Italian drunken noodle recipe

Italian Drunken Noodles 🍝🍷 — sometimes called “Drunken Pasta” — is a bold, rustic Italian-American dish inspired by Thai Drunken Noodles, but made with Italian sausage, bell peppers, and a splash of wine for rich flavor. It’s hearty, aromatic, and perfect for a quick weeknight meal!

Here’s a classic Italian Drunken Noodles recipe:

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🇮🇹 Italian Drunken Noodles

🧂 Ingredients (4 servings)

• 12 oz wide egg noodles or pappardelle

• 1 lb Italian sausage (sweet or hot, casings removed)

• 1 medium yellow onion, thinly sliced

• 3 bell peppers (red, yellow, orange), thinly sliced

• 3 cloves garlic, minced

• ½ cup dry white or red wine (use what you like to drink)

• 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes

• 2 tbsp tomato paste

• 1 tsp Italian seasoning

• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)

• Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 3 tbsp olive oil

• ¼ cup fresh basil or parsley, chopped

• Freshly grated Parmesan, for serving

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🔪 Instructions

1. Cook the noodles

   • Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the pasta until al dente.

   • Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain and set aside.

2. Cook the sausage

   • In a large skillet, heat 1 tbsp olive oil over medium-high heat.

   • Add the Italian sausage and cook until browned, breaking it up into small pieces.

   • Remove sausage from the skillet and set aside.

3. Sauté the vegetables

   • In the same skillet, add remaining olive oil, then sauté onions and bell peppers for about 5–6 minutes, until softened and slightly caramelized.

   • Add garlic and cook another 30 seconds.

4. Deglaze with wine

   • Pour in the wine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.

   • Simmer for 2–3 minutes, until the alcohol mostly cooks off.

5. Add tomatoes and seasoning

   • Stir in diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and a pinch of salt and pepper.

   • Return the sausage to the pan.

   • Simmer gently for 8–10 minutes, allowing the sauce to thicken.

6. Combine pasta and sauce

   • Add the cooked noodles to the sauce, tossing to coat.

   • If the sauce is too thick, add a splash of the reserved pasta water.

7. Finish & serve

   • Sprinkle with fresh basil or parsley and Parmesan.

   • Serve hot with crusty bread and a glass of the same wine you cooked with. 🍷

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🔥 Optional Variations

• Add crushed red pepper flakes for heat.

• Use chicken or turkey sausage for a lighter version.

• Swap zucchini noodles or pappardelle for a lower-carb twist.

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Would you like me to give you a creamy version (with a touch of cream or mascarpone) or keep it as a classic tomato-based version?