Olive Garden Grilled Sausage and Peppers Rustica

While dining at the Olive Garden recently, I noticed a menu item was now on their menu that they brought back due to popular demand. Olive Garden Sausage and Peppers Rustica is a fabulous dish to make, it easy to prepare, and makes an inexpensive and filling dinner.

a bowl of homemade Olive Garden Grilled Sausage and Peppers Rustica


Sausage and Peppers Pasta

Olive Garden Grilled Sausage and Peppers Rustica combines Italian sausage, fresh mozzarella cheese, and peppers to make a flavorful dish. I love that there is a hint of spice which really brings out the flavor of Italian sausage.

If you want to be low carb or gluten-free, you can take a pass on the pasta. It makes a hearty dinner all by itself.

Sausage and Peppers Rustica Ingredients

Here’s a list of what you need:

  • Italian Sausage
  • Bell peppers (red, green, yellow, or orange)
  • Onion
  • Marinara sauce
  • Red pepper flakes
  • Salt
  • Olive oil
  • Shredded mozzarella cheese
  • Penne pasta
Grilled sausage and peppers rustica ingredients

Ingredient Notes

Olive Garden makes the dish with penne pasta. If you don’t happen to have any of this on hand, I think any pasta that you have will do. I have made it with spiral pasta.

I used red and yellow bell peppers. This is primarily due to the fact I hate, loathe, green bell peppers. Please feel free to use any type of bell pepper that you and your family enjoy.

If you wanted to make this recipe low carb you could use some of the low carb pasta.

You can use whole wheat pasta instead of regular pasta.

How to Make Sausage and Peppers Pasta

  1. Cook the pasta according to the package directions and place it in a large serving dish.
  2. Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat
  3. Slice the sausage and place the slices in the skillet.
  4. Cook the sausage until browned then remove the sausage from the pan.
  5. Add olive oil to the skillet.
  6. Add peppers, onions, and salt. Stir to combine.
  7. Cook the vegetables until tender.
  8. Add browned sausage and red pepper flakes. Stir thoroughly.
  9. Add the marinara sauce and heat well.
    Italian sausage and peppers in a skillet
  10. Add shredded mozzarella cheese and stir until it is melted.
  11. Pour the mixture over the pasta.
  12. Sprinkle shredded mozzarella cheese on top if desired.
A platter of homemade Olive Garden Grilled Sausage Peppers Rustica

What to Serve with Sausage and Peppers Pasta

Make your meal complete with everything from drinks to dessert!

Olive Garden Cocktails

Olive Garden Soups and Starters

Olive Garden Desserts

Check out more of my easy Italian recipes and the best Olive Garden recipes here on CopyKat!

a bowl of homemade Olive Garden Grilled Sausage and Peppers Rustica

Olive Garden Grilled Sausage and Peppers Rustica

The Olive Garden Grilled Sausage and Peppers Rustica is so good! When it was removed from the menu it was brought back due to popular demand. Now you can make it at home. 
5 from 9 votes
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Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
Keyword: Olive Garden Recipes, Sausage and Peppers Rustica
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Total Time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 968kcal

Ingredients

  • 1 pound penne pasta
  • 1 pound Italian Sausage
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil divided use
  • 2 sliced bell peppers you can use red, green, yellow, or orange
  • 1 cup sliced onion
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
  • 26 ounces marinara sauce
  • 1/4 cup shredded mozzarella cheese plus more for garnish if desired

Instructions

  • Cook the pasta according to the package directions. Place the cooked pasta in a large serving dish.
  • In a large skillet over medium heat, add 1 tablespoon of olive oil.
  • Slice the sausage into bite-size pieces and place them in the skillet.
  • Cook the sausage until browned then remove the sausage from pan and set aside.
  • Add the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil to the skillet.
  • Add sliced peppers, onions, and salt. Stir to combine.
  • Cook until the onions are transparent and the peppers have cooked until tender.
  • Add browned sausage to pan and red pepper flakes and stir thoroughly.
  • If you want this to be spicy, add more red pepper flakes, about 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon depending on how spicy you want.
  • Add the marinara sauce to skillet and heat well.
  • Add ½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese and stir until the cheese is melted.
  • Pour the mixture over the cooked pasta.
  • Sprinkle a little shredded mozzarella cheese on top if desired.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 968kcal | Carbohydrates: 102g | Protein: 36g | Fat: 46g | Saturated Fat: 15g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 22g | Cholesterol: 92mg | Sodium: 2141mg | Potassium: 1320mg | Fiber: 8g | Sugar: 14g | Vitamin A: 1103IU | Vitamin C: 66mg | Calcium: 119mg | Iron: 5mg

About Stephanie Manley

I recreate your favorite restaurant recipes, so you can prepare these dishes at home. I help you cook dinner, and serve up dishes you know your family will love. You can find most of the ingredients for all of the recipes in your local grocery store.

Stephanie is the author of CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home, and CopyKat.com's Dining Out in the Home 2.

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Rileysmom

    5 stars
    I made this dish for the 1st time yesterday. I used my home made fusilli (do you have the KitchenAid pasta extruder attachment? It’s makes pasta making so easy!).
    My husband loved it! The sauce with the addition of peppers and onions, and a few red pepper flakes adds so much! Another new favorite! Thank you, Stephanie!

  2. Linda S

    I made this dish last night and found it to be very delicious and actually pretty easy to prepare. I’ve always loved the Sausage and Peppers Rustica at The Olive Garden and this is definitely very close to their recipe. I did end up adding a little white wine and a fresh minced clove of garlic and I used 1/2 tsp. of the red pepper flakes because I like a little kick. Other than that, I followed the recipe to a T. I will definitely make this again!

    • stephaniemanley

      Linda S, love what you did to the recipe. When I recreate recipes I just try to make them as close as I can to the restaurant. I totally love the white wine and the fresh minced garlic!

  3. CapeCoffee

    Made Olive Garden Grilled Sausage and Pepper Rustica for supper tonight. Added lots of garlic, crushed fennel, onion powder, Italian spices, wine, and small can of tomato sauce. Used only half the pasta. Rockin’ AWESOME flavor. Hubby ate three helpings and told me to never lose that recipe.

  4. liz

    Stephanie Manley – You are a Godsend. Incredibly quick and easy recipes that look
    too good to be true. I had a chance to view some of your cooking videos and I want to make ALL of them. Thanks for timesaving yet delicious ideas!!

    • Stephanie Manley

      Liz, thank you for your kind words. I hope you try out some recipes, and let me know if there is something you are looking for!

  5. Laura

    It’s a seasonal dish that Olive Garden brings back every year, but you can get it any time if you ask. It’s my husband’s favorite and he’s going to be THRILLED when I make this!

  6. Lurl

    I made this recipe but used Barilla low carb spaghetti. Added a pound of mushrooms and a can of black olives.Great taste and liked by all.

      • Paul Vogel

        5 stars
        Thanks for this recipe. I made it tonight with the green peppers and it came out great. Haven’t seen this dish at Olive Garden in years and thought it was discontinued. I got this dish on most visits before they took it off the menu. We have leftovers for tomorrow.

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