If you love a hearty pasta dinner with plenty of savory flavor, Italian Drunken Noodles are a recipe worth adding to your rotation. This colorful dish combines tender noodles, Italian sausage, sweet peppers, onions, tomatoes, garlic, and a splash of red wine for a rich, flavorful sauce.
Despite the name, this isn't a complicated restaurant-style recipe. It comes together in one skillet with straightforward ingredients and plenty of flexibility. The wine adds depth to the tomato sauce, while the sausage and peppers give the dish its satisfying, rustic character.
It's the kind of dinner that feels cozy enough for a weekend meal but is simple enough to make on a busy evening.
What Are Italian Drunken Noodles?
Italian Drunken Noodles are a rustic pasta dish built around wide noodles, Italian sausage, peppers, onions, tomatoes, and red wine.
The "drunken" part refers to the wine incorporated into the sauce. Rather than simply adding wine at the table, it's cooked with the other ingredients so it becomes part of the sauce.
The result is a savory, slightly sweet, tomato-based pasta with a rich depth of flavor.
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This pasta has plenty going for it:
Big, comforting flavor
A colorful combination of peppers and tomatoes
Italian sausage for a hearty, savory base
Red wine adds depth to the sauce
Easy one-skillet preparation
Simple ingredients that are easy to customize
Perfect for family dinners or casual entertaining
It's also an excellent recipe for using up a few vegetables that might otherwise be sitting in the refrigerator.
Ingredients
12 ounces wide egg noodles or pappardelle
1 pound Italian sausage, mild or hot
1 tablespoon olive oil, if needed
1 medium onion, thinly sliced
2 bell peppers, sliced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (14–15 ounces) diced tomatoes
1/2 cup dry red wine
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 teaspoon salt, or to taste
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
1/4 cup grated Parmesan, for serving
A dry red wine works well here, but you don't need an expensive bottle. Choose something you'd enjoy drinking.
How to Make Italian Drunken Noodles
1. Cook the Pasta
Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil.
Cook the noodles according to the package directions until al dente.
Before draining, reserve about 1/2 cup of the pasta water. Drain the noodles and set them aside.
The reserved pasta water can help loosen the sauce later if needed.
2. Brown the Sausage
