffon for garnish or shaved parmesan
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat.
- Add in olive oil and Italian sausage, and cook for 3-4 minutes on each side of the Italian sausage. You will want it to be browned on all four sides. Remove from the pan and let cool.
- Into the same pan, immediately add red onions. Stir and sauté for 4-5 minutes until slightly caramelized.
- Add in garlic and mini bell peppers, and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper.
- Add in crushed tomatoes, stir, and let simmer for 8-10 minutes.
- In the meantime bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add in pappardelle pasta and cook until al dente, about 11-13 minutes.
- Drain pasta and place in a large bowl.
- Slice Italian sausage and place in pepper tomato sauce, stir everything together.
- Pour the sauce over the pasta and gently toss the sauce and pasta together so everything is coated.
- Garnish with fresh basil or shaved parmesan cheese.
- Serve!
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 – 1 1/2 cups
- Calories: 362
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 172 mg
- Fat: 2 g
- Carbohydrates: 31 g
- Fiber: 4 g
- Protein: 6 g
- Cholesterol: 15 mg
27 comments on “Pappardelle Pasta with Italian Sausage and Peppers”
So I didn’t read the instructions so well and ended up not having 2 cans of the fire roasted tomatoes, but did have a can of rotel tomatoes. It worked out magically like it was meant to be!
Your recipe was amazing!
Haha, Love it! Thank you so much, and so glad you enjoyed this recipe!
I loved this recipe! It reminded me of something my Mom used to make when I was a kid. It was really easy to prepare and was a hit with the adults and kids! Thanks!
Making this right now,can’t wait to try it! Thanks
Woohoo! Enjoy it Holly!
Wow…talk about comfort food!! And such a cute pic of your son. I wish I had started food blogging young, he has a great head start!!! 🙂
Right! Delicious! And I know! Now I see so many young bloggers and I’m like… why didn’t I start back then! Cason definitely has a head start! haha
I love that picture of Cason! Absolutely adorable!! I can completely relate about being a blogger, although I absolutely LOVE what I do, it’s nice to turn it off sometimes and just read a non-business related book or eat a meal straight from the stove. This dinner sounds like the perfect meal for a busy evening and your photos are gorgeous!
haha.. thanks so much Joanie! I am so with you on the book and warm meal count. 🙂
Glad you liked this recipe girl!
When I first started blogging, I had no idea the how much hard work was involved! And that picture of your son is the cutest. The next food blogger in the making 🙂
I KNOW!!! But it is definitely a labor of love, that is for sure! 🙂
haha.. thanks girl. Thats right, food blogger or next bobby flay!!! hehe
My favorite sort of dish — especially on a Sunday! I grew up eating pasta each and every Sunday (bit Italian family), and this reminds me of family! Love, love, love the photo of your little boy taking a food pix! Love it!
So fun! I love that you had a staple every sunday! We had ham and cheese sandwiches every sunday after church and then veggied out watching football all day. 🙂
Pasta sounds like a better way to go though, I like your thinking! Glad you liked the photo of my little guy, every time I see it it makes me smile!
This dish has my husband’s favorite pasta ingredients! Going on my to do list!
woohoo.. i liked your husbands taste! Smart guy! 🙂 Hope you enjoy it Deb!
I really shouldn’t be looking at this when I’m hungry – it looks so delicious and hearty!
haha… I do that all the time! Or maybe I’m just hungry all the time! 🙂 hehe
OMG WHAT A CUTIE PIE! This post totally made my day. 🙂 … and I think pappardelle reins supreme. Love this recipe, cute face! Pinned!
Ohhh thanks so glad you liked it girl… and my sweet little guy. 🙂 Thanks for the pin friend! Hugs your way!
Awww look at Cason want to be just like you!! That’s so endearing! But I hear ya friend.. after I spend all day baking for the blog, there is no way I am going to make brownies from scratch just for myself!
haha… Thanks Beth!
I LOVE that shot of your son taking his pics! My girls do the same thing, it’s so, so cute! I totally hear you on those blogging blues too. I wish I could just relax on the couch at night without a laptop on my lap catching up on writing posts or editing photos. Maybe when my kids are in school 😁
haha… its my favorite part of taking photos and a great way to let your kids get involved with what you’re doing! 🙂
I’m holding out till school starts too! (deep sigh)
That is the most adorable thing ever! Yes, it’s real work, isn’t it? And it’s hard to explain to someone who isn’t a blogger.
haha.. thanks Tonia! 🙂
Yes, it is hard work, most definitely … but so rewarding doing something you love!
Love the picture of Cason – it looks very familiar! And I agree 100% with your thoughts about blogging. There have been many times where I have daydreamed about how nice it would be to “just” (that’s a joke in and of itself, right?) be a SAHM. But it’s so amazing that we get to have the best of both worlds – even if it means sleep deprivation.
haha.. thanks girl I bet your kiddos are doing the same thing at home! 🙂
Sleep deprivation + being a mom + food blogger = priceless!