This week is definitely going to be a hot & humid one here. I love simple meals that don’t require a lot of work or cooking time on days like these too. Preparing meals in the slow cooker or on the grill sure do make dinner time a lot easier in the summer. One of my favorite things to grill is Italian Sausage. I like to serve it with peppers from my garden and onions for a tasty and quick meal. Even when I’m not grilling though, I like to make dinner with those same delicious flavors like in this simple One Pot Italian Sausage, Pepper & Onion Pasta!
One Pot meals are great! You can’t beat the convenience of cooking, serving and only having to wash just that one pot. Even on a hot summer day, I don’t really mind these types of meals because it’s only one burner on and I’m in the air conditioning. Since I usually have some type of Italian Sausage on hand along with onions, all I need to do is head out the the garden for some peppers. (These however were from the store, because my peppers have a little more growing to do!) When it’s harvest time, I love shopping for ingredients in my garden!
If you’ve got older children to help you in they kitchen, they might even enjoy helping you chop up your colorful peppers and onions to get dinner going. After browning your sausage (I use turkey sausage because it’s lean) and sauteing your onions and peppers in a little extra virgin olive oil, you are ready to add your freshly chopped garlic, crushed tomatoes, water, and seasonings.
You can go sit down and watch the local news for a bit while that simmers for 20 minutes and your house will smell delicious!
Add in your uncooked pasta, recover and simmer for another 25 minutes and that’s it! Add a few handfuls of freshly grated Mozzarella cheese, give it a stir and dinner is ready! How easy is that?!
I like to serve this saucy pasta meal warm with a fresh salad and garlic bread.
This meal serves 6 generously and is the perfect recipe to put on your menu for the busy back to school season that’s ahead. Are you ready for that time of year again? I’m not!
I hope you’ll like this meal as much as we do! Enjoy!
Ingredients
- 1 - 1 1/4 lbs. Italian Turkey Sausage (you can use regular too, just drain most of the fat after browning)
- 1 large green pepper, sliced then halved
- 1 large red pepper sliced then halved
- 1 large yellow pepper sliced then halved
- 1 large onion, sliced then halved
- 2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
- 2 (28 oz.) cans crushed tomatoes
- 2 3/4 cups water
- 1 1/2 tsp. salt
- 1/2 tsp. pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 lb. uncooked farfalle or penne pasta
- 2 cups Mozzarella cheese, shredded
Instructions
- In a large pot, brown the sausage and saute the peppers and onions with a little extra virgin olive oil on medium-high heat.
- After the veggies have softened, lower the heat to low-medium and add the garlic, crushed tomatoes, water, salt, pepper, bay leaf and combine.
- Place a lid on the pot and cook on medium - low for 20 minutes.
- Add the uncooked pasta, stir and replace the lid.
- Simmer on low heat for 25 minutes.
- Stir half way through to make sure that pasta is not sticking to the bottom of the pan.
- Turn off the heat, remove the bay leaf, add your Mozzarella cheese, stir and let cool with the lid off a bit before serving, but serve immediately so pasta doesn't get mushy.
- Serves 6.
*Linking up at Miz Helen’s Country Cottage
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