The Zesty Italian Drunken Noodles Recipe Everyone Will Love

Whipping up these mouthwatering italian drunken noodles guarantees a flavor explosion that’ll make your taste buds dance.

Pasta lovers appreciate how quickly this dish comes together in a single skillet.

Vibrant peppers and savory sausage create a symphony of textures and tastes.

Each bite promises a delectable journey through bold, spicy ingredients that meld perfectly.

Weeknight cooking becomes an adventure with this simple yet impressive meal.

Minimal prep work means you can have dinner ready in under thirty minutes.

Hungry for a restaurant-quality experience right in your own kitchen?

This recipe will be your new go-to comfort food that impresses everyone at the table.

Drunken Noodles With a Spicy Italian Twist

• Speedy Weeknight Dinner: Whip up this Italian Drunken Noodles recipe in under 30 minutes, making it perfect for busy families craving a delicious meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Flavor Explosion: Packed with spicy Italian sausage, vibrant bell peppers, and aromatic herbs, this dish delivers a mouthwatering taste experience that will tantalize your taste buds with every bite.
• Restaurant-Quality at Home: Impress your dinner guests or enjoy a gourmet-style meal without the hefty restaurant price tag, bringing authentic Italian flavors directly to your dining table.
• One-Pan Wonder: Minimize cleanup with this convenient recipe that uses a single skillet, saving time on dishes and allowing you to spend more moments enjoying your delectable meal.

Italian Drunken Noodles What Goes In

Main Ingredients:

• Pappardelle, Fettuccine: Wide, flat noodles perfect for holding rich sauces, traditional in Italian cuisine.

• Spicy Italian Sausage: Adds bold, spicy flavor and meaty texture to the dish, core component of the recipe.

• Onion, Bell Peppers: Provide sweet and savory base flavors, adding depth and texture to the sauce.
• Garlic: Classic Italian aromatic that enhances overall flavor profile.
• Basil, Parsley: Fresh herbs that bring brightness and authentic Italian herb notes.

• White Wine: Adds complexity and acidity, helps deglaze the pan and create rich sauce.
• Crushed Tomatoes: Creates classic Italian sauce base, provides tangy and slightly sweet foundation.
• Olive Oil: Essential for sautéing and building flavor base, traditional Mediterranean cooking fat.

• Italian Seasoning: Blend of dried herbs that adds traditional Italian flavor profile.
• Salt, Pepper: Basic seasonings to enhance and balance overall dish taste.

Cooking Italian Drunken Noodles with Style

Step 1: Boil the Pasta

Cook pappardelle or fettuccine in salted water following package instructions until perfectly al dente.

Drain and rinse the noodles, then set them aside, keeping them ready for the delicious sauce.

Step 2: Brown the Sausage

Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

Break the spicy Italian sausage into the pan, cooking until it turns golden brown and is completely cooked through.

Transfer the sausage to a separate plate, preserving those flavorful drippings.

Step 3: Sauté the Vegetables

Add additional oil to the skillet if needed.

• Thinly sliced onions
• Colorful bell peppers
• Italian seasoning

Sauté the vegetables until they become soft and slightly caramelized.

Introduce minced garlic and season with salt and pepper to enhance the flavor profile.

Step 4: Create the Sauce

Pour white wine into the skillet, allowing it to simmer and reduce for a couple of minutes.

Add crushed tomatoes and return the cooked sausage to the pan.

Let the sauce develop its rich flavors.

Step 5: Finish and Serve

Remove the skillet from heat.

• Sliced basil
• Chopped parsley

Gently add the drained pasta to the sauce, using tongs to ensure every strand is beautifully coated with the vibrant mixture.

Serve immediately and enjoy the robust, wine-infused Italian feast.

How to Master Saucy Italian Drunken Noodles

• Choose high-quality spicy Italian sausage for maximum taste and depth in your dish.
• Select a dry white wine like pinot grigio or sauvignon blanc to enhance the sauce's complexity without overpowering other ingredients.
• Cook pasta just until al dente to maintain a slight firmness and prevent mushiness when mixing with the sauce.
• Add fresh basil and parsley at the end of cooking to preserve their bright flavors and vibrant green color.
• Sauté bell peppers and onions until they're tender but still retain a slight crunch for textural variety.

Reheat Italian Drunken Noodles

• Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping the dish fresh for 3-4 days in the refrigerator.
• Warm gently in a skillet over medium-low heat, adding a splash of white wine or broth to prevent drying and restore moisture.
• Transfer to a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each to distribute heat evenly.
• Freeze in a sealed container for up to 2 months, thawing overnight in the refrigerator before reheating for best texture and flavor.

Italian Drunken Noodles Complements

• Elevate Your Dining Experience: Perfect Pairings
• Robust Red Wine Companion: Select a bold Chianti or Sangiovese that matches the spicy sausage's intensity, enhancing the dish's rich tomato and herb flavors with its complementary wine profile.
• Crisp Herb-Infused Salad: Prepare a light arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette, providing a fresh, zesty contrast to the hearty pasta, balancing the richness of the sausage and creating a palate-cleansing side dish.
• Garlic Parmesan Focaccia: Serve warm, crusty focaccia bread to soak up the delicious sauce, adding textural variety and delivering extra flavor that complements the Italian drunken noodles' robust profile.
• Citrus-Infused Sparkling Water: Offer a refreshing, palate-cleansing beverage with subtle citrus notes to cut through the dish's richness, providing a light counterpoint to the bold pasta flavors.

Drunken Noodles with Italian-Style Twists

• Gluten-Free Noodle Swap: Replace pappardelle with gluten-free rice noodles or zucchini spirals for a celiac-friendly version that maintains the dish's rich flavors.
• Vegetarian Protein Option: Substitute spicy Italian sausage with crumbled plant-based sausage or seasoned mushrooms like portobello to create a hearty meat-free alternative.
• Low-Carb Cauliflower Base: Transform the recipe by replacing pasta with roasted cauliflower rice, keeping the spicy sauce and vegetable elements while reducing carbohydrate content.
• Dairy-Free Adaptation: Ensure all ingredients are dairy-free by checking wine and seasoning labels, making this recipe suitable for those with dairy restrictions.

FAQs

• What makes Italian Drunken Noodles different from other pasta dishes?

The white wine creates a unique depth of flavor, adding richness and complexity to the sauce that sets this dish apart from traditional pasta recipes.

• Can I substitute the spicy Italian sausage with another protein?

Yes, you can use ground beef, chicken, or even make a vegetarian version with plant-based sausage or extra vegetables. Just ensure the protein is well-seasoned to maintain the dish’s bold flavor profile.

No, the term “drunken” refers to the white wine used in cooking, which adds flavor but mostly cooks off during preparation. The alcohol content is minimal, and the dish is safe for most people to enjoy.

• How spicy are Italian Drunken Noodles?

The spiciness comes from the Italian sausage, which typically has a moderate heat level. You can control the spice by choosing mild or hot sausage, or by adding red pepper flakes to adjust the heat to your preference.

Italian Drunken Noodles Recipe

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4.7 from 40 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

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Description

Savory italian drunken noodles dance with spicy sausage and peppers, creating a bold flavor explosion that sings of rustic Italian cuisine. Passionate cooks will relish this one-pan wonder that brings hearty comfort to dinner tables with minimal effort.

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Ingredients

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Main Ingredients:

• 1 pound spicy Italian sausage
• 8 ounces (226 grams) pappardelle noodles or wide fettuccine noodles
• 1 large can crushed tomatoes

Vegetables and Aromatics:

• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 1 red bell pepper, thinly sliced
• 3 cloves garlic, freshly minced

Herbs, Seasonings, and Liquids:

• 1/2 cup white wine
• 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
• 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
• 3 teaspoons parsley flakes
• 1/4 cup basil leaves, sliced very thin
• olive oil
• salt and pepper to taste

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Instructions

1. Boil the pappardelle noodles in salted water until they reach the perfect al dente texture, then gently drain and rinse, setting them aside to cool slightly.
2. Warm olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, allowing the pan to become evenly heated.
3. Crumble the robust spicy Italian sausage directly into the skillet, breaking it into small, uniform pieces while cooking until it develops a rich, golden-brown exterior and is thoroughly cooked.
4. Transfer the crispy sausage to a separate plate, reserving the flavorful drippings in the pan.
5. Introduce thinly sliced onions and vibrant bell peppers to the skillet, sprinkling Italian seasoning over them and sautéing until the vegetables become tender and slightly translucent.
6. Add minced garlic, allowing its aromatic essence to bloom, and season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to enhance the overall flavor profile.
7. Deglaze the pan by pouring in white wine, letting it simmer and reduce, which will help concentrate the underlying flavors and create a more complex sauce.
8. Incorporate crushed tomatoes into the vegetable mixture, then reintroduce the cooked sausage, stirring to combine all ingredients harmoniously.
9. Remove the skillet from heat and gently fold in freshly sliced basil and parsley, allowing their vibrant herbs to infuse the sauce with brightness.
10. Using tongs, carefully combine the prepared noodles with the robust sauce, ensuring each strand is luxuriously coated and the dish is well-integrated.

Notes

• Boost flavor by browning sausage well, creating delicious caramelized bits that add depth to the entire dish.
• Customize heat levels by selecting mild or spicy Italian sausage based on personal spice tolerance.
• Select fresh herbs like basil and parsley right before adding to preserve vibrant color and maximum aromatic qualities.
• Experiment with alternative pasta types such as rigatoni or linguine if pappardelle isn’t available, maintaining similar thickness and texture.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 590
• Sugar: 6 g
• Sodium: 900 mg
• Fat: 30 g
• Saturated Fat: 10 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 55 g
• Fiber: 3 g
• Protein: 25 g
• Cholesterol: 70 mg