Name: Tomato Pappardelle Pasta with Italian Sausage and Peppers
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 30 min
Total time: 35 min
Yield: 7
Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients: 1 lb. Pappardelle Pasta; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 5 italian sausages; 1 red onion, sliced; 2 garlic cloves; 10-12 mini sweet bell peppers, sliced; 28 oz. Muir Glen crushed fire roasted tomatoes; salt & pepper to season; sliced basil for garnish

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Tomato Pappardelle Pasta is classic Italian comfort food! It’s a quick and easy weeknight dinner full of hearty sausage, sweet bell peppers, spicy roasted tomatoes and more.

Looking for more pasta dinner ideas? Try this easy butternut squash pasta recipe.

A plate of homemade sausage pasta topped with a sprinkle of grated cheese

Table of Contents

This Hearty Sausage Pasta is Made in 30 Minutes!
What is Pappardelle Pasta?
Recipe Ingredients
How to Make Tomato Pappardelle Pasta
Can I Make This in Advance?
Tips for Success
Serving Suggestions
How to Store and Reheat Leftovers
Is This Dish Freezer-Friendly?
Get the Recipe

This Hearty Sausage Pasta is Made in 30 Minutes!

The sweet, savory and spicy flavors packed into this pasta dish will make you swoon. Each bite is pure bliss for your taste buds! Besides the pasta, everything cooks in a single pan. And it all comes together in about 30 minutes.

Between the juicy Italian sausage, the sweet, tender bell peppers and the spicy crushed tomatoes, it’s impossible to pick a favorite. It’s all seasoned to perfection with fresh garlic and salt & pepper to taste. With a meal as satisfying as this one, seconds are a must-have!

What is Pappardelle Pasta?

Pappardelle pasta refers to a type of noodle that’s long, wide and flat. The name comes from the Italian word pappare, which means “to devour.” Once you try this popular Tuscan pasta, you’ll see how fitting the name really is!

Pappardelle noodles are commonly served with meat, and I love pairing them with sausage most of all. For this recipe, I added in some hearty veggies and classic seasonings to load up the dish with flavor and nutrition.

A close-up shot of a plate full of tomato pappardelle pasta with sausage and peppers

Recipe Ingredients

I love making dinners that use minimal ingredients to bring tons of flavor to the table. This recipe is a prime example!

Pappardelle Pasta: You should be able to find this at your local grocery store. If not, try Trader Joe’s or Walmart.
Olive Oil: To cook the meat and vegetables.
Italian Sausage: Or another kind of sausage you like.
Red Onion: Sliced.
Garlic Cloves: Freshly minced.
Sweet Bell Peppers: Sliced.
Crushed Fire Roasted Tomatoes: We use Muir Glen’s 28-oz can.
Salt & Pepper: Added to taste.
Fresh Basil: Sliced, to garnish the dish.

Can I Use Another Kind of Pasta?

If you’d like to make your pasta with another type of noodle, go right ahead. I recommend using wide fettuccini, as it’s the most similar to pappardelle. Other kinds that work well include linguine, spaghetti, tagliatelle and regular fettuccini. It’s best to avoid shorter noodles like penne and rigatoni.

Three servings of tomato pappardelle pasta with a glass of red wine beside them

How to Make Tomato Pappardelle Pasta

This simple meal is a wonderful option for hectic weeknights. You just have to cook your pasta and sauté some of the other ingredients, then mix it all together.

Prep Skillet: Heat a large skillet to medium-high heat.
Cook Sausage: Add in the olive oil and Italian sausage. Cook for 3-4 minutes on all four sides of the Italian sausage. Remove the browned sausage from the pan and let it cool.
Cook Onion: Immediately add the onion slices to the same pan. Stir them around and sauté them for 4-5 minutes, until they’re slightly caramelized.
Add Garlic & Peppers: Add in the garlic and mini bell peppers and sauté for 2-3 minutes. Season with salt and pepper, to taste.
Add Tomatoes: Add in the crushed tomatoes. Stir everything around and let the mixture simmer for another 8-10 minutes.
Cook Pasta: In the meantime, bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add in the pappardelle pasta and cook until it’s al dente, about 11-13 minutes.
Drain: Drain the pasta and place it into a large bowl.
Slice Sausage & Add to Sauce: Slice the Italian sausage and place it into the pepper and tomato sauce. Toss the sauce, then pour it over the pappardelle pasta.
Toss: Gently toss the sauce and pasta together so everything is coated.
Garnish & Serve: Garnish your dish with fresh basil or shaved parmesan cheese. Serve and enjoy!

A collage of an image of tomato pappardelle pasta on a plate and a picture of just the sauce

Can I Make This in Advance?

If you’d like, you can cook your pasta ahead of time and store it in the fridge until you’re ready to make the sauce. Since the sauce will be hot, there’s no need to warm up the pasta – but I do recommend bringing it to room temperature. You also may need to add a splash of water when you pour in the sauce.

Tips for Success

With these helpful tips and tricks, perfect pappardelle pasta is right at your fingertips. Don’t forget to give them a read before you get cooking.

Brown the Sausage on All Sides: It’s important to rotate your sausage while it cooks so that it browns evenly on all sides. I recommend using tongs to do this.
Season to Taste: I like to season my sauce with a hint of salt and pepper. Add as much as you’d like, and feel free to use additional seasonings like paprika, cumin, ground mustard or fresh herbs.
Cook the Pasta Al Dente: Every Italian chef agrees that al dente is the only way one should cook their pasta. This basically means that the noodles should be ever so slightly underdone. Once you pour in the steaming sauce, they’ll continue to soften up a bit.

A plate of tomato, sausage and pepper pasta on top of a large cloth napkin

Serving Suggestions

This easy entree will go great with whatever is on the table next to it. Try one of these extra yummy serving options:

Serve with Salad: This Kale and Shaved Brussels Sprouts Salad is so easy to make with a lovely champagne vinaigrette to go with it. It’s full of greens, bacon, pecans and more!
Pair with Bruschetta: Bruschetta is a classic Italian side dish that features crusty bread, juicy tomatoes, mozzarella cheese, basil, garlic and balsamic vinegar. Switch things up in a delicious way with my easy Avocado Bruschetta recipe!
Serve with Grilled Veggies: From Grilled Asparagus to Corn on the Cob, any grilled vegetable will go great with your sausage pasta. Healthy dinners all the way!
Crusty bread: A thick slice of crusty bread drizzled with olive oil pairs beautifully with pasta.

How to Store and Reheat Leftovers

Once cooled, your pappardelle pasta can be stored in the fridge for up to 4 days. Keep it sealed in an airtight container. Reheat it on the stove over low heat until it’s warmed through, adding a splash of water to re-hydrate the dish. Individual portions can be warmed up in the microwave.

Is This Dish Freezer-Friendly?

Yes! Once it has cooled, you can store leftover sausage pasta in the freezer for up to 3 months. Keep it in a resealable freezer bag with all of the air removed. Thaw it out in the fridge before reheating it.