🍝 Italian Drunken Noodles

Ingredients

For the noodles:

• 12 oz wide egg noodles (or fettuccine)
• 2 tbsp olive oil

For the sauce:

• 1 lb Italian sausage (mild or hot, casings removed)
• 1 red bell pepper, sliced
• 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
• 1 orange bell pepper, sliced
• 1 medium onion, thinly sliced
• 4 cloves garlic, minced
• ½ cup white wine (or chicken broth if preferred)
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes, undrained
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp Italian seasoning
• ¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional, for a little heat)
• Salt and black pepper, to taste
• 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
• ¼ cup fresh basil, chopped
• Grated Parmesan, for serving

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Instructions

1. Cook the noodles:
   Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Cook the noodles according to package directions until al dente. Drain, toss with a drizzle of olive oil, and set aside.
2. Cook the sausage:
   In a large skillet over medium-high heat, cook the Italian sausage until browned and cooked through. Remove it from the pan and set aside, leaving a little of the rendered oil.
3. Sauté the vegetables:
   In the same skillet, add the onion and bell peppers. Sauté for about 5–6 minutes, until they start to soften.
   Add the garlic and cook another 30 seconds, until fragrant.
4. Deglaze with wine:
   Pour in the white wine, scraping up any browned bits from the pan. Let it simmer for about 2 minutes to reduce slightly.
5. Make the sauce:
   Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, and the cooked sausage.
   Simmer on medium-low heat for 5–10 minutes until the sauce thickens slightly.
   Season with salt and pepper to taste.
6. Combine:
   Add the cooked noodles to the sauce and toss until everything is well coated.
7. Finish:
   Sprinkle in the fresh basil and parsley right before serving.
8. Serve:
   Top with grated Parmesan and enjoy with a glass of wine (optional but recommended 😄).