Cravings of a Lunatic

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Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta

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Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta is super easy to make and packed with flavour. The addition of Italian Sausage makes this incredibly filling!

This recipe is a variation of my Roasted Red Pepper Pasta, which is a delicious meatless pasta recipe. There are oodles of Pasta Recipes on the blog that are perfect for meal prep and freeze perfectly!

Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta served in a blue bowl on a white plate

This recipe is one of the most popular recipes on my blog, with good reason. It gets rave reviews from readers on a regular basis. I love hearing that so many people use this recipe in regular rotation in their households.

What is Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

  • Well, obviously it’s a pasta recipe. *wink*
  • It just happens to be one of the most flavourful pasta recipes you will ever make. It’s crazy easy to make, inexpensive and feeds a crowd.
  • In this recipe, we use fresh peppers that are roasted to perfection, then turned into a delicious creamy sauce. The sauce is combined with Italian sausage and noodles for a perfectly balanced roasted red pepper pasta recipe.

How to Make Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

  • This recipe includes instructions to roast your own red peppers. If you are pressed for time you can use jarred roasted red peppers.
  • Boil the pasta noodles separately. Do not attempt to make this a one pot pasta. It isn’t meant to be cooked like that.
  • Use a skillet to brown the Italian sausage first, then set it aside. You can use the same skillet for the sauce if you like.
  • Cook the sauce in a skillet, then pulse it in a food processor. Don’t skip this step. You want it to be saucy and loose, not chunky.
  • Add everything back into the skillet with the extra ingredients. Do not skip adding heavy cream. It makes the sauce creamy and delicious!
  • Before you add the cooked pasta noodles into the skillet, be sure to reserve some pasta water. This helps thicken the pasta and makes it come together beautifully.
  • You can totally sprinkle parmesan cheese over top after it is cooked. In fact, I highly encourage putting parmesan on everything!

Can You Freeze Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

  • Yes! You can absolutely freeze this pasta. Honestly, I recommend making a large batch and freezing some every time you make it. This pasta freezes perfectly.
  • Be sure to use an airtight container when freezing pasta. The less air in the container, the better.
  • You can also vacuum seal this pasta so you can lay the bags flat in your freezer after labelling them.
  • Store in your freezer for 1 to 2 months.

How to Reheat Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

Microwave Method:

  • Defrost pasta in the fridge.
  • Transfer pasta to microwaveable bowl.
  • Add 1 to 2 tablespoons of water if making 1-2 servings or 2 to 4 tablespoons of water if reheating entire batch. Adding water keeps the pasta from drying out.
  • Microwave for 1-2 minutes initially, then use 1 minute increments until it’s warm. Be sure to stir the pasta occasionally while reheating.

Stovetop Method:

  • Defrost pasta in the fridge.
  • Add about 2 tablespoons of oil or butter to a skillet. Add the pasta to the skillet and cook over medium-low heat, stirring often.
  • For this particular pasta I would add either 1/4 cup of broth or heavy cream while reheating. It will keep it from drying out.
  • Cook for about 5 to 7 minutes to reheat thoroughly.

Oven Method:

  • Defrost pasta in the fridge.
  • If you want easy cleanup you can line the casserole dish with parchment paper or foil. Makes cleanup a snap!
  • Transfer pasta to a casserole dish and pour 1/4 cup of broth or water over top, mix well.
  • Cover the casserole dish with aluminum foil, and place in a preheated 350 degree F oven for about 15 to 20 minutes.
  • Remove and stir well before serving.

Okay, so I’m completely addicted to roasted red peppers right now. I made a meatless version called Roasted Red Pepper Pasta last week. It was so wonderful I wanted to make sure I had meaty version of it on my site as well.

I also wanted to make sure this one used roasted red peppers that I did myself. Any time I can make something myself I like to take the extra time to do it.

If you’re going to roast your own peppers my advice is to do a ton of them so you can have extra for the next week or two. You can pop them in a jar and you’ve got roasted red peppers ready to go the next time you need them. Trust me, the more you have the better.

The recipe I used today is adapted from The Pioneer Woman. I made her Quick and Easy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta and loved it way too much. I am completely addicted to this pasta and it is all I want to eat lately.

Luckily it freezes well so I’ve been stocking up my freezer with the extra. Perfect for those days I’m too busy to cook, or hubs needs a quick lunch for work. I love dishes like this.

Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta close up image

More Dinner Recipes:

Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta collage image

Make sure you stop by to visit the other Pepper Party Peeps:

How To Make Roasted Red Peppers In A Slow Cooker by Cook the Story
Jack-O-Lantern Stuffed Bell Peppers by It’s Yummi!
Curried Coconut Chicken Soup with Brown Rice by Chocolate & Carrots
Quiche Provencale by Healthy. Delicious.
Poached Egg in a Bell Pepper by Food Snob 2.0

Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta is super easy to make and packed with flavour. The addition of Italian Sausage makes this incredibly filling!

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Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta served in a blue bowl on a white plate
Print
Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta
Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
40 mins
Total Time
1 hr
 
Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta is super easy to make and packed with flavour. The addition of Italian Sausage makes this incredibly filling!
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: roasted red pepper pasta with italian sausage
Servings: 8
Calories: 581 kcal
Author: Kim Beaulieu
Ingredients
For Roasting your own Red Peppers:
  • 3 red bell peppers
  • 2 tbsp olive oil
For the Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta:
  • 1 lb dried pasta (I used penne)
  • 1 lb ground sausage
  • 4 tbsp butter, divided
  • 1/2 large sweet onion, diced
  • 2 large shallots, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 3 Roasted Red Peppers, prepared in advance, chopped
  • 1 cup vegetable broth
  • 1 pinch salt
  • 1 pinch white pepper
  • 1/2 cup heavy cream
  • 1/2 cup parmesan or mozzarella, grated
For the Garnish:
  • 1 bunch parsley, fresh or dried
  • bunch basil, fresh or dried
US Customary - Metric
Instructions
For Roasting your own Red Peppers:
  1. Preheat your oven to about 450 degrees F.
  2. Line a rimmed cookie sheet with parchment paper.
  3. Pop the peppers on top of the cookie sheet. Place in the oven.
  4. Cook for about 15 to 20 minutes, it should start to char the outside of the peppers.
  5. Take tongs and flip the peppers over, cook for another 10 to 15 minutes. You want the outside to be charred and the peppers to be soft but still workable. Not mushy.
  6. Remove from the oven and transfer the peppers to a ziploc bag. Seal it up and allow them to cool for about 30 minutes or so.
  7. Take the peppers out and peel off the charred skin.
  8. Pull the tops off, then half the peppers with a knife and scrape away all the seeds.
  9. Chop the peppers roughly.
  10. Pop them in a jar and add the olive oil. Set aside till needed. If you do extra those can be stored in the fridge in a container or jar.
For the Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta:

  1. Cook your pasta noodles in boiling, salted water according to the package minus one minute.

  2. Cook your sausage in a skillet until it's browned lightly. Set aside.

  3. In a large skillet add 2 tablespoons of butter. Cook over medium high heat. Add the onions and shallots and saute for about 4 to 5 minutes. Add the garlic and the roasted red peppers and cook for about 3 to 4 minutes more.
  4. Remove the skillet from the heat, carefully transfer the ingredients to a food processor. Pulse until mixed but slightly chunky. Be sure the lid was on. Seriously people, common sense prevails here.
  5. Heat the remaining butter (2 tablespoons) in the same skillet over medium high heat, then transfer the ingredients from the food processor back into the pan. Add the cooked ground sausage, broth, salt and pepper and cook until it all starts to bubble and come together while you stir.
  6. Add the heavy cream in, more or less depending on your taste.
  7. Stir until the cream combines and feel free to add any more spices that you love.
  8. Drain pasta in a colander, reserving about 1/2 cup of pasta water, and pour that cooked pasta into your skillet. Continue to cook until everything combines and become one big happy melting pot of joy. To help it combine a little better, add a little pasta water. Start with about 1/4 cup and cook while it melds the ingredients together. You can add more if needed.
  9. Toss the dried sweet basil over top and it's pasta party time.
  10. Serve with a big old spicy sausage and red pepper smile!

Recipe Video

Recipe Notes

Adapted from The Pioneer Woman's Quick and Easy Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

 

For a meatless version you can use my Roasted Red Pepper Pasta

 

Nutritional information is a rough estimate. Results can vary depending on ingredients and products. 

 

If you made this recipe considering giving it a star rating or leave a comment!

Nutrition Facts
Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta
Amount Per Serving
Calories 581 Calories from Fat 288
% Daily Value*
Fat 32g49%
Saturated Fat 13g81%
Cholesterol 80mg27%
Sodium 652mg28%
Potassium 542mg15%
Carbohydrates 51g17%
Fiber 4g17%
Sugar 6g7%
Protein 19g38%
Vitamin A 3995IU80%
Vitamin C 125.5mg152%
Calcium 127mg13%
Iron 2.4mg13%
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

Roasted Red Pepper and Italian Sausage Pasta served in a blue bowl

 

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Comments

  4. [email protected] says

    Roasted peppers? Yes, please. I always make a ton, as you suggest, and freeze many of them. And they combine so well with Italian sausage! Beautiful match (looks beautiful, too!). Good stuff – thanks.

    Reply

  18. F Kane says

    My favorite bell pepper recipe is “Beef Tomato” , an Asian stir-fry with lots of red and green bell peppers!

    Reply

  24. Taiya says

    Favorite dish with roasted red pepper is a roasted vegetable Bolognese – recipe from Giada! Would be amazning prepared in this pan!!

    Reply

  25. Elisa B says

    I like bell peppers raw or on pizza. I’ve also made a great pasta dish with sauteed bell peppers, onions, and sausage.

    Reply

  27. mjskit says

    I am totally addicted to roasted peppers – sweet, spicy, any color! Another great dish! I already have the braiser I’ll pass on the giveaway, but what a great dish to have in your kitchen!

    Reply

  34. Alison J. says

    I love stuffing peppers with cubed cold cuts, veggies, olive oil, bread crumbs and cheese and then baking them!

    Reply

  42. Roz says

    Just like you Kim, I am CRAZY, nuts about home-roasted red peppers! So easy too! Why buy them in jars? Super recipe and I’m now convinced that you are Italian and you just weren’t told that you were at birth! Thanks for the opportunity for this sweet giveaway! You’re a true-blue, great, fantabulous food blogger!

    xo
    Roz

    Reply

    • Kim Beaulieu says

      Awe thanks Kelly. I saw you pin and was like “squee, Kelly just repinned me”. I’m a dork like that. I ran over and pin a few of yours as a thank you.

      Reply

  45. Ami says

    How long will the peppers keep in the fridge if I make extra. I don’t want to make too much and have them spoil before I can use them all!!

    Reply

    • Kim Beaulieu says

      I keep my roasted peppers (in oil) in the fridge for about 2 weeks. Hope that helps. Or you can used the jars from the store. I keep a few jars in my pantry all the time just in case I don’t have fresh peppers on hand.

      Reply

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