Prepare your next pasta dish with pork, like this Spicy Sausage Pasta dish, and reinvent pasta night! A spicy tomato sauce, with peppers and onions, and lots of dried red chilies, is simple and rustic, but so delicious! This hearty meal is make-ahead and freezer friendly too!

Spicy Sausage Pasta is the result of an Italian sausage sale. I’ve been on a sausage kick lately and it all started because of a recent sausage sale. I’m usually the type to worry about meats being on sale – doesn’t it just sound wrong? Or is that just me?
I’m not talking about those eat-it-today sales you see at some grocery stores. For instance, the grocery store closest to me will have these bright yellow stickers on meat items in the display case that read: 50% – Enjoy tonight! Um, no thanks!
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SOMETIMES I CAN NOT COMPROMISE
If I’m staring down at a t-bone steak that’s originally priced at $25 and you’re asking me to enjoy it tonight for $12, I’m going to completely pass. There are a few things in this world that I will not compromise or budge on, and discounted meat is one of them. I’ll pay the full price, thanks!
Oh, and in case you’re wondering, the other things in terms of food items which I will not compromise on are as follows (in no particular order): Diet Coke (there’s just no other!); all bread(s) must be as grainy and as seed-filled as I can possibly find – no exceptions; Starbucks (green tea frap!); Heinz or French’s; Clark’s; Hellman’s; Kraft (for some things); Philadelphia; and Armstrong.

I’M ALWAYS ON THE LOOKOUT FOR A GOOD SALE!
Rather than tossing out brand names though, I’ll get back to the sausage sale. So this particular sale was a week-long store special. John.e and I will regularly peruse the grocery flyers for sales. For the most part, we aren’t grocery sale shoppers, but if something catches our eye, we’ll most likely end up completing our entire Saturday or Sunday morning grocery shop at that one store.
In most cases, we are on the lookout for what we consider pantry items – canned or dried beans, dry pasta, cereal, or Clif bars. We are total Clif bar junkies. A few weeks back, they were on sale for $12 a box (twelve bars in a box) and we bought 8 boxes. Who the hell needs that many granola bars??
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Again… I’m off topic. The Italian sausages were 5 large links for 3 dollars – deal, right? I bought 4 packages because I knew I could freeze them. I used to buy sausages regularly and freeze them, but now I very rarely buy them except when a good sale comes along.
A good spicy sauce made from the sausage was just the thing I needed on a Sunday evening. This recipe yielded enough so that I could portion out some for myself, as well as portions for four other people. I like to package up meat-based recipes and give them to our neighbours since John.e and McKenna are vegetarians. I most certainly can’t eat it all – well, I could, but I shouldn’t. That’s more like it!
It’s my good deed. I don’t do many “good” things, so this is my way of giving back, even if it’s just a little. Being a food blogger, I tend to ALWAYS have excess amounts of food on hand. And, just like my mother used to do, I always cook for groups of people rather than just one or two. So, rather than let it go to waste, I share it with our neighbours.

THIS RECIPE MAKES MORE THAN ENOUGH TO SHARE!
We are so lucky to have the most wonderful neighbours, which is not always the case when living in an apartment building in the city. We have an elderly couple upstairs who is exactly what I want to be like when I’m in my 90s. (If I’m lucky enough to live to that age!) Jack and Shirley are the main recipients of the food you see on my blog that have meat as an ingredient.
We have our kitty auntie down the hallway who takes care of our cats, Jake and Maggie, whenever we are out of town. And, she’s a rock star cat-sitter too! She will take care of them for an entire week without hesitation. And both Jake and Maggie love her. Louise is a fan of baked goods and will often receive cookies, scones, squares, and cake. Her sister, Donna, lives in the building too and she also takes part in the freebies.

We also have our Mahjong buddies who mostly are on the receiving end of baked goods. But, whenever there’s a Sunday afternoon Mahjong game day, I’m always sure to stock up on finger foods. (It’s how I win most of the games; distract them with food!) Don’t tell SueLen or Leslie, but that’s exactly how I do it. Ha!
When all was said and done though, I really enjoy it. I’m a giver and it gives me so much pleasure to feed people. I’m not sure why that is, but feeding people is one of my favourite things to do, especially when the food is as good as this Spicy Sausage Pasta!

INGREDIENTS NEEDED TO PREPARE THIS RECIPE
The following is a list of the ingredients needed to prepare this Easy Sweet and Sour Tofu recipe. For exact amounts and measurements, refer to the printable recipe card located near the bottom of this post.
- Sausage – I love the flavour of hot Italian sausage, but you can use a milder sausage if you wish. The casing is removed and discarded, so you could use ground sausage meat too.
- Pasta – I’m using penne, but you can use macaroni, ditalini, orecchiette, or any other small pasta you like.
- Canned Diced Tomatoes – You will need two large cans, including the juice. Store-bought is fine, but I used my homemade canned tomatoes.
- Tomato Paste – Use for flavour and colour, plates of pasta are synonymous with tomato paste.
- Olive Oil
- Onion – You can use white or yellow onion.
- Garlic – Fresh cloves of garlic add flavour and depth. Plus, pasta dishes love garlic!
- Bell Peppers – I used both red and green bell peppers, but you can use any one colour or a combination of colours as I did.
- Dried Basil and Dried Oregano
- Salt and Ground Black Pepper
- Dried Red Chili Flakes – If you don’t like too much heat, you can omit these, or you can double up on them if you want your pasta to be very spicy.
- Parmesan Cheese – I love to use freshly grated parmesan whenever possible, but I’m not against the kind bought in a can either if that fits better into your grocery budget.
- Parsley – Use fresh chopped parsley for colour and garnish.
HOW TO MAKE SPICY SAUSAGE PASTA
In a large skillet, over medium heat, add the olive oil, sausage, onion, salt, and ground black pepper. Cook until the sausage is done, breaking apart the lumps of sausage meat as you go along. To fully cook through the sausage and break down the pieces so that the sausage resembles cooked ground beef, it should take about 20 minutes.
Add the garlic and red and green bell peppers. Cook for 5 more minutes. Add the basil, oregano, dried chili flakes, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Stir all ingredients together and continue to cook until the sauce begins to bubble. Lower the heat to simmer, cover the skillet, and continue to cook the sauce for 10 minutes.
Add in the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Turn off the heat. Add the parmesan and parsley. Toss to mix and serve immediately.

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Spicy Sausage Pasta
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 5 Italian sausage links, casings removed
- 1/2 cup onion, finely chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2 cup red bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 teaspoon dried red chili flakes, or to taste
- 28 ounces canned diced tomatoes, with juice
- 5 ounces can tomato paste
- 450 grams penne pasta, cooked and drained
- 1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated (plus more for garnish, optional)
- 1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped (optional)
Instructions
- In a large skillet, over medium heat, add the olive oil, sausage, onion, salt, and ground black pepper. Cook until the sausage is done, breaking apart the lumps of sausage meat as you go along. To fully cook through the sausage and break down the pieces so that the sausage resembles cooked ground beef, it should take about 20 minutes.
- Add the garlic and red and green bell peppers. Cook for 5 more minutes.
- Add the basil, oregano, dried chili flakes, diced tomatoes, and tomato paste. Stir all ingredients together and continue to cook until the sauce begins to bubble.
- Lower the heat to simmer, cover the skillet, and continue to cook the sauce for 10 minutes.
- Add in the cooked pasta and toss to coat. Turn off the heat. Add the parmesan and parsley. Toss to mix and serve immediately.
Nutrition
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Ella says
Ciao Bello,
I am new to your web blogs and recipes. These photos want to make me cook up some penne tomorrow. I especially like reading your stories. Thanks for warming my heart today with your humor and beautiful photos.
I moved from the States to Italy for love, and I am blessed to have amazing food here and the man of my heart. Although it was hard to find my normal staples for my pantry. After living here 6 years, I either know where to get stuff, or make my own, think anything Pumpkin Spice!
Looking forward to the holidays as we just moved to a new area, and I want to do Christmas cookies, cupcakes and fudge. I am going to try a few of your recipes.
Grazie, baci
Ella Johnson Fecchio
byronethomas@gmail.com says
Thank you, Ella. Great to hear from you! I’ve always wanted to visit Italy – it’s on my bucket list. I trust you and your husband will have a fantastic Christmas. All the best!
Sissie says
This turned out very good, my family really enjoyed it , and it was easy to make.
Bistro Marcel says
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Gerri says
Great recipe! I have made this several times and my family loves it more than spaghetti. This is definitely a keeper !