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Italian Drunken Noodles 🍝🌶️
Italian Drunken Noodles are a spicy pasta dish inspired by Thai drunken noodles but made with Italian ingredients like sausage, peppers, herbs, and wine. The “drunken” part comes from cooking the sauce with wine for deep flavor.
Ingredients
- 12 oz pappardelle or fettuccine pasta
- 1 lb Italian sausage (sliced or crumbled)
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper (sliced)
- 1 yellow bell pepper (sliced)
- 1 small onion (sliced)
- 3 cloves garlic (minced)
- ½ tsp red pepper flakes (adjust to taste)
- 1 cup crushed tomatoes
- ½ cup white wine
- 1 tsp Italian seasoning
- Salt and black pepper
- Fresh basil leaves
- Grated Parmesan cheese
Instructions
1. Cook the Pasta
- Boil pasta in salted water until al dente.
- Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.
2. Cook the Sausage
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet.
- Add sausage and cook until browned.
3. Sauté Vegetables
Add:
- onions
- bell peppers
Cook 4–5 minutes until slightly softened.
Add garlic and red pepper flakes and cook 30 seconds.
4. Add the “Drunken” Sauce
- Pour in white wine and simmer 2–3 minutes to cook off alcohol.
- Add crushed tomatoes and Italian seasoning.
5. Combine
- Toss in cooked pasta.
- Add a little reserved pasta water if needed to loosen the sauce.
6. Finish
- Stir in fresh basil.
- Top with Parmesan cheese and serve hot.
Flavor Profile
- Spicy 🌶️
- Savory sausage
- Slight sweetness from peppers
- Rich tomato and wine sauce
Tips
✔ Use pappardelle for the most authentic texture.
✔ Spicy Italian sausage gives the best flavor.
✔ Add extra basil at the end for freshness.
Optional Add-Ins
- Mushrooms 🍄
- Spinach
- Cherry tomatoes
- Shrimp instead of sausage
If you’d like, I can also show you:
🍝 The famous restaurant-style Italian drunken noodles served at The Cheesecake Factory
🔥 A creamy Italian drunken noodles version
⚡ A 20-minute one-pan version that’s even easier.