Delicious and hearty one pot pasta with sausage, bell peppers and onions. This pasta dish is made with sweet or hot Italian sausage and is perfect for weeknight meals.
This is one of those dishes that I've been making for years. It comes together quickly and is so satisfying.
Table of Contents
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Steps to getting this pasta dish on the table
- 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 tomato paste and seasoning.
- Return sausage and pasta to the pan. Stir gently until pasta is coated with tomato sauce and heated through
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 bread sticks.
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 using sausage links, remove the casing before cooking
- Keep sausage in bite sized chunks when cooking
Other great pasta dishes
- Baked Chicken Pasta
- Ham Tetrazzini
- Asparagus Pasta Salad
- Orzo Pasta with butter and herbs
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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
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One Pot Sausage Peppers Onions Pasta
Italian sausage, bell peppers and onions with penne pasta.
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 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)
- ¾ cup water
Instructions
- In a large pot, boil pasta. Drain, reserving 1 cup of pasta water and set aside
- In same pot cook place sausage. Break up into large chunks. Cook through.
- 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.
- Add crushed tomatoes, tomato paste and seasonings. Add ¾ cup of pasta water (or tap water)
- Once mixture comes to a simmer, reduce heat and add sausage and pasta
- Stir and heat through.
- Serve with Parmesan cheese and fresh chopped parsley or basil
Notes
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 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
Nutrition
Calories: 627kcalCarbohydrates: 67gProtein: 23gFat: 30gSaturated Fat: 9gCholesterol: 57mgSodium: 984mgPotassium: 803mgFiber: 5gSugar: 8gVitamin A: 537IUVitamin C: 16mgCalcium: 72mgIron: 4mg
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This post and recipe was originally published in December 2015. The pictures, post and recipe have all been updated.
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!