Go Back
A white bowl filled with Pasta With Sausage And Veggies, featuring penne, sliced sausage, red peppers, and fresh herbs in a rich tomato sauce.
Layla

Pasta With Sausage And Veggies

A hearty weeknight dinner where spicy sausage, sweet peppers, and tender zucchini cling to every strand of pasta.
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 580
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

For the Pasta
  • 12 oz short pasta (such as rigatoni or penne)
  • 1 tbsp kosher salt for pasta water
For the Sausage and Veggies
  • 1 lb Italian sausage (hot or sweet) casings removed
  • 2 tbsp olive oil divided
  • 1 red bell pepper sliced into strips
  • 2 zucchini halved lengthwise and sliced
  • 4 cloves garlic thinly sliced
  • 0.5 tsp crushed red pepper flakes optional
For Finishing
  • 0.5 cup reserved pasta water
  • 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese freshly grated, plus more for serving
  • 0.25 cup fresh basil torn

Equipment

  • Large Pot
  • Large skillet
  • Colander

Method
 

Prep
  1. Bring a large pot of water to boil. Slice the pepper, zucchini, and garlic. Remove sausage from casings and break into chunks.
Cook the Pasta
  1. Salt the boiling water generously and cook pasta until just shy of al dente, about 2 minutes less than package directions. Reserve 1 cup pasta water, then drain.
Cook the Sausage and Veggies
  1. Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausage and cook, breaking it up, until browned and cooked through, 6 to 8 minutes. Transfer to a plate.
  2. Add remaining 1 tablespoon oil to the skillet. Add bell pepper and cook 3 minutes until starting to soften. Add zucchini and cook 4 minutes more until golden at edges. Add garlic and red pepper flakes; cook 30 seconds until fragrant.
Combine and Finish
  1. Return sausage to skillet. Add drained pasta, 1/2 cup reserved pasta water, and Parmesan. Toss vigorously over medium heat for 2 minutes until sauce clings to pasta and everything is glossy. Add more pasta water if needed.
  2. Remove from heat, stir in torn basil, and serve immediately with extra Parmesan at the table.

Notes

Use the starchy pasta water liberally - it transforms the sausage drippings and cheese into a silky sauce that coats every piece. Sweet Italian sausage works beautifully if you prefer milder heat; just add extra red pepper flakes at the end. The vegetables can be swapped with what you have: mushrooms, cherry tomatoes, or broccoli all work well.