Pasta Sauce with Italian Sausage
Elevate your pasta night with this rich and flavorful Pasta Sauce with Italian Sausage. Bursting with bold Italian flavors, this hearty sauce combines savory browned sausage, sweet red bell peppers, and aromatic garlic and onions. Simmered to perfection with crushed and diced tomatoes, a touch of tomato paste, and a medley of dried oregano and basil, this sauce achieves a perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and herbaceous notes. Add a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for a spicy kick or keep it mild to suit all taste buds. Ready in under an hour, this easy-to-make sauce pairs beautifully with your favorite pasta, topped with fresh parsley and a generous sprinkle of Parmesan. It’s the ultimate comfort food that’s sure to become a family favorite. Perfect for weeknight dinners or a special Italian-inspired meal!
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Recipe Information
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 pound Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casings removed)
- 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 medium red bell pepper, finely diced
- 2 tablespoons tomato paste
- 28 ounces canned crushed tomatoes
- 14.5 ounces canned diced tomatoes
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 0.5 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 teaspoon granulated sugar
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 0.5 teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- optional grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
Instructions
Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
Add Italian sausage and cook, breaking it up with a wooden spoon, until browned and fully cooked, about 6-8 minutes. Remove and set aside on a plate.
In the same pan, add the diced onion and cook until softened, about 3-4 minutes.
Stir in the garlic and red bell pepper, cooking for another 2 minutes until fragrant.
Add the tomato paste to the pan and stir well, cooking for 1 minute to deepen the flavor.
Pour in the crushed tomatoes and diced tomatoes, stirring to combine.
Return the cooked sausage to the skillet and add the oregano, basil, crushed red pepper flakes (if using), sugar, salt, and black pepper.
Reduce the heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
Taste and adjust seasoning as needed with additional salt and pepper.
Serve the sauce hot over cooked pasta, garnished with fresh parsley and grated Parmesan cheese, if desired.
Nutrition Facts
Calories |
531 | ||
|---|---|---|---|
% Daily Value* |
|||
| Total Fat | 37.2 g | 48% | |
| Saturated Fat | 11.4 g | 57% | |
| Polyunsaturated Fat | 1.0 g | ||
| Cholesterol | 83 mg | 28% | |
| Sodium | 1830 mg | 80% | |
| Total Carbohydrate | 24.3 g | 9% | |
| Dietary Fiber | 6.4 g | 23% | |
| Total Sugars | 15.4 g | ||
| Protein | 22.8 g | 46% | |
| Vitamin D | 0.0 mcg | 0% | |
| Calcium | 134 mg | 10% | |
| Iron | 4.0 mg | 22% | |
| Potassium | 1103 mg | 23% | |
*The % Daily Value tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
