Imagine twirling your fork into a plate of perfectly toasted angel hair pasta, loaded with juicy Italian sausage and caramelized peppers that burst with flavor in every single bite. This isn't just another pasta recipe - it's a culinary adventure that transforms simple ingredients into a mouthwatering meal that will have your family and friends begging for seconds. Get ready to elevate your weeknight cooking game with this irresistible Italian-inspired dish that's both quick to prepare and incredibly delicious!
Prep Time: 10 mins
Cook Time: 20 mins
Total Time: 30 mins
Cuisine: Italian
Serves: 4 servings
Ingredients
- 8 oz angel hair pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage, sliced
- 1 bell pepper, sliced
- 1 onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parmesan cheese for serving
Instructions
- Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil for the angel hair pasta.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add sliced Italian sausage and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6-7 minutes, breaking it into smaller pieces as it cooks.
- Remove sausage from the skillet and set aside, leaving the rendered fat in the pan.
- In the same skillet, add sliced onions and bell peppers. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until vegetables are slightly softened and beginning to caramelize.
- Add minced garlic to the skillet and cook for an additional 30 seconds until fragrant, stirring constantly to prevent burning.
- While vegetables are cooking, add angel hair pasta to boiling water and cook according to package instructions, typically 3-4 minutes until al dente.
- Return cooked sausage to the skillet with peppers and onions, tossing to combine and reheat.
- Drain pasta, reserving 1/4 cup of pasta water. Add pasta directly to the skillet with sausage and vegetables.
- Toss everything together, adding reserved pasta water if needed to help ingredients combine. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Plate the pasta and garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese before serving hot.
Tips
- Always salt your pasta water generously - it should taste like the sea to properly season the pasta from within.
- Reserve some pasta water before draining; the starchy liquid helps create a silky sauce and helps ingredients stick together.
- For extra flavor, consider using spicy Italian sausage to add a kick to the dish.
- Make sure to slice your peppers and onions uniformly for even cooking and a professional presentation.
- Don't overcook the angel hair pasta - it only needs 3-4 minutes to reach that perfect al dente texture.
- Grate fresh Parmesan cheese right before serving for maximum flavor and aroma.
- If you want to make this dish lighter, you can use turkey sausage instead of traditional Italian sausage.
Nutrition Facts
Calories: 550kcal
Carbohydrates: 45g
Protein: 25g
Fat: 32g
Saturated Fat: 12g
Cholesterol: 75mg
