Italian Drunken Noodles

A bold and flavorful pasta dish made with tender pappardelle noodles, spicy Italian sausage, colorful bell peppers, tomatoes, fresh herbs, and a splash of white wine. Despite the name, this is an Italian-American fusion-style dish rather than a traditional Italian recipe.

 Ingredients

• 8 ounces pappardelle noodles
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 4 spicy Italian sausage links, casings removed
• 1 large onion, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 orange bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ teaspoon salt, or to taste
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• ½ cup dry white wine
• 1 can (28 ounces) diced tomatoes, with their juices
• 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
• ¼ cup fresh basil, sliced
• Freshly grated Parmesan cheese, for serving

 Instructions

1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pappardelle according to the package directions until just al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
3. Add the Italian sausage, breaking it into chunky pieces as it cooks. Brown the sausage until cooked through, then remove it from the skillet and set aside.
4. Add the sliced onion to the same skillet and cook for about 5 minutes until softened and lightly golden.
5. Stir in the salt, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and sliced bell peppers. Cook for another 3–4 minutes.
6. Add the garlic and cook for about 30 seconds until fragrant.
7. Pour in the white wine and allow it to simmer for a few minutes, scraping up the flavorful bits from the bottom of the skillet.
8. Add the diced tomatoes with their juices and return the cooked sausage to the skillet. Simmer for about 5 minutes.
9. Stir in the parsley and half of the fresh basil.
10. Add the cooked pappardelle noodles to the skillet and gently toss everything together until the noodles are well coated in the flavorful sauce.
11. Remove from the heat and garnish with the remaining fresh basil.
12. Serve with freshly grated Parmesan cheese and an extra drizzle of olive oil if desired.

 Serving Suggestions

Serve these Italian Drunken Noodles with:

• Garlic bread
• A fresh green salad
• Roasted vegetables
• Extra Parmesan cheese

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 30 minutes
Total Time: 45 minutes
Servings: 4

Enjoy this rich, spicy, and comforting Italian pasta dinner!