italian drunken noodles

Indianapolis, IN
Updated on Nov 3, 2025

This Italian drunken noodle recipe has been a family favorite for a while. Great flavors and we end up making a double batch every time we make it.

Blue Ribbon Recipe

There are so many things to love about this easy pasta dinner. It's simple, made with inexpensive ingredients, beautiful, and tastes amazing. The Italian sausage gives this unmistakenly Italian flavor. Colorful bell peppers add a mild flavor and combine with the tomatoes nicely. Pasta isn't the star of this recipe so the mild egg noodles are the perfect pasta choice. Wine adds a lot of flavor, as do the fresh parsley and basil. Topping with a bit of fresh Parmesan makes is tasty. This recipe is casual enough to be served as a weeknight dinner but could be presented on a platter and served at a dinner party. If you have leftovers, this is even better the next day.

prep time 30 Min
cook time 30 Min
method Stove Top
yield 6 serving(s)

Ingredients

  • 1 pound Italian sausage
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
  • 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 - red pepper, diced
  • 1 - yellow pepper, diced
  • 1 - orange pepper, diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 1/2 cup white wine (like chardonnay)
  • 1 can diced tomatoes with juice (28 ounce)
  • 2 tablespoons parsley
  • 1/4 cup basil, fresh
  • 12 ounces egg noodles
  • Fresh Parmesan cheese, optional

How To Make italian drunken noodles

  • Cooking Italian sausage in a skillet.
    Step 1
    Place a large, heavy-bottom pan or braising pot over medium-high heat; add about 2 tablespoons of olive oil. Once the oil is hot, crumble the spicy Italian sausage in the pan to small chunks allowing it to brown in the oil for a few moments.
  • Cooked Italian sausage in a small bowl.
    Step 2
    Once the crumbled sausage is browned, remove it from the pan/pot with a slotted spoon and place into a small bowl to hold for a moment.
  • Sauteeing bell peppers, salt, Italian seasoning, and cracked black pepper.
    Step 3
    Place in the pan the diced bell peppers, salt, Italian seasoning, and cracked black pepper. Stir to combine. Allow those to saute for about 2 minutes until slightly tender.
  • Garlic added to the skillet.
    Step 4
    Next, add in the garlic.
  • Adding white wine to reduce.
    Step 5
    Once it becomes aromatic, add in the white wine and allow it to reduce for a few moments, until almost completely reduced.
  • Pouring diced tomatoes into the skillet.
    Step 6
    Add in the diced tomatoes with their juice.
  • Olive oil and chopped basil added to the sauce.
    Step 7
    To finish the sauce, drizzle in about 2-3 good tablespoons of the olive oil to create a silky, rich flavor. Add in the chopped parsley and about half of the julienned basil.
  • Browned sausage added back to the sauce.
    Step 8
    Return the browned spicy Italian sausage back into the pan and gently fold the mixture to combine. Allow it to gently simmer for about 3-4 minutes to blend the flavors. Then turn the heat off. Stir and keep warm while you prepare the noodles.
  • Egg noodles cooking in boiling water.
    Step 9
    Prepare the egg noodles according to instructions on package.
  • Draining cooked noodles.
    Step 10
    Then, drain the noodles very well.
  • Adding noodles to the sauce.
    Step 11
    Add them directly into the sauce, using tongs to gently toss and combine the egg noodles with the sauce and all of the ingredients in it. Check the seasoning to see if you need to add any additional salt or pepper.
  • Italian Drunken Noodles on a plate with Parmesan cheese on top.
    Step 12
    To serve, add equal portions of the “Drunken” noodles to bowls, and garnish with a sprinkle of the remaining julienned basil; you can even top with shaved Parmesan, if desired, and an extra drizzle of olive oil.
  • https://youtu.be/b-BJq6fQ9Pw

Nutrition Facts

(per serving*)
calories: 657kcal, carbohydrates: 53g, cholesterol: 125mg, fat: 34g, fiber: 5g, protein: 31g, saturated fat: 14g, sodium: 1635mg, sugar: 8g, unsaturated fat: 20g
*Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Nutrition information is estimated.

Discover More

Culture: Italian
Category: Pork
Collection: Comfort Classics
Keyword: #sausage
Keyword: #Noodles
Keyword: #Italian
Ingredient: Pork
Method: Stove Top

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