This recipe for Sausage and Peppers is easy to make in 15 minutes for a quick and simple meal, made with Italian sausage, sauteed bell peppers and onions. Serve the sausage and peppers in an Italian roll to make a scrumptious sandwich, or with pasta for a delicious dinner!

sliced sausage and peppers in skillet with wooden serving spoon

Table of contents

Italian food is one of my favorite types of cuisines. From lasagna, to pizza, to meatballs, I don’t think I’ve ever come across an Italian dish that I didn’t love. The same is true for Italian sausage. It’s one of my favorite ingredients and I love how it shines through in this Italian sausage and peppers recipe!

This is my go-to lazy weeknight meal to pair with pasta. It’s so easy to make in 15 minutes and always a hit in my house! This dish is flavorful, simple and made with only 7 ingredients in one pan, so go ahead and toss it on the menu for dinner tonight!

ingredients for Italian sausage and peppers

Ingredients

  • Olive oil – or another neutral vegetable oil, like avocado or canola oil, will work for this recipe.
  • Bell peppers – feel free to use any color of bell pepper in this recipe. I like to use a combination of half red and half green to make the dish more colorful, but you can simply use one color if that’s what you have on hand.
  • Onion – red or yellow onions will work well in this recipe. They have a similar flavor, so I like to use the red onions for an extra pop of color.
  • Garlic – I recommend fresh cloves for the best flavor.
  • Italian sausage links – I recommend using fully cooked sausages, so you’re simply heating them up in this recipe. If using uncooked link sausages, be sure to add 10-12 minutes to the cooking time. Use your favorite Italian sausage. This can be pork, turkey or chicken, hot, mild or sweet, whatever your preference!
  • Crushed tomatoes
  • Italian seasoning – I always recommend my homemade seasoning mix for the best taste. It’s easy to toss together in 5 minutes and keep in your pantry for up to 6 months. Click the link above for the recipe. Of course, you can also purchase prepared Italian seasoning in the spice aisle at the grocery store.

Instructions

I’ve included step by step photos below to make this recipe super easy to follow at home. For the full detailed recipe instructions and ingredient quantities, scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

sliced Italian sausage and bell peppers in a large pan
crushed tomatoes and Italian seasoning in pan with sausage and peppers
  1. Cook the veggies. Heat olive oil in a large skillet, or dutch oven, on the stove over medium-high heat. Add sliced bell peppers and onions, cook for 4-5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Add in sliced garlic and cook for an additional minute.
  2. Cook the sausage. Add the sliced Italian sausage to the pan with the peppers and onions. Cook for 3-4 minutes, if using fully cooked sausages. If using uncooked sausages, add 10-12 minutes to the cooking time.
  3. Add in tomatoes and season. Pour a can of crushed tomatoes in the pan with the sausage and peppers. Add Italian seasoning and toss to combine all of the ingredients. Simmer the sausage in the tomato sauce for 3-4 minutes.
  4. Serve the sausage and peppers. Remove the pan from the heat on the stove and serve the sausage and peppers immediately.

Ways to serve it

  • With pasta – before starting the recipe for sausage and peppers, bring a large pot of water to boil on the stove. Boil 8 ounces of your favorite pasta. I like to serve this recipe with penne, medium shells or bow tie pasta. Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water. When it’s time to serve the meal, toss the pasta with the sausage and peppers, and add 1/4 cup of the cooking water, plus more, until it reaches your desired consistency.
  • As a sandwich (pictured below) – preheat the oven broiler to high. Add the sausage and peppers to 4 Italian rolls, or hoagie rolls. Top with mozzarella cheese, then place the sandwiches on a baking sheet and into the oven on the middle rack. Broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.
  • With potatoes – sausage and mashed potatoes are a delicious combination. Try out this recipe for Instant Pot Mashed Potatoes, while the sausage and peppers are cooking on the stove. Serve the sausage and peppers over the mashed potatoes for a tasty meat and potatoes meal. To add an Italian flair to the mashed potatoes, stir in 1/4 cup fresh Italian basil, parsley or oregano, before serving the potatoes.
  • With polenta – similar in texture to mashed potatoes, this Northern Italian dish is made with cornmeal, instead of potatoes. It’s super creamy and a delicious side dish to go with the sausage and peppers. Check out this Creamy Cheesy Polenta recipe to pair with the dish.
  • With risotto – another popular way to serve this recipe is with rice. I like to step things up a notch and serve it with my favorite Italian rice dish, risotto. Lucky for you, I have a super easy recipe for Instant Pot Risotto that will pair perfectly with this recipe and can be cooked in an Instant Pot, while the sausage and peppers cook on the stove.
sausage and peppers in sub sandwich topped with melted mozzarella cheese on white plate

Additions and substitutions

  • Spinach – feel free to stir in 1 cup of fresh spinach leaves during the last minute of cooking.
  • Basil leaves – another fresh and flavorful addition that should be added during the last minute of cooking time.
  • Heavy cream – if you’re adding the sausage and peppers to pasta, stir in 1/2 cup heavy cream to make a creamy pasta dish.
  • Broccoli – steam 1 cup of broccoli florets, then stir them into the dish during the last 1-2 minutes of cooking time.
  • Plant-based Italian sausage – sub in a meatless Italian sausage to make this recipe vegetarian, and vegan.

Storage and reheating

Leftover sausage and peppers will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat the dish in a skillet on the stove, over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, or in the microwave for 2 minutes.

Pro tips

  • To spice up this dish, use hot Italian sausage and add 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes with the crushed tomatoes.
  • This recipe is gluten free. Always make sure that the sausage used is labeled gluten-free. Serve the dish with gluten free pasta, mashed potatoes or risotto.
  • If you want to grill the sausages, instead of cooking them on the stove, heat a grill to medium-high heat. Grill fully cooked sausages whole for 6-8 minutes, or uncooked sausages whole for 18-20 minutes. Remove the sausages from the grill and slice them up. Cook the peppers, onions and garlic in a skillet on the stove, add the sliced grilled peppers, then add the tomatoes and Italian seasoning. Simmer the sausages for 4-6 minutes in the sauce, then serve.
sliced sausage and peppers in tomato sauce in skillet

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cooked sliced bell peppers and sausage in skillet with wooden spoon
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Sausage and Peppers

This recipe for Sausage and Peppers is easy to make in 15 minutes for a quick and simple meal, made with Italian sausage, sauteed bell peppers and onions. Serve the sausage and peppers in an Italian roll to make a scrumptious sandwich, or with pasta for a delicious dinner!
Servings: 4 people
Prep Time: 3 minutes
Cook Time: 12 minutes
Total Time: 15 minutes
Author: Whitney Bond
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Ingredients

Serving options

  • 4 Italian sandwich rolls, or hot dog buns
  • 1 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
  • 8 ounces uncooked pasta shells, penne, medium shells, or farfalle
  • ½ cup parmesan cheese, grated

Instructions

  • Add the olive oil to a large skillet on the stove over medium-high heat.
  • Add the bell peppers and onions, cook 4-5 minutes.
  • Add the garlic and cook for an additional minute.
  • Add the sliced Italian sausages and cook for an additional 3-4 minutes.
  • Add the crushed tomatoes and Italian seasoning.
  • Simmer the sausages in the tomato sauce for 3-4 minutes.
  • Remove from the heat and toss with pasta or serve in hoagie rolls.

How to serve with pasta

  • Before starting the recipe for sausage and peppers, bring a large pot of water to boil on the stove.
  • Add 8 ounces of pasta and cook according to the package directions.
  • Drain the pasta, reserving 1/2 cup of the pasta cooking water.
  • Toss the pasta with the prepared sausage and peppers, and add 1/4 cup of the cooking water, plus more, until it reaches your desired consistency.
  • Top with parmesan cheese and serve.

How to serve as a sandwich

  • Preheat the oven broiler to high.
  • Add the sausage and peppers to 4 Italian rolls, or hoagie rolls.
  • Top with mozzarella cheese, then place the sandwiches on a baking sheet and into the oven on the middle rack.
  • Broil for 1-2 minutes, or until the cheese has melted. Serve immediately.

Notes

  • The nutritional information provided does not include the serving options.
  • Leftover sausage and peppers will stay good in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. Reheat the dish in a skillet on the stove, over medium heat for 5-7 minutes, or in the microwave for 2 minutes.
  • To spice up this dish, use hot Italian sausage and add 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes with the crushed tomatoes.
  • This recipe is gluten free. Always make sure that the sausage used is labeled gluten-free. Serve the dish with gluten free pasta, mashed potatoes or risotto.

Nutrition Facts

Calories 521kcal (26%)Carbohydrates 16g (5%)Protein 19g (38%)Fat 43g (66%)Saturated Fat 14g (70%)Polyunsaturated Fat 6gMonounsaturated Fat 21gCholesterol 86mg (29%)Sodium 973mg (41%)Potassium 781mg (22%)Fiber 4g (16%)Sugar 8g (9%)Vitamin A 1292mg (26%)Vitamin C 77mg (93%)Calcium 93mg (9%)Iron 4mg (22%)
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