Mulberry-Inspired Italian Sausage and Peppers Pasta

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-08 · Updated 2026-05-08

A savory pasta dish featuring spicy Italian sausage and sweet bell peppers in a rich tomato sauce reminiscent of Buffalo’s Mulberry Italian flavors. This Italian-inspired pasta recipe, ready in about 45 minutes, pairs Italian sausage links, olive oil, red bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 650 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 (12 oz total), casings removed Italian sausage links
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, sliced into thin strips red bell pepper
• 1 large, sliced into thin strips yellow bell pepper
• 1 medium, thinly sliced yellow onion
• 3 cloves minced garlic
• 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 12 oz penne pasta
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
• 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz penne pasta and cook for 10-12 minutes until al dente; drain and set aside.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 4 Italian sausage links, casings removed, breaking into pieces with a spoon; cook for 5-6 minutes until browned and cooked through.
3. Step 3: Add 1 sliced red bell pepper, 1 sliced yellow bell pepper, and 1 thinly sliced yellow onion to the skillet; sauté for 5 minutes until softened.
4. Step 4: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Pour in 28 oz crushed tomatoes, then add 1 tsp dried oregano, 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper; reduce heat to low and simmer for 10 minutes until sauce thickens.
6. Step 6: Toss the cooked penne pasta into the sausage and pepper sauce, stirring to coat evenly.
7. Step 7: Remove from heat and stir in 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves.
8. Step 8: Serve topped with 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese.