Pasta night doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, it could be the most exciting dinner of the week! All you need to do is put a little pep in its step! Pep-It-Up Pasta certainly has a spring to it, and we’re not talking about the bouncing penne pasta! The spicy, savory sausage medallions and the warm, rich tomato sauce, with the glorious herbaceous flavor, have bundles of taste energy, and that’s not even getting into the feta! Seriously, why isn’t feta on more pasta? It’s so sharp and creamy! Get excited for Pep-It-Up Pasta and see if it can pep up your day too!
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon cooking oil
- 2 Italian sausage links, about 1/2 pound
- 1 yellow onion, sliced into thin strips
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced into thin strips
- 1 (24-ounce) jar pasta sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/4 teaspoon crushed red pepper
- 1/2 pound penne pasta
- 1 ounce feta, crumbled, for topping
- 1 tablespoon parsley, optional, chopped, for topping
Directions
Step 1 –In a large skillet over medium heat, heat the cooking oil.
Step 2 –Add the sausage links to the skillet and cook until they are well-browned but not quite cooked through, about 2-3 minutes per side.
Step 3 –Transfer the sausage links to a clean cutting board and slice them into medallions.
Step 4 –Transfer the sausage medallions to the skillet and cook until the sausage is cooked through and browned on the cut-sides, about 2-3 minutes.
Step 5 –Transfer the sausage to a clean plate.
Step 6 –Add the onion and the bell pepper to the skillet and cook, while stirring, until the vegetables start to soften slightly, about 4-5 minutes.
Step 7 –Add the cooked sausage, the pasta sauce, the basil, the oregano, and the crushed red pepper to the skillet and stir to combine.
Step 8 –Heat the sausage mixture through.
Step 9 –Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Step 10 –Add the pasta to the boiling water and cook until tender, about 7 minutes.
Step 11 –Drain the pasta and add it to the skillet, stirring to combine.
Step 12 –Top the skillet with the crumbled feta and the chopped parsley.
Step 13 –Serve.
