Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions is a classic Italian dish that can be served with pasta and marinara and a big green salad. Packed with flavor and high in protein, this easy recipe is a delicious option for quick weeknight meals.
Jump to:
Why We Love This Dish
This easy sautéed sausage recipe has all the elements of a great dish. With its vibrant colors, savory flavors, and simple preparation, it's sure to become a family favorite in no time.
The sausages and vegetables are seared on the stovetop in a large cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet and then transferred to the oven to finish cooking all the way through. The magic happens in the oven when the flavors meld together, and the sausage and peppers become caramelized and tender.
What You Need
- Italian Sausages: Sweet or spicy Italian pork sausages. Chicken and turkey sausages will also work.
- Bell Peppers: A mix of bell peppers adds color and sweetness to the dish.
- Onions: Yellow, white, or Vidalia onions are used for their mild, sweet flavor.
- Garlic: Adds aromatic flavor to the dish.
- Olive Oil: Used for sautéing the ingredients and adding richness to the dish.
- Herbs: Fresh basil
- Seasonings: Salt and black pepper
- Spices: Crushed red pepper flakes can be added for a hint of heat.
- Garnish: Fresh basil leaves can be added as a garnish for a pop of color.
Sweet or Hot Sausage?
I used sweet Italian pork sausage in this recipe. You can easily substitute a pound of turkey or chicken sausage. Italian Sausage is in the meat department. The label says sweet (mild) or hot. You can use them interchangeably. "Hot" Sausage is not necessarily hot but has a little kick.
Sometimes I slice the sausage into thirds after searing them for a minute or two. I pull them from the pan, one by one, and put them back to cook further. Slice them with a very sharp knife, or the meat will tear.
When you slice the sausage, the casing crisps up around the meat, and you get crispier meat, which is great. If you want to leave them whole, that works too.
How to Sauté Sausages
- Adjust the oven rack to the middle position and heat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat one tablespoon of olive oil in a 12" cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausages and sear on all sides, for about 5-6 minutes. Remove sausages to a plate. (They will finish cooking in the oven).
- Add 1 tablespoon oil to the hot skillet; add onions and peppers—season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Add garlic and basil and cook another minute.
- Add sausages back to the pan. Toss with peppers and onions and place the pan in the oven for 20 minutes until cooked through or until the sausage reaches an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Remove the pan from the oven.
- Plate and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve hot with rice or pasta.
Sides for Sausage and Peppers
Italian sausage and peppers go with a wide array of delicious side dishes.
- The best sausage and peppers are served over a plate of piping hot spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni and marinara sauce.
- Cauliflower Rice and fresh marinara sauce is a great grain-free option.
- Try Italian Sausage, Onions, and Peppers with a side of Low Carb Caesar Salad.
- Skip the pasta and have Oven Roasted Spaghetti Squash.
- A loaf of crusty Italian bread or garlic bread.
- Steamed white rice
- Creamy Garlic Mashed Potatoes
How to Heat Leftovers
This dish makes a great lunch for the next day. You can heat leftovers in a small skillet for a few minutes, occasionally shaking the pan until heated. If you take the leftovers to work, microwave on a dinner plate (not in a plastic container) for two minutes.
Garnishing Italian Dinners
For a little flair, top your sautéed sausage and peppers with fresh basil leaves. Just a sprinkle elevates the dish, making it visually stunning.
Fresh basil has a beautiful look and adds a vibrant pop of color to your Italian dishes, enhancing their look and adding fresh flavor to your meal.
Grab a basil plant from your local grocery store for optimal vibrancy. The leaves plucked straight from the plant have unmatched freshness and vibrancy compared to those packaged in plastic boxes.
FAQ
Marinara Sauce
Pasta: spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni
Cauliflower Rice
Salad
Spaghetti squash
Mashed potatoes
Crusty Italian bread
Steamed white rice
Use a mix of bell peppers in sausage and peppers, including red, green, and yellow peppers. These colorful peppers add sweetness and color to the dish.
Italian Sausage, Peppers, and Onions
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil divided
- 1 ½ pounds sweet or hot Italian pork sausage
- 3 bell peppers seeded and sliced into 1" strips
- 2 large yellow onions trimmed and chopped
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 tablespoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ½ cup fresh basil leaves + more for garnish
- kosher salt to taste
- freshly ground black pepper
Instructions
- Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.
- Heat one tablespoon of oil in 12" cast-iron or heavy-bottomed skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausages to hot oil and sear on all sides, for about 5-6 minutes. Remove sausages to a plate. (They will finish cooking in the oven).
- Add 1 tablespoon oil to the hot skillet; add onions and peppers. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until softened.
- Add garlic and basil and cook another minute.
- Add sausages back to the pan and toss with peppers and onions. Place the pan in the oven for 20 minutes until cooked through or until the sausages reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F. Remove the pan from the oven.
- Plate and garnish with fresh basil leaves. Serve hot with spaghetti or other pasta or rice.
Notes
- Marinara Sauce
- Spaghetti, penne, or rigatoni
- Cauliflower Rice
- Garden Salad
- Spaghetti squash
- Mashed potatoes
- Crusty Italian bread
- Steamed white rice
Leave a Reply
You must be logged in to post a comment.