Italian Sausage and Pepper Penne with Caesar Salad

A vibrant and hearty pasta dish featuring spicy Italian sausage, sweet bell peppers, and savory tomato sauce, rounded out with a crisp Caesar salad.

• Prep: 15 min
• Cook: 15 min
• Total: 30 min
• Servings: 6
• Cuisine: Italian
• Difficulty: Easy
• Cost: $3.75/serving

Dietary

• Nut-Free
• Soy-Free
• Egg-Free
• High-Protein
• High-Fiber

Tags

• quick
• comfort food
• savory
• sauté
• classic
• stir-fry

Ingredients

• 1 pound penne pasta
• 1.5 pound Italian pork sausage (casing removed)
• 2 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 yellow onion (medium, chopped)
• 3 clove garlic (minced)
• 1 red bell pepper (large, chopped)
• 1 green bell pepper (large, chopped)
• 28 ounce crushed tomatoes
• 1 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
• 1 head romaine lettuce (chopped)
• 0.5 cup Caesar dressing
• 0.75 cup croutons
• 0.5 cup Parmesan cheese (grated)

Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add the penne pasta and cook according to package directions until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup of pasta water, then drain the pasta.
2. While the pasta cooks, heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the Italian pork sausage, breaking it up with a spoon, and cook until browned, about 5-7 minutes. Drain any excess grease and transfer the sausage to a plate.
3. Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the same skillet. Add the yellow onion and bell peppers and sauté until slightly softened, about 5 minutes.
4. Stir in the minced garlic and dried oregano, and cook for another 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Pour in the crushed tomatoes, and return the cooked Italian pork sausage to the skillet. Season with 1 teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of black pepper. Bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 5 minutes.
6. Add the cooked penne pasta to the skillet with the sauce. If the sauce seems too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water to loosen it to your desired consistency.
7. In a separate bowl, combine the chopped romaine lettuce with Caesar dressing and croutons.
8. Serve the sausage and pepper penne immediately, topped with optional grated Parmesan cheese, alongside the Caesar salad.

Notes

Leftovers can be stored in an airtight container for up to 3 days. Reheat gently on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a splash of water if needed to rehydrate the sauce.

Nutrition (per serving)

• Calories: 910
• Protein: 35 g
• Carbohydrates: 80.4 g
• Fat: 49 g
• Fiber: 9.8 g
• Sodium: 1671 mg
• Saturated Fat: 12.8 g
• Sugar: 14.2 g
• Cholesterol: 91 mg