This skillet Italian sausage and peppers with whole-wheat penne is the perfect home cooked meal and it’s all in one pot which makes clean up a breeze!
This dish is a family favorite for us! And it’s weird to say that because I have picky eaters (they are SO much better than they used to be), and usually peppers and onions aren’t on the “yes list” for picky eaters, but in this recipe, they just work! The flavor is bold, and everyone loves sausage and pasta!
When I need to get dinner on the table quickly, this is one of my go-to recipes. All you need is one pan and 30 minutes!
What Do I Need to Make Sausage and Peppers Penne?
Most of the ingredients in this dish are pantry staples, so all you will need at the grocery store are some sausage links, a couple of peppers and an onion. Here is a list of what you will need:
- Whole-wheat Penne Pasta – you can find this right by all the other pasta at the grocery store
- Italian Sausage – I generally go with mild uncooked sausage, but you could use spicy sausage or a sweet sausage depending on what you are craving
- Green Pepper – remove the stem and seeds and slice into thin slices
- Red Pepper – remove the stem and seeds and slice into thin slices, red peppers are a little sweeter than green peppers so they add another dimension of flavor
- Yellow Onion – use a sharp knife to slice the onion in the thin slices
- Red Wine (cooking wine) – we don’t drink alcohol so we cook with cooking wine, but feel free to use whichever you prefer
- Tomato Paste – a 6oz can, any brand works, just choose your favorite
- Tomato Sauce – an 8oz can, any brand works, just choose your favorite
- Water – thins out the sauce a little
- Italian Seasoning – a dried seasoning blend that you can buy at the grocery store that usually includes dried basil, dried oregano, dried rosemary, dried thyme and dried marjoram
- Sugar – enhances the flavors
- Salt – adds flavor
- Parmesan Cheese – great for a garnish to add an extra punch of flavor
The measurements for every ingredient can be found in the recipe card at the end of this post. The detailed instructions for how to make this recipe are also in the recipe card.
Reasons You Will Love This Italian Sausage Recipe
Here are a few reasons that you are going to love this recipe:
- Easy: The ingredients are simple and easy to find. The recipe is made in one pot so cleanup is easy. The only techniques you need to know are slicing, sauteing and simmering. Nothing fancy here!
- Quick: I live for dinner recipes that come together in less than a half hour!
- Flavor: By sauteing the sausage in the pan first, it flavors the whole dish. The peppers and onions get flavored by the sausage and add their own flavors and then the tomato pasta and sauce with the Italian seasoning and red wine add all the flavor you need.
- Well rounded: This dish includes veggies, protein and carbs all in one pan so you don’t even need sides if you don’t want them.
- Inexpensive: All of the ingredients are cheap making this recipe very budget friendly.
What Italian Sausage is Best in Pasta?
Italian sausage and peppers are sautéed and then simmered in the rich sauce and tossed with cooked whole-wheat penne pasta. I like to use a mild Italian sausage, but you could use a sweet or spicy pork sausage, or even a turkey or chicken Italian sausage would work great if you’re really watching your calories.
One Pot Pasta Recipe
What I really love about this, is everything is cooked and assembled in one big pot (aside from the cooking of the pasta), it’s seriously easy as can be and comes together in 30 minutes (or less!).
What is Italian Sausage?
Italian sausage most often refers to a style of pork sausage that is seasoned with fennel.
Can Italian Sausage Be a Little Pink?
It’s ok to be a little pink in the middle but it shouldn’t look raw. If you’ve cooked it for the time & method it says on the packet it should be alright.
Dinner is on the table in 30 minutes and the whole family loves it! This Italian sausage and peppers whole-wheat penne is guaranteed to go into your regular dinner rotation!
Quick PASTA Dinner Recipes
- Creamy Chicken Artichoke Pasta
- Spaghetti and Meatballs
- 20 Minute Pesto Pasta
- Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
- Ground Beef Stroganoff
- 20 Minute Sun-Dried Tomato Chicken Pasta
- Instant Pot Hamburger Helper
- Crispy Pancetta Ravioli
- 20 Minute Cherry Tomato and Angel Hair Pasta
Skillet Italian Sausage and Peppers with Whole-Wheat Penne
Description
Ingredients
- 12 Ounces Whole-Wheat Penne Pasta
- 1 Pound Italian Sausage Links, 1 package
- 1 Small Green Pepper, sliced
- 1 Small Red Pepper, sliced
- 1 Small Yellow Onion, sliced thin
- ½ Cup Red Wine, we use cooking red wine
- 6 Ounces Tomato Paste
- 8 Ounces Tomato Sauce
- 12 Ounces Water
- ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- ½ teaspoon Salt
- Parmesan Cheese for finishing
Instructions
- In a large pot of salted water, cook pasta until al dente.12 Ounces Whole-Wheat Penne Pasta
- Reserve starchy cooking water.
- Heat a tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over a medium-high heat.
- Brown sausages on all sides, until almost cooked through, remove and cut into ¼ inch slices. You don’t have to worry about cooking them all the way through, they will finish cooking while the sauce simmers.1 Pound Italian Sausage Links
- In the same pan drizzle another teaspoon or so of olive oil and sauté the peppers and onions until slightly softened, about five minutes.1 Small Green Pepper, 1 Small Red Pepper, 1 Small Yellow Onion
- Return sausage back to the pan and deglaze with red wine.½ Cup Red Wine
- Add tomato paste, tomato sauce, water, Italian seasoning, sugar and salt.6 Ounces Tomato Paste, 8 Ounces Tomato Sauce, 12 Ounces Water, ½ teaspoon Italian Seasoning, 1 teaspoon Sugar, ½ teaspoon Salt
- Stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.
- Simmer for ten minutes.
- Add penne to the skillet, toss with sauce. If needed add starchy pasta water to loosen the sauce up.
- Season with salt and pepper and garnish with grated parmesan cheese.Parmesan Cheese for finishing
Notes
Nutrition
Recommended Products
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Helen
This was really delicious, not too tomato-y for us as some people commented, although I did add more (quality) wine than instructed. We liked the somewhat sweet taste from the sugar and red bell pepper and used regular penne, not whole wheat. Cooking the sausages as directed was sort of a pain, and they still weren’t done enough after 20 minutes, although I guess they finished cooking in the sauce. Anyway, will definitely be making this again!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much for the feedback Helen!
Holly
This was excellent,I did add additional peppers, and mushrooms. The wine deglaze seals the deal! Will make this again!
Sweet Basil
Yay! Love to hear this! Thanks Holly!
Louise
Easy and very tasty! I omitted the onion (intolerance) and used a Pinot noir for the wine and it was so good. This will be part of my regular rotation.
Sweet Basil
Yay! Love to hear this!
Patricia B
Delicious! I used regular penne instead of whole wheat, added garlic, oregano instead of Italian seasoning. I used drinking wine and always add Parmesan cheese to my sauce. Definitely would make again!
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Patricia! So glad you enjoyed it!
Ann B.
I made this recipe for dinner last week and I was surprised that it did not have garlic in it! I thought it was a little bland. How much garlic would you suggest adding? I clove, minced?
I used real wine – pinot grigio, which helped the flavor, but it was still a little bland for our taste.
Sweet Basil
Hi Ann! You can definitely add garlic if you want. 1-2 cloves would be great!
Chef Jose
Well let me just add one thing, there is no such thing as Cooking Wine, that will only ruin anything you use it on, loaded with Sodium, Please use Wine that you will Drink. If you don’t believe me, just taste the so called cooking wine, and judge for yourself! I can’t believe someone who Cooks would even suggest using something that will only Ruin any meal you add it Too !
Geowill
Chef, if you decide to write a cookbook, I hope you get a good editor. Your random capitilization reminds me of someone else who loves nasty replies.
Lisalen
Simple recipe with mostly pantry items and end of summer locally grown peppers. I threw in a jalapeño as well.
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Lisalen! I love the addition of the jalapeno for some kick!
Lisalen
Didn’t love the tomato flavor in this recipe, maybe less tomato paste.
Sweet Basil
Thank you for the feedback! You can definitely reduce the tomato paste if you would like!
Jessica
Came here after making this recipe for years. I gave it to both my sisters as well and it is a staple in our household. The sauce is so easy and delicious! This is one of my back pocket recipes bc it is so easy, doesn’t require a lot of babysitting and it reheats well for work lunches.
10/10 recommend
Sweet Basil
Thank you so much Jessica! This is great feedback!
Bluebelles
My family really enjoyed this recipe. Paired it with drop biscuits and a salad. Perfect.
Sweet Basil
I’m so glad you guys love it!!
Tina
Can this be made in an instant pot?
Sweet Basil
It can, the only advice I would have would be to use less liquid than the recipe calls for. The Instant Pot will not lose liquid like the skillet will. Good luck! Let me know how it turns out!!
Courtney
I have made this multiple times and it is so delicious! I’m thinking about making this for a dinner party. Do you think I could make the sauce an hour or so ahead of time and keep warm either on the stove or in a slow cooker? That way I’m not tied to the stove when guests arrive.
Sweet Basil
Yes absolutely! On low on the stove top or low in the slow cooker should work great.
Susan
I have made this twice and love it. I do use a pound of pasta and double all the sauce ingredients except the water to feed my family.
Sweet Basil
Thank you for the tip on feeding a bigger crowd! So glad you enjoy it!
Beverly Balkwell
This is a great recipe–BUT can it be frozen??
Sweet Basil
Yes absolutely! We like to leave the pasta out if we are freezing it and cook the pasta fresh when we serve it.
Mariah
This is not a one pot dish because you need to boil pasta separately. Little bit disappointed.
Sweet Basil
You can totally boil it first in this pan and then set it aside.
Heather C
Just stopping in to say this has been a family favorite for a couple of years now. So easy and delicious! Thanks so much for sharing it with us.
Sweet Basil
This is what we love to hear!! Thank you Heather and you’re welcome!
Pat
I’ve never used a red cooking wine. What should I look for? And is there a substitute for it? The recipe looks like it would be delicious.
Sweet Basil
Hi Pat! The cooking wine is by the vinegar. If drink alcohol, you can use regular alcohol just use 1 1/2 times the amount. Cooking wine is common though so if you look by the vinegar, you will find it! Enjoy!
Phyllis
I am part Italian and this looks very good. I hope I can make it one day. I have made sweet Italian peppers left whole, green peppers sliced kind of thin in strips, thinly sliced white or yellow onion, worcestershire sauce and a little butter. We enjoy that so I know we will enjoy yours.
Ashley B
This may be a silly question, but how much water do you add when combining all sauce ingredients?
Vicki
Don’t have any peppers, so am substituting carrots and a head of broccoli, cut up.Don’t drink red wine, so using water. Other than that, am following the recipe to a “t”.
Sweet Basil
Let us know how it goes! We don’t drink wine either but we will sometimes do water with a little balsamic vinegar. yummy!
Peggy Sanders
I made this last night! It was awesome!! The wine I used was a red Malbec.
Its definitely a keeper!!!
The only thing I did different was I use brown sugar in my pasta sauce. Not quite as sweet as white sugar.
Thanks for sharing. We absolutely loved the sauce.
Sweet Basil
So glad you enjoyed it!
Gail
Made this tonight for company using half and half, hot and sweet turkey sausage. It was a big hit. Next time I will add some garlic with the onions and peppers. Thanks for a great recipe.
Alisha Thompson
How did you use the half and half?
Sweet Basil
Thanks Gail!
Sheree H
On Step 4 I added a tsp of minced garlic, zucchini and at the last minute of sauteing I added crimini mushrooms. I”m obsessed with feeding lots of veggies with dinner and this made a wonderful addition.
Sweet Basil
I think that sounds like a fantastic addition!
Dawne Warner
can this dish be cooked then frozen to be eaten at a later date? I am trying to prepare meals for the month in advance.
Sweet Basil
Absolutely, though we prefer to wait to add the pasta until serving.
Karl
I have made this a bunch of times and making it again tonite. Everyone here loves it . Sometimes I add fresh spinich when it’s almost ready. This and a loaf of fresh garlic bread makes a great dinner. Thanks for the recipe
Sweet Basil
What a great idea to throw in the fresh spinach!
kathleen dornan
Made this tonight!!! Awesome! Thanks!
Sweet Basil
So glad! Thanks Kathleen!
Kate
Do you think deglazing with an equal amount of beer would work? Has anyone tried that?
Allison
Is there any way you can just use regular pasta sauce?
Sweet Basil
Absolutely!
David
wow… Just made this and it was delicious. Peppers, onions, sausage and pasta… What’s not to like. Even my picky 15 year old daughter enjoyed it enough to have a second serving. 🙂 stellar dish!
Sweet Basil
So glad that you enjoyed it!
shelley
what an you use instead of the wine??
Sweet Basil
we will use cooking wine (the fake stuff) or a little grape juice and red wine vinegar combo 🙂
Nutmeg Nanny
What a wonderful flavor combination! I can’t resist italian sausage 🙂
Chris @ Shared Appetite
This looks so great Nicole! Love how it’s a one pot dish and done in under 30 minutes. Perfect comfort weeknight food!
Sweet Basil
she did such a great job!
Tieghan
I love skillet dinners like this! Looks so good!
Christine @ Cooking with Cakes
I’m here!! this looks absolutely delicious Nicole, sausage & peppers is one of my favorite comfort foods, and your version looks awesome!
Sweet Basil
doesn’t it look just awesome?!
Liz @ Virtually Homemade
Great recipe Nicole! Looks amazing and your pics are great. I’ll stop by your blog 🙂