Italian Drunken Noodles

Italian Drunken Noodles
🧾 Ingredients:
300 g wide pasta (pappardelle, fettuccine, or tagliatelle)
2 tablespoons olive oil
300 g Italian sausage (mild or spicy, casing removed)
1 small onion (sliced)
1 bell pepper (sliced)
3 cloves garlic (minced)
1 can (400 g) diced tomatoes
1/2 cup tomato sauce
1/2 cup red wine 🍷
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon chili flakes (adjust to taste)
Salt and black pepper (to taste)
Fresh basil (a handful, chopped)
Grated Parmesan cheese (for serving)
👩‍🍳 Instructions:
Cook the pasta
Boil pasta in salted water until al dente. Reserve 1/2 cup pasta water, then drain.
Brown the sausage
Heat olive oil in a large skillet. Add sausage and cook until browned, breaking it apart.
Sauté veggies
Add onion and bell pepper. Cook for 4–5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook 1 minute.
Deglaze with wine
Pour in red wine and let it simmer for 2–3 minutes to cook off the alcohol.
Build the sauce
Add diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, chili flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer 10 minutes.
Combine everything
Add cooked pasta to the sauce. Toss well, adding a splash of reserved pasta water if needed.
Finish with herbs
Stir in fresh basil and adjust seasoning.
Serve
Top with grated Parmesan and extra chili flakes if you like heat.
🔥 Tips:
Use spicy sausage for more kick.
Add mushrooms or spinach for extra veggies.
The wine adds depth—don’t skip it!