Wood-Fired Italian Sausage and Roasted Pepper Pasta
A rustic pasta dish featuring spicy Italian sausage and sweet roasted red peppers tossed in a smoky tomato sauce with rigatoni. This italian-inspired pasta ready in about 50 minutes pairs rigatoni pasta, Italian sausage links, medium red bell peppers for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 620 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
- 12 oz rigatoni pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage links
- 3 medium red bell peppers
- 3 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion
- 4 cloves garlic cloves
- 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
Instructions
- Step 1: Preheat your oven to 450°F. Cut 3 medium red bell peppers in half, remove seeds, and place cut side down on a baking sheet. Roast for 25 minutes until skins are charred and blistered. Transfer to a bowl and cover with plastic wrap. After 15 minutes, peel off skins and slice into strips.
- Step 2: Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add 12 oz rigatoni pasta and cook for 11 minutes until al dente. Drain and reserve 1/2 cup cooking water.
- Step 3: While pasta cooks, heat 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Remove casings from 1 lb Italian sausage links and crumble into skillet. Cook for 7-8 minutes, breaking up meat, until browned and cooked through.
- Step 4: Add 1 medium diced yellow onion and 4 minced garlic cloves to the sausage. Sauté for 4 minutes until onions soften and garlic is fragrant.
- Step 5: Stir in 28 oz crushed tomatoes, 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Simmer sauce for 10 minutes until thickened.
- Step 6: Stir roasted red pepper strips and 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil into the sauce. Add cooked rigatoni and 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, tossing to coat pasta evenly in sauce.
- Step 7: Off heat, drizzle remaining 1 tbsp olive oil and sprinkle 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese over pasta. Toss gently and serve immediately.
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Wood-Fired Italian Sausage and Roasted Pepper Pasta take to make?
Total time is about 50 minutes (20 min prep + 30 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Wood-Fired Italian Sausage and Roasted Pepper Pasta?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep rigatoni pasta from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Wood-Fired Italian Sausage and Roasted Pepper Pasta?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Wood-Fired Italian Sausage and Roasted Pepper Pasta for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 4 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 4). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Wood-Fired Italian Sausage and Roasted Pepper Pasta?
Italian pasta like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
