Description
Looking for a quick dinner packed with flavor? These Italian Drunken Noodles combine spicy, herby tomato sauce with hearty pappardelle noodles and tender ground meat for a comforting, satisfying meal. Perfect for easy dinner ideas, quick weeknight meals, or food ideas that blend the best of Italian and Thai-inspired flavors. This easy recipe is sure to become a family favorite in your list of dinner ideas.
Ingredients
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
1 pound ground Italian sausage or ground turkey
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 pint cherry tomatoes, halved
1/4 cup dry white wine (optional)
8 ounces pappardelle pasta
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the pappardelle until al dente, drain and set aside. Reserve 1/4 cup pasta water.
2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add onion and sauté until soft.
3. Stir in garlic and red pepper flakes, cook until fragrant.
4. Add ground sausage or turkey, breaking it apart, and cook until browned.
5. Add bell peppers and cook for 5 minutes, until slightly softened.
6. Add cherry tomatoes and cook until blistered and juicy.
7. Pour in white wine to deglaze the pan, scraping any bits. Let reduce slightly.
8. Add cooked pasta, fresh basil, and parsley to the skillet. Toss everything together and add pasta water if needed.
9. Season with salt and pepper. Serve hot, garnished with extra herbs or parmesan if desired.
Notes
Swap sausage with mushrooms or lentils for a vegetarian option.
Adjust red pepper flakes to control heat level.
Use any wide noodles like tagliatelle or egg noodles if pappardelle is unavailable.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian Fusion
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 plate (approx. 1/4 of recipe)
- Calories: 520
- Sugar: 6g
- Sodium: 710mg
- Fat: 26g
- Saturated Fat: 8g
- Unsaturated Fat: 16g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 49g
- Fiber: 4g
- Protein: 25g
- Cholesterol: 65mg
Keywords: quick dinner, easy dinner, pappardelle recipe, Italian noodles, spicy pasta