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Italian Drunken Noodles

A bold pasta dish featuring pappardelle tossed with spicy Italian sausage, sweet peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and white wine. Rustic, colorful, and packed with rich flavor, this Italian-inspired comfort meal is perfect for pasta night.
Print Recipe
Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Comfort Food, Italian Inspired, Main Course, Pasta, Weeknight Dinners
Cuisine: Italian
Calories: 610
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 8 oz pappardelle noodles uncooked
  • 2 tbsp olive oil plus more for finishing
  • 4 links spicy Italian sausage casings removed
  • 1 large onion quartered and thinly sliced
  • 1 1/2 tsp salt
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 tsp cracked black pepper
  • 1 red bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 yellow bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 1 orange bell pepper thinly sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic pressed
  • 1/2 cup white wine such as Chardonnay
  • 28 oz diced tomatoes with juice
  • 2 tbsp flat-leaf parsley chopped
  • 1/4 cup fresh basil julienned, divided

Method
 

  1. Cook pappardelle according to package directions. Drain well and keep warm.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large heavy-bottom pan. Brown sausage in chunky pieces, then remove and set aside.
  3. Add onions to the pan and cook until caramelized. Stir in salt, Italian seasoning, and black pepper.
  4. Add bell peppers and sauté 2 minutes. Stir in garlic, then pour in white wine and reduce until nearly evaporated.
  5. Add diced tomatoes and browned sausage back to the pan. Simmer 3–4 minutes to blend flavors.
  6. Finish sauce with a drizzle of olive oil, parsley, and half the basil. Toss cooked noodles into the sauce until well coated.
  7. Serve in bowls topped with remaining basil and optional shaved parmesan.

Notes

Use sweet Italian sausage for a milder version. Shaved parmesan and extra olive oil make an excellent finishing touch.