Italian Drunken Noodles

Here’s a bold, saucy Italian Drunken Noodles recipe—a fun Italian-American twist inspired by Thai drunken noodles, made with pasta, Italian sausage, peppers, herbs, and wine 🍝🍷

---

🍝🍷 Italian Drunken Noodles

⏱️ Prep Time: 15 minutes

⏱️ Cook Time: 30 minutes

🍽️ Serves: 4–6

---

🧾 Ingredients

🍝 Pasta

• Egg noodles or pappardelle – 350 g (12 oz)
  (fettuccine or spaghetti also work)

🌭 Protein

• Italian sausage – 450 g (1 lb), sliced or crumbled
  (mild or spicy)

🫑 Vegetables

• Olive oil – 2 tablespoons

• Onion – 1 large, sliced

• Bell peppers – 2–3, sliced (red/yellow preferred)

• Garlic – 5 cloves, minced

• Mushrooms – 1 cup, sliced (optional)

🍅 Sauce

• Tomato paste – 2 tablespoons

• Crushed tomatoes – 1 cup

• Dry white wine – ¾ cup
  (or red wine for deeper flavor)

• Chicken or vegetable stock – ½ cup

🌿 Seasoning

• Italian seasoning – 1½ teaspoons

• Red pepper flakes – ½–1 teaspoon (to taste)

• Salt & black pepper – to taste

🧀 Finish

• Butter – 1 tablespoon

• Parmesan cheese – ½ cup, grated

• Fresh basil or parsley – chopped

---

👩‍🍳 Directions (Step-by-Step)

Step 1: Cook the Pasta

1. Boil pasta in salted water until al dente.

2. Reserve ½ cup pasta water, then drain.

---

Step 2: Brown the Sausage

1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.

2. Add sausage and cook until well-browned.

3. Remove and set aside.

---

Step 3: Sauté Vegetables

1. In the same skillet, add onion and bell peppers.

2. Cook 5–6 minutes until soft and slightly caramelized.

3. Add garlic and mushrooms; sauté 1 minute.

---

Step 4: Deglaze with Wine

1. Pour in wine, scraping up browned bits.

2. Simmer 2–3 minutes until slightly reduced.

---

Step 5: Build the Sauce

1. Stir in tomato paste and crushed tomatoes.

2. Add stock, Italian seasoning, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.

3. Simmer 8–10 minutes until thickened.

---

Step 6: Combine Everything

1. Add cooked sausage and pasta to the sauce.

2. Toss well, adding pasta water if needed.

3. Finish with butter and Parmesan.

---

Step 7: Serve

• Garnish with fresh basil or parsley.

• Serve hot with extra Parmesan.

---

🌟 Tips for Best Flavor

• Let the wine reduce properly—this removes alcohol harshness.

• Use fresh pasta for a restaurant-style finish.

• Red wine = deeper flavor, white wine = brighter sauce.

---

🔁 Variations

• Chicken Drunken Noodles: Use sliced chicken thighs.

• Vegetarian: Skip sausage, add zucchini and spinach.

• Creamy Version: Stir in ¼ cup cream at the end.

• Extra Spicy: Add Calabrian chili paste.

---

❄️ Storage

• Refrigerate leftovers up to 3 days.

• Reheat gently with a splash of water or stock.