You already know I don’t play when it comes to pasta being bland or boring. I’ve tested this one enough times to know it works, and it comes together fast enough for a weeknight but still hits like comfort food. This is one of those easy pasta dinners that never lets me down. It’s hearty, flavorful, and packed with everything I love, well-seasoned sausage, garlic, peppers, and a rich marinara sauce that clings perfectly to the casarecce.
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Casarecce Pasta Ingredients
- Ground Italian Sausage: brings rich, savory flavor and a little spice that makes the whole dish feel hearty and satisfying.
- Italian seasoning: adds a blend of herbs that gives the sauce that classic, comforting flavor without needing a dozen different spices.
- Onions, Green Bell Peppers, and Garlic: build a sweet and savory base that makes the sauce taste like it’s been cooking all day.
- Marinara Sauce: keeps things easy while bringing in that familiar tomato goodness that coats every bite.
- Casarecce Pasta: the twisted shape is perfect for catching all that meaty, garlicky sauce, so every forkful is loaded with flavor.
How to Make Casarecce Pasta
Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.
- Brown the sausage: Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and break it apart with a spatula. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Sauté the veggies: Add chopped onions and diced green bell peppers to the skillet with the sausage. Cook for 3–4 minutes, until they start to soften. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Season it up: Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste and stir to coat the sausage and veggies evenly.
- Add the sauce: Pour in the marinara sauce, water, 1 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together.
- Add the pasta: Add the uncooked casarecce pasta to the skillet or pot and toss everything together so that the sauce completely covers the pasta. Lower the heat on the stove to low, place the lid on the pot, and allow the pasta to simmer.
- Simmer: for 10-15 minutes or until the pasta is soft. Check in every 5 minutes and stir to prevent the pasta from scorching the bottom of the pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Casarecce is great for holding sauce, but you can swap it with penne, rigatoni, rotini, or even fusilli, anything that has curves or ridges to trap the flavor.
You can use mild, sweet, or hot Italian sausage depending on how much spice you like. Pork sausage gives the most flavor, but turkey or chicken sausage works too.
Definitely. This pasta holds up well in the fridge for up to 4 days. The flavors even deepen overnight. Just reheat with a splash of water or broth to loosen the sauce.
Absolutely. Stir in some Parmesan or top with mozzarella right before serving for an extra layer of richness.
You can mix dried basil, oregano, thyme, and a pinch of rosemary as a quick substitute.
Yes! Mushrooms, zucchini, or spinach would go great in this. Just sauté them with the onions and peppers.
That depends on the sausage you use. Hot Italian sausage will bring the heat, but you can use mild and add crushed red pepper flakes to control the spice level yourself.
Add a splash of water, broth, or even a little marinara before reheating in the microwave or on the stove. It’ll help bring the sauce back to life.
More Pasta Recipes
Southern Black Folks Spaghetti
One Pot Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli
Million Dollar Spaghetti
Creamy Seafood Stuffed Shells
Seafood Mac and Cheese
Casarecce Pasta (One-Pot No Boil Recipe)
Want to save this recipe for later?
I'll email it to you, so you can come back to it later! You will also get my FREE Thanksgiving menu, exactly what I'm cooking, plus my tips for making it a stress-free meal seasoned to perfection. Let me do the planning for you!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground Italian Sausage
- 2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning Divided into 2 portions; Adjust to taste.
- salt and pepper to taste
- ½ cup diced onions
- ½ cup diced green bell peppers
- 3-4 garlic cloves Minced
- 24 oz marinara sauce
- 1 - 1 ½ cups water
- 10 oz casarecce pasta
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the ground Italian sausage and break it apart with a spatula. Cook until browned and fully cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Drain excess grease if needed.
- Add chopped onions and diced green bell peppers to the skillet with the sausage. Cook for 3–4 minutes, until they start to soften. Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 1–2 minutes until fragrant.
- Sprinkle in 1 teaspoon of Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to taste and stir to coat the sausage and veggies evenly.
- Pour in the marinara sauce, water, 1 teaspoon of Italian Seasoning, salt, and pepper. Stir everything together.
- Add the uncooked casarecce pasta to the skillet or pot and toss everything together so that the sauce completely covers the pasta. Lower the heat on the stove to low, place the lid on the pot, and allow the pasta to simmer.
- Simmer for 10-15 minutes or until the pasta is soft. Check in every 5 minutes and stir to prevent the pasta from scorching the bottom of the pot.
Nutrition
Nutrition Data
Macros are provided as a courtesy and should not be construed as a guarantee. This information is calculated using MyFitnessPal.com. To obtain the most accurate nutritional information in a given recipe, you should calculate the nutritional information with the actual ingredients used in your recipe, using your preferred nutrition calculator. You are solely responsible for ensuring that any nutritional information provided is accurate, complete, and useful.
Angela says
Wow! I can’t believe how quickly this came together. So good and will be on repeat!
staysnatched says
I'm glad to hear it will be on repeat!
Anna says
this is the perfect recipe if you want a tasty meal but also doesn't take a couple hours to make, a quick and tasty meal
staysnatched says
YES. I love a one pot meal.