Spicy Italian sausage pasta is loaded with tons of flavor and a kick of heat thanks to spicy Italian sausage, and two kinds of chili peppers. It's a hearty, flavorful dish that everyone will love.
If you're craving a delicious and comforting meal, look no further than this Italian sausage pasta recipe.
This dish is perfect for those who love a little heat in their meal, as it combines flavorful and spicy sausage with a wonderfully spicy tomato sauce. Not only is this dish incredibly tasty but it is also a satisfying and wholesome meal.
If you love spicy pasta dishes, you've got to try this buffalo ranch chicken pasta and my bang bang chicken pasta. Don't forget to serve it with some of my amazing garlic bread recipe.
Why You Will Love This Spicy Pasta Recipe
- Delicious and Bold Flavor. The combination of sausage, spices, and garlic creates a flavor you will enjoy with every bite.
- Adjust the Flavors to Your Tastes. You can easily adjust the level of spiciness by choosing mild or hot sausage or choosing a different kind of pepper making it suitable for everyone.
- Great Weeknight Dinner. This recipe goes together in a snap making it perfect for busy families.
Ingredients
You'll only need a handful of simple ingredients to make this delicious recipe, and you can find them all in one quick trip to your grocery store. Be sure to check the recipe card at the end of the post for the full list of ingredients and the exact quantities you need.
- Rotini Pasta: My favorite short pasta shape but you can really use any type you prefer. Penne, rigatoni, or macaroni all work well.
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil: Vegetable oil will also work in a pinch.
- Red Onion and Garlic Cloves: Provide the foundational aroma and flavor for your spicy pasta dish.
- Fresno Chile Pepper and Jalapeno Pepper: The fruity flavor of the fresno chile pepper works well to add a more complex flavor than just jalapeno peppers on their own. .
- Crushed Tomatoes and Diced Tomatoes: These canned tomatoes offer a slightly different texture to make the perfect tomato sauce.
- Pinot Grigio: This dry white wine adds a bit of tanginess to the pasta sauce. You can swap it with apple cider vinegar, chicken or vegetable broth, apple juice, or white grape juice instead.
- Fully Cooked Sausage: Choose your favorite mild or hot Italian sausage for this pasta recipe.
Substitutions and Variations
Don't have the correct ingredients on hand? Or want to change something up? Here are some helpful tips for you to change this spicy sausage pasta.
- Gluten-Free. Swap the regular pasta for gluten-free pasta. You can find a variety of options at your local grocery store.
- Vegetarian. Make a vegetarian version of this dish by using vegetable broth and a plant-based sausage. They're available in a wide range of options at almost any grocery store.
- Different Types of Sausage. Try using kielbasa sausage, smoked sausage, or chicken sausage in place of Italian sausage.
- Add Veggies. You can easily add your favorite cooked vegetables to this dish.
- Experiment with Different Chilies. Use poblano, banana, or Anaheim peppers for milder spiciness than jalapeno peppers or Fresno peppers. You can also add some red chili flakes or cayenne pepper instead. Sweet bell peppers can be used too in combination too if you're looking for a milder flavor.
How to Make Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta
This recipe is fairly straightforward and only takes a few simple steps to make. It's one that even beginners can easily make. The highlights are here, but you'll find the exact instructions in the recipe card at the end of the post.
- Place the garlic, peppercorns, and Fresno chiles in a mortar.
- Use the pestle to mash them up into a paste.
- Saute the garlic, onions, and jalapeno in your pot.
- Deglaze the pan with the wine.
- Add all the remaining ingredients except the sausage and pasta.
- Simmer and then add the sliced sausage to the pot.
- Add the pasta to the pot.
- Stir until everything is combined.
⭐ Hint: Cook your pasta to al dente and no further. That way, it stands up to being mixed into the sausage tomato sauce.
If you love recipes like this, you may also enjoy this chorizo sausage stuffed peppers, Kielbasa In Air Fryer, marry me chicken pasta or creamy parmesan ham pasta.
Storage
- Refrigerator: Store in an air-tight container for up to 4 days.
- Freezer: Chill the pasta completely, then freeze it for up to 3 months in an air-tight, freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bag with as much air as possible removed.
- Reheat: If your pasta is frozen, defrost it overnight in the refrigerator. Once thawed, place it in a saucepan and simmer over medium-low heat until heated through. You can also microwave it on medium power for 2 to 3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
What to Serve with Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta
This delicious dish is a spicy take on classic Italian fare, so it makes sense that it pairs with all the sides we enjoy with any Italian dish. Try this pasta with:
- Enjoy a simple side salad like this asparagus salad or bell pepper salad.
- Garlic bread: Try it with homemade garlic bread in the air fryer or you can make some air fryer frozen garlic bread. Turn it into some cheesy garlic bread or try these pizza dough breadsticks instead.
- Add a side dish such as these balsamic green beans, sauteed zucchini and onions, or sauteed cauliflower.
Tips
- Cook your pasta to al dente and no further. This gives you the optimal pasta texture and keeps it from falling apart when you mix it into the sausage tomato sauce.
- Only saute your garlic for about a minute before adding the onion and peppers. You want it to be aromatic but not burned.
- A Dutch oven works best for this recipe but a heavy pot will also work.
- Be sure to simmer your sauce, not boil it. A gentle simmer allows everything to cook nicely while maintaining its texture.
- Prefer a creamier texture? Stir in some heavy cream and add parmesan cheese right before serving.
FAQ
Do you have questions about this spicy sausage pasta? Here are some of the most commonly asked questions about this spicy Italian sausage pasta.
Spicy Italian sausage is a popular choice for pasta dishes due to its robust flavor and heat. However, you can also try using other spicy sausages like andouille, chorizo, merguez, or smoked depending on your taste preferences. Adjust the heat level according to your taste by using either mild or hot sausages.
Most types of short pasta such as penne, rigatoni, macaroni, or rotini work well as they hold the sauce and absorb the flavors. Feel free to use your favorite pasta shape.
Yes, as long as the protein is cooked you can use ground beef, ground turkey, sliced chicken breast, shrimp, or steak. However, you might need to adjust the seasoning accordingly.
Absolutely. Replace the sausage with a plant-based sausage alternative or just add veggies, such as zucchini, eggplant, mushrooms, bell peppers or your favorites.
Video
More Easy Pasta Recipes
Do you like pasta dishes for easy weeknights? Here are some recipes you may also like to try.
Ready to get cooking? Remember that you can print this recipe if you would like.
Spicy Italian Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 1 lb rotini pasta cooked and drained
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 1 medium red onion diced
- 4 minced garlic cloves divided
- 1 fresno chile pepper seeded and minced
- 1 jalapeno pepper seeded and minced
- 1 teaspoon black peppercorn
- 1 28 oz can crushed tomatoes
- 1 14 oz can diced tomatoes
- ½ cup pinot grigio Apple cider vinegar, chicken or vegetable broth, apple juice or white grape juice will work instead.
- 2 teaspoon oregano
- 1 teaspoon fennel
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt
- 1 pkg (12 oz) fully cooked sausage Choose your favorite mild or hot Italian sausage, chicken sausage, smoked sausage or plant based sausage.
Options
- Fresh chopped parsley
- Thinly sliced jalapeno and fresno chile peppers
- heavy cream
- freshly grated parmesan cheese
Instructions
- Heat a dutch oven over medium heat. Add olive oil and swirl to coat.
- Add 2 garlic cloves, peppercorn, and fresno pepper to a mortar and press into a paste. Set aside
- Add remaining 2 minced garlic cloves to the dutch oven. After 30 seconds, add diced onion and jalapeno. Saute for 4-5 minutes until softened.
- Add to the dutch oven and cook for 1 minute.
- Next, deglaze the pan with pinot grigio for 2 minutes. Stir in the crushed tomatoes, diced tomatoes and seasonings and cover. Let simmer for 20 minutes.
- Slice the cooked sausage and add to the pasta sauce. Cook for 10 minutes on medium low heat.
- Add the cooked pasta to the sauce and toss to coat. Remove from heat.
- Serve immediately. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley, thinly sliced jalapeno and fresno chile peppers, a few spoonful's of heavy cream or freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Video
Notes
- Cook your pasta to al dente and no further. This gives you the optimal pasta texture and keeps it from falling apart when you mix it into the sausage tomato sauce.
- Only saute your garlic for about a minute before adding the onion and peppers. You want it to be aromatic but not burned.
- A Dutch oven works best for this recipe but a heavy pot will also work.
- Be sure to simmer your sauce, not boil it. A gentle simmer allows everything to cook nicely while maintaining its texture.
- Prefer a creamier texture? Stir in some heavy cream and add parmesan cheese right before serving.
Tanya says
This pasta is wonderfully spicy and full of flavor. Definitely will make again. Everyone loved it. ❤️
Karin and Ken says
So happy to hear you all enjoyed it! You made my day! All the best. Karin