Italian-American pasta with sausage, bell peppers, onions, and a flavorful tomato sauce.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or spicy), casings removed
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 red bell pepper, sliced
03 - 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, sliced
05 - 1 large onion, thinly sliced
06 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
→ Pasta
07 - 12 oz penne or rigatoni pasta
→ Sauce & Seasonings
08 - 1 can (14 oz) crushed tomatoes
09 - 2 tbsp tomato paste
10 - 1 tsp dried oregano
11 - 1/2 tsp dried basil
12 - 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
13 - Salt and black pepper, to taste
→ Others
14 - 2 tbsp olive oil
15 - 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
16 - Grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
# How To Make It:
01 - Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Drain, reserving 1/2 cup of pasta water, then set pasta aside.
02 - Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned and cooked through, about 5 to 7 minutes. Transfer sausage to a plate and set aside.
03 - In the same skillet, add sliced bell peppers and onions. Cook for 5 to 6 minutes until softened and slightly caramelized.
04 - Stir in minced garlic and sauté for additional 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add tomato paste, crushed tomatoes, dried oregano, dried basil, and optional crushed red pepper flakes to the skillet. Season with salt and black pepper. Simmer mixture for 5 minutes.
06 - Return browned sausage to the skillet and mix well. Continue simmering for 3 to 4 minutes, adding reserved pasta water if sauce is too thick.
07 - Add drained pasta to skillet, stirring to coat thoroughly with sauce. Heat through for 1 to 2 minutes.
08 - Serve topped with chopped fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese.
