Delicious and hearty one pot pasta with sausage, bell peppers and onions. This pasta dish is made with Italian sausage and is perfect for weeknight meals.
Pasta, sausage, peppers and onions
This is one of those dishes that I've been making for years. It comes together quickly and is so satisfying.
It's really a meal all in one, although you could easily add some breadsticks and a salad too.
Leftovers are great the next day too!
If you love this combination of flavors, you'll also want to check out this Sheet Pan Dinner with Italian Sausages! Easy peasy and delicious!
Key ingredients
This section reviews the best ingredients and substitutions for this recipe. For an exact list of ingredients and quantities, check the recipe card below.
- Italian sausage - I use spicy Italian sausage, but sweet Italian sausage can also be used. Buy in bulk or in links. If using links, remove the casing
- Penne pasta - or any hearty pasta
- Bell peppers - use red, orange or yellow peppers
- Onions - yellow or white onion
- Canned tomatoes - homemade or store-bought
- Tomato paste
Step-by-step directions
In this section, I share step-by-step photos, cooking methods, techniques, and a general overview. For detailed instructions, temperatures, and timing, check the printable recipe card below.
- Boil water and cook pasta
- Slice onions and peppers
- Cook Sausage. Remove from pan when fully cooked. Wipe pan with a paper towel to remove grease.
- Add olive oil to pan. Add onions and peppers. Saute over medium-high for approximately 5 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds
- Pour in canned tomatoes and add tomato paste and seasoning
- Return sausage and pasta to pan. Stir gently until pasta is coated with tomato sauce and heated through. Add a bit of water if the sauce is too thick.
Tips for making
- This dish can be made in one pot. Cook the pasta first and then use the same pot to cook the sausage and then the sauce
- You can also cook the pasta in one pot and cook the sausage and sauce at the same time in another pot
- Reserve a bit of the pasta water for adding into the sauce, if needed to be thinned
- If using sausage links, remove the casing before cooking
- Keep sausage in bite-sized chunks when cooking
Variations and substitutions
I often make this dish with ingredients I have on hand. Some regular variations include:
- Use rigatoni or bow tie pasta instead of penne pasta
- Use red, yellow or orange bell peppers or a combination of colors
- If you don't like hot Italian sausage, use sweet Italian sausage
- Buy sausage links or bulk sausage
- For the canned tomatoes, you can use diced, crushed, whole or in a pinch you could also use tomato sauce
- Use fresh herbs instead of dried
- Add sauteed mushrooms
All you need for a complete dinner with this pasta dish is a delicious salad and breadsticks.
Recipe Faqs
Stored in an airtight container, this pasta will last up to 5 days when stored in the refrigerator.
Store in individual containers for a quick grab-and-go lunchbox item.
You can freeze leftovers of this pasta dish. Allow pasta to fully cool and then place in a freezer-safe container. Freeze for up to 3 months.
To use, thaw and reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. Additional marinara sauce may be needed if the pasta has absorbed most of the sauce.
More great pasta dishes
- Baked Chicken Pasta
- Prosciutto Pasta and Peas
- Shrimp Sausage Pasta
- Baked Rigatoni with Sausage
- Spaghetti with Tomatoes and Basil
- Orecchiette with Sausage
- Orzo Pasta with butter and herbs
Another delicious one-pot pasta meal is this Penne Rosa Recipe from the blog XOXO Bella!
If you make this recipe, I’d love to hear about it! Leave a comment below and snap a picture and tag me on Instagram @beyondthechickencoop
Check out all my main dish recipes!
One Pot Sausage Peppers Onions Pasta
Equipment
- Measuring Cups
- Measuring Spoons
- Chef Knife
Ingredients
- 1 pound penne pasta
- 1 pound hot Italian sausage
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion (sliced into long strips)
- 1 whole red bell pepper (sliced into long strips)
- 1 whole yellow bell pepper (sliced into long strips)
- 1 clove garlic (minced)
- 1 can tomato paste (1.5 oz can)
- 1 can diced tomatoes (15.5 oz can)
- ½ teaspoon whole fennel seeds
- ½ teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon ground pepper
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- pasta water
- 1 tablespoon parmesan cheese
Instructions
- In a large pot, boil pasta. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water and set aside1 pound penne pasta
- In the same pot place sausage. Break up into large chunks. Cook through.1 pound hot Italian sausage
- Remove sausage from pan and wipe pan with a paper towel to remove grease.
- Pour olive oil into pan. Add peppers and onions. Saute for approximately 5 minutes.2 Tablespoons olive oil, 1 onion, 1 whole red bell pepper, 1 whole yellow bell pepper
- Add garlic and saute for 30 seconds1 clove garlic
- Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and seasonings. Add ¾ cup of pasta water (or tap water)1 can tomato paste, 1 can diced tomatoes, ½ teaspoon whole fennel seeds, ½ teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon dried basil, ½ teaspoon salt, ½ teaspoon ground pepper, ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Once mixture comes to a simmer, reduce heat and add cooked sausage and pasta
- Stir and heat through. Add additional pasta water if sauce is too thick.pasta water
- Serve with Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley or basil1 tablespoon parmesan cheese
Notes
- You can also cook the pasta in one pot and cook the sausage and sauce at the same time in another pot
- Reserve a bit of the pasta water for adding to the sauce
- If using sausage links, remove the casing before cooking
- Keep sausage in bite-sized chunks when cooking
- Use rigatoni or bow tie pasta instead of penne pasta
- Use red, yellow or orange bell peppers or a combination of colors
- If you don't like hot Italian sausage, use sweet Italian sausage
- Buy sausage links or bulk sausage
- For the canned tomatoes, you can use diced, crushed, whole or in a pinch you could also use tomato sauce
- Use fresh herbs instead of dried
- Add sauteed mushrooms
Nutritional Disclaimer:
Nutritional information is provided as a courtesy and should only be construed as an estimate rather than a guarantee. To obtain the most precise nutritional information in a provided recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the exact ingredients you are using when preparing the recipe using your preferred nutrition calculator.
Nutrition
This post and recipe were originally published in December 2015. The pictures, post, and recipe have all been updated.
G.W.B. says
We loved it! Delicious! We also added frozen spinach (cooked in the microwave). It was perfect and the colors! Thank you so much!
Kathy says
Wonderful! The spinach sounds like a great addition. Thanks so much for your comment! 🙂
The-FoodTrotter says
I guess it's because of my Italian ancestry but I can't get fed up by pasta and this sauce reminds me of some tomate sauce with sausage and olives! I'm drooling 🙂
Have a nice day
TheFood-Trotter
Kathy says
We must think alike - I think there's nothing wrong with eating pasta daily!
Valentina says
This is my kind of meal! Weeknights, and otherwise! 🙂 ~Valentina
Kathy says
Fast, easy and delicious!
Alex says
As the weather starts to cool down here in Australia, this is exactly the kind of food I am craving! I love the flavours in this - and I love that it is one pot!
Tiffany says
I love your recipes! I made this last night and it was delicious! So happy I found you ♥
Kathy says
Thank you! So glad you loved this pasta dish!
Dawn - Girl Heart Food says
Such a super comforting dish...and Iove that it's made in one pot! Perfect for a weeknight supper with some crusty bread!
David @ Spiced says
Your timing on this one is perfect, Kathy! I just noticed that our grocery store has Italian sausage on sale, and I was craving some sort of a dish with sausage. We love all things pasta here, so this is definitely a winner of a recipe! I'm craving it...and it's just 8am here right now. That says a lot! 🙂
Adina says
This sounds like a great idea for lunch today, I actually have all the ingredients at home... 🙂
Kathy says
It would make a great lunch! Enjoy!
Laura @ Raise Your Garden says
This looks absolutely delicious Kathy! Like dinner. But since I was up all last night with 2 sicky kids with strep, I'm going to get husband on this asap!!!! Because you are so right, even with all the craziness, we still have to eat! And we can't just go to Bob Evans every night. (although very tempting when kids eat free) This meal looks like it will warm up really well for my husbands lunch too since he's a teacher and won't eat school lunches.
Kathy says
This pasta dish is perfect for leftovers. I hope your kiddos get better soon!
Meghan | Fox and Briar says
I love sausage, peppers and onions together, it is one of my favorite combos! I love that you have made it into a one pot meal. If we need anything right now it is easy and delicious dinners!