Spicy sausage pasta is an easy Italian dinner recipe with a rich tomato sauce and sweet red peppers perfect served with a side salad.
Weeknight pasta for the win 🙌
I love this dish, it's so comforting and filling. This recipe came about because I was craving my sausage pasta bake but as much as I love that recipe I wanted something even quicker so I threw together this spicy sausage pasta recipe and it's quickly becoming one of my favourites.
You can use your choice of sausage here. If you have access you can go for a spicy Italian sausage or you can add red pepper flakes to ground sausage meat to make your own spicy mix. I went for a spicy sausage from my local supermarket which I removed the skins from. Try out this nduja pasta recipe for another spicy pasta dish!
The sauce is full of flavour from the balsamic vinegar and a pinch of sugar added before it's simmered for just 10 minutes or so until it's thickened and unctuous.
Why we love this recipe:
- It's so easy to make and just requires a few simple steps
- It can be easily customised by adding extra veggies to make it even healthier
- You can prep this sausage pasta sauce ahead of time and then simply cook your pasta and reheat the sauce when you're ready to eat
Ingredients
- Sausages: Use a spicy sausage of your choice
- Dried Oregano
- Red Onion: Finely chopped, use white onions if you prefer
- Tomato Puree
- Red Pepper: Or use another colour if you like
- Pasta: I like rigatoni for this recipe but you could use your favourite pasta shape
- Chopped Tomatoes
- Balsamic Vinegar: For an added hint of tangy sweetness
- Sugar
For another delicious sausage recipe try these honey mustard sausages!
How to make it
Remove the sausages from their skins and cook the pasta according to package instructions
Add the sausage meat and break up using a wooden spoon, cook until beginning to brown
Pour in the chopped tomatoes
Heat the oil over a medium heat in a large pot and add the onion and pepper, fry until softened
Add the tomato puree, balsamic, sugar and dried oregano and mix well
Simmer for 10-15 minutes until thickened then add the cooked pasta and mix together
Variations
- Try making this pasta sauce creamy by adding a drizzle of double/heavy cream before serving
- This sausage pasta is still delicious if you want to use regular sausages instead of spicy
- Add extra veggies to this pasta if you like. Broccoli or spinach would work really well
- You can use this pasta and sauce recipe as a base for any protein. If you don't fancy sausages then try out chopped up chicken, salmon or even tofu.
Substitutions
- To make this recipe gluten free simply use your favourite gluten free pasta and make sure to get gluten free sausages
- To make this recipe vegan make sure that your veggie sausages are suitable for vegans and leave off the parmesan when serving
FAQs
Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. You can reheat in a pot on the hob or in the microwave. You might need to add a splash of water to loosen up the sauce.
Yes, you can freeze the leftovers of this pasta. Just leave to cool completely in an airtight container then place in the freezer and leave in there for up to 3 months. Defrost thoroughly and then reheat before eating.
Of course garlic bread is a classic with pasta. Or even these delicious garlicky dough balls. Or if you want something lighter then why not go with a simple side salad?
Sausages (meaty or veggie) are a great ingredient to add to loads of dishes. I love them in this sausages tray bake, this vegetarian sausage casserole or this toad in the hole!
Want more? Try these other pasta recipes!
- Chickpea Pasta with Roasted Broccoli Sauce
- Smoked Mackerel Pasta Salad with Asparagus
- Creamy Chicken and Bacon Pasta
- Roasted Garlic Spaghetti with Kale
- Pasta with Squid and Tomato Sauce
- 15 Minute Spicy Salmon Linguine
- Sausage Gnocchi with Creamy Tomato Sauce
Recipe
Spicy Sausage Pasta with Peppers & Tomato Sauce
Ingredients
- 6 Sausages meat or vegetarian
- 1 tablespoon Olive Oil
- ½ tablespoon Dried Oregano
- 1 clove Garlic crushed
- 1 Red Onion chopped
- 1 tablespoon Tomato Puree
- 1 Red Pepper sliced
- 300 g Rigatoni
- 1 400g tin Chopped Tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon Balsamic Vinegar
- 1 teaspoon Sugar
- Salt and Pepper
- Parmesan to serve
Instructions
- Put a pot of salted water on for the pasta. Remove the sausages from their skins.
- Heat the oil over a medium heat and add the onion and pepper and cook until softened. Brown the sausage in the pan with the veggies, breaking up with a wooden spoon. Add the garlic, oregano, balsamic and tomato puree and cook for another couple of minutes then pour in the chopped tomatoes, add the sugar and bring to a simmer. Cook for about 10 minutes.
- While the sauce cooks add the pasta to the boiling water and cook according to packet instructions.
- Remove a mugful of pasta cooking water. When the pasta is cooked to al dente drain and add it to the sauce along with a mugful of pasta water and toss together. Serve with grated parmesan.
Notes
Like the look of this recipe? Make sure you pin it for later!
Heidy L. McCallum says
I enjoy a good American-Italian dish any day of the week. My family ( grandmother/Mother) is originally from Bellosguardo, Italy. Many of the dishes we enjoy here that we would never find in Italy, however, what people do not understand is when families moved here to the states they could not obtain many ingredients they once had access to. Also suddenly they had a new world of many differnt types of meat they once could not access. This is the Italian most of us 1st and 2nd generation grew up on. I made this recipe and it turned out great. The entire family enjoyed it.
Jo Allison / Jo's Kitchen Larder says
Perfect midweek pasta dinner and your photos look so inviting! I really like recipes which are so easy to adapt to one's diet and content of the fridge. Delicious!
Demeter says
Pasta is always a winner in our house! I love the idea of adding extra veggies since we'll have to omit the sausage. Looks fantastic!
Helen @ family-friends-food.com says
This looks great - just the sort of dish that would be a weeknight dinner hit in our family!
Danielle Wolter says
the photos of that pasta are making me hungry! It looks so delicious. What a simple easy weeknight dinner!