Low-Carb Sausage and Peppers Pasta with Cream Sauce

LOW-CARB SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS PASTA

Anyone who’s been to New York City knows that sausage and peppers are an Italian neighborhood classic. Step into any Italian deli, and you can request sausage and peppers, sauteed together with onions and sometimes cheesy mushrooms, served up on a big soft bun.

Even as a pizza topping or a pasta dish, sausage and peppers are a standard favorite. Unfortunately, though, in most cases, the dish is pretty high in carbs. Well, today, we change all that! We took your favorite Italian flavors and served them up with satisfying and delicious, zero-net-carb It’s Skinny Angel Hair. You’re going to love this sausage and peppers recipe!

SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS: A HEARTY FAVORITE

Spicy, savory, a little sweet—sausage and peppers have it all. Some consider sausage and peppers to be the quintessential Italian-American meal. It goes back decades when cooks at Italian street festivals in New York City and other metropolitan areas often served sausage and peppers.

City delis often have a sausage and pepper offering. Typically, that means sausage and green peppers, chunks of onion, and spices piled onto a big Italian hoagie roll. The juices soak into the bun and drip down your arm—and the scent truly says, “summer in the city.”

Of course, once people realized that sausage and peppers were a fantastic combo, they started to add them together as a pizza topping, a pasta topping, and more. Sometimes sausage and peppers are simmered in red tomato sauce or "gravy." Other times, they're just served up over spaghetti or angel hair.

Cheese or no cheese? Well, that existential question comes up whenever people talk about sausage and peppers. We’re firmly on team cheese, of course. There’s nothing quite like a healthy sprinkle of parmesan to punctuate the flavors and add all that salty nuttiness to round out the dish. Some cooks like mozzarella cheese, too (feel free to add whatever you prefer in this delicious recipe).

Should you choose green peppers? Red peppers? A combination? We're partial to red peppers around here because they have more flavor and some yummy sweetness. But really, pick your preferred pepper (say that five times fast)! All sweet bell peppers go with spicy Italian sausage. Even hotter peppers would be delicious in this combination, especially with sweet Italian sausage. Plus, colorful bell peppers look great in this easy pasta.

On that note, you can use sweet or spicy sausage, whichever you like. "Sweet" sausage isn't usually overly sweet. It contains fennel, which gives it a hint of sweetness but not a strong flavor. Spicy or hot Italian sausage will have some kick, but if you're a spice lover, we won't stand in your way! Pork sausage is great here, but chicken sausage or any Italian sausage links will work in this simple recipe. Choose the version of sausage you like.

We chose shallot for this dish, which is a little more delicate than the sometimes large chunks of onion you might find at the deli. That said, shallot works very well with Angel Hair pasta and the cream that gives this dish an extra layer of comforting unctuousness.

Mushrooms round out this low-carb sausage and pepper pasta. Mushrooms provide a little bit of meatiness and make it feel like a really big meal. If you’re dieting on keto or a low-carb plan, the secret to staying successful is to find ways to bulk up dishes so you don’t feel deprived. Mushrooms are a great way to fill your plate, and they happen to go very well with the other ingredients in this low-carb meal.

Looking for some ideas to make it your way? We will offer some suggestions below. In the meantime, let’s touch on why It’s Skinny is the true secret “magic” ingredient here.

FILL UP WITH IT’S SKINNY ANGEL HAIR

If you're cutting calories or carbs or following the keto diet, deprivation is the biggest risk factor that can derail your progress. When you feel deprived, it's easy to give up, throw in the towel, or indulge in foods that can undo ketosis and take you off track.

Fortunately, there’s It’s Skinny Pasta and It's Skinny Rice Shape that can keep you on the path to weight loss success. Why? It’s Skinny Pasta is real, delicious, satisfying pasta. It’s the ideal texture. It comes in several varieties, and when you add it to your other ingredients, it feels like any favorite pasta or rice dish.

But It’s Skinny is made with a special ingredient called konjac root. You may have heard of shirataki pasta. It’s Skinny is shirataki pasta, but we use a special formula that eliminates some of the drawbacks of this favorite keto noodle.

First of all, It’s Skinny doesn't have an aftertaste or a strong smell, like some of the shirataki pasta on the market. The texture is spot-on. When you prepare It’s Skinny per package directions, it will take on the other flavors of the dish, blending in seamlessly. Even pasta and rice swaps like cauliflower rice or spaghetti squash tend to taste strong. It's Skinny just tastes like pasta.

Konjac root contains a unique type of fiber called glucomannan. This fiber is ultra-filling and keeps your blood sugar steady. You’ll feel pleasantly full and satisfied after your meal—not stuffed or “carb loaded” (which can make you tired and rundown). Because you aren’t getting the carb crash and burn, you won’t suddenly find yourself starving in a few hours.

It’s Skinny is the perfect pasta for many different diets and lifestyles. It’s vegan, kosher, keto-friendly, low-carb, and delicious. It's Skinny has zero net carbs; it's gluten-free and suitable for any low carb diet. We offer both organic and classic varieties in all our styles:

• Spaghetti
• Rice Shape
• Fettucine
• Angel Hair

Can’t decide which pasta will fit the bill? We suggest a variety pack! You’ll get all the styles and can mix and match with your favorite recipes.

If you need ideas for using It’s Skinny in your favorite dishes, explore our recipe sections. We have gluten-free, keto-friendly, vegetarian options, and more! Once you get started with It’s Skinny, you'll be amazed at how easy and fast it is to make and enjoy yummy, guilt-free meals.

MAKING SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS YOUR OWN

At It’s Skinny, we love our audience to make recipes their own way. There are many ways to customize It’s Skinny recipes and adjust them to suit your tastes and dietary preferences. Here are a few questions we get about how to adjust low-carb sausage and peppers with pasta.

WHAT OTHER VEGETABLES GO WITH THIS DISH?

You can add all kinds of vegetables to sausage and peppers. Think any veggies that go with Italian flavors. Broccolini would be a great combination, as would spinach. Kale is another leafy green vegetable that would go very nicely with sausage and peppers.

As mentioned above, any type of pepper goes well here. Green bell peppers, red bell peppers, yellow or orange would all work. You could go with hot peppers here, too. As for mushrooms, any variety would be perfectly delicious.

HOW CAN I RAMP UP THE FLAVORS IN THIS SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS PASTA?

Rosemary is such a great element in this dish. The shallots and fresh garlic create a yummy, aromatic, creamy pasta sauce for this dish, too. If you aren't a fan of rosemary, or you'd just like to try another herb, you could also use parsley or thyme in this dish. Oregano goes very well with Italian flavors, and basil is a home run. There are many great options for this easy dinner.

Try this dish with yellow onion, white onion, or leeks if you don't have shallots. Garlic ramps would go well in this meal. You could sauté some fennel with the sausage and peppers if you'd like a little added sweetness here. It goes without saying (but we'll say it)—red pepper flakes are always welcome, along with a little Italian seasoning.

COULD I USE OTHER VARIETIES OF IT’S SKINNY?

If you have another variety of It’s Skinny Pasta, don’t worry—it will still go well in this dish! All our varieties of pasta and rice shape are interchangeable. You can swap any pack of It’s Skinny in any recipe. So, if you prefer sausage and peppers with Spaghetti or Fettuccine, be our guest.

No matter the variety of It’s Skinny, the preparation is the same. Open up the pack of pasta and drain it. When your other ingredients are finished cooking, add It’s Skinny to the pan and allow it to cook through for 3-4 minutes. That’s it! There’s no need to boil water or get out a rice cooker. It’s Skinny is fast, easy, and so delicious.

LOW-CARB SAUSAGE AND PEPPERS PASTA RECIPE + VIDEO

Are you ready to start cooking? This recipe comes together pretty quickly. It takes about 10-15 minutes of cooking time to sauté the vegetables and brown the sausage. It’s Skinny helps you make a keto-friendly quick dinner that everyone will love.