Italian Sausage and Peppers are a tasty dinner made in one-pan. You’ll have dinner ready in about 30-minutes! Sweet and spicy Italian sausage, peppers and onions cooked in a cast iron skillet for this flavorful and hearty meal.
Enjoy these delicious sausage and peppers by themselves or make into an Italian sausage sandwich. We love them with melted Provolone cheese and Mom’s homemade marinara sauce.
Italian sausage and peppers is a side-dish my grandmother would make for our Christmas potluck along with homemade baked beans. You can serve sausage and peppers with marinara sauce or leave it out if you prefer.
And if you are from New England, these sausage and peppers will remind you of fair food with a sausage and peppers sandwich. Browned sausage links with sautéed peppers and onions in a marinara sauce topped on a crunchy Hoagie roll. Oh my goodness– these are delicious!
Why this recipe works
- Made in one-pan with simple to find ingredients, readily available at your local grocery store.
- Sausage and peppers is great for an easy weeknight meal and you’ll have dinner ready in around 30-minutes.
Ingredients Needed
- Italian sausage links – Use sweet, hot or a combination of both in this recipe.
- Bell peppers – We love a mix of green and red, but feel free to use whatever colors you prefer.
- Onions – Use yellow or white onions for this recipe, peeled, halved and sliced about ¼-inch thick.
- Honey – Adds a touch of sweetness and helps the onions and peppers caramelize.
- Marsala or dry red wine – Helps to deglaze the pan and adds a pop of flavor.
- Marinara sauce – Brings all of the flavors together perfectly and goes great with Italian sausage. (We love my mom’s marinara sauce, but feel free to use your favorite brand!)
How to make Sausage and Peppers
Step 1: Brown the sausage.
Step 2: Sauté the peppers and onions.
Step 3: Deglaze the pan with Marsala or dry red wine. (optional)
Step 4: Add back the sausage links and marinara sauce, then simmer all ingredients.
How to make Italian Sausage Sandwich
Step 1: Slice Hoagie rolls ⅔ way through. Place on half sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
Step 2: Spoon sausage, peppers and onions into each roll. Spoon additional marinara sauce over top if desired.
Step 3: Add cheese if desired. Cook in preheated 400 degree F oven for 6-8 minutes or until cheese is melted and roll is golden browned.
My go-to cast iron skillet is the Lodge 13.25-inch skillet. LOVE this one! But, also use the 12-inch skillet quite a bit.
We store them on the wall of the kitchen on a simple wood board (leftover from another project) with heavy-duty hangers. The wood is screwed into the studs of the wall, so it’s very secure.
Recipe FAQs
Yes, just plop into a zip-style bag and freeze. Thaw in the refrigerator.
Yes, throw all of the ingredients into your slow cooker, stir to combine and cook on low for about 6 hours. Want more flavor? Brown the sausage first before placing in the slow cooker!
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Italian Sausage and Peppers
Ingredients
- 8-10 Italian sausage links (sweet, hot or combination of both)
- 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
- 2 tablespoon butter
- 2 green bell peppers, sliced into strips
- 2 red bell peppers, sliced into strips
- 2 large yellow onions, sliced
- 1 garlic clove, minced
- ¼ cup Marsala or red wine (optional)
- salt and black pepper to taste
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 ½ cups marinara sauce
- 6 Hoagie rolls
- 10-12 slices Provolone cheese
- grated Parmesan cheese for garnish
Instructions
Brown the sausage
- Heat the oil in a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. When the oil is hot, add the sausage links and brown them slowly. Cover the pan loosely with a piece of aluminum foil to help keep heat in and keep the splatter down.
- Brown the sausage links slowly. Should they start to brown too quickly and crack, turn your heat down. Keep turning the sausage with tongs to brown all sides.
- When the sausage is browned remove from the pan and set aside.
Sauté onions and peppers
- Melt the butter in the skillet. Add the sliced peppers and onions. Season them with salt and pepper to taste.
- Use a wooden spoon to toss them in the pan to coat with evenly with fat. Cook over medium to low heat until they are slightly softened. Add the honey and minced garlic and stir.
- Stir onions and peppers occasionally with a wooden spoon as they cook.
Deglaze the pan (optional)
- Add Marsala or dry red wine to deglaze the pan. Use a wooden spoon to scrape the brown bits on the bottom of the skillet. Season again with salt and pepper, if needed.
Simmer all ingredients
- Add back the sausage links, add the marinara sauce and simmer ingredients over low heat. Simmer until the peppers are soft and sausage links are cooked all the way through.
- Keep the sausage links whole or slice into pieces.
Sausage and peppers sandwich
- Slice Hoagie rolls ⅔ way through. Place on half sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
- Spoon sausage, peppers and onions into each roll. Spoon additional marinara sauce over top if desired.
- Add two slices of Provolone or Mozzarella cheese, if desired.
- Cook in a preheated 400 degree F oven for about 6-8 minutes, or until the cheese is melted. Garnish with freshly grated Parmesan cheese. Enjoy immediately.
- If you want the cheese to be browned more, place on broil for a few minutes. Monitor carefully so you don't burn them.
Recipe Notes
Nutrition
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Chelsea says
I just love sausage and peppers! Never made them with wine, though– I love that idea! Can’t wait to make this recipe. Pinning it right now!
Jessica Robinson says
Hi Chelsea,
Thanks so much! You are welcome to leave the wine out if you don’t want it. But, it’s a really great addition. Just a splash will do!
Sandy says
I use beer instead of wine .
Jessica Robinson says
That’s a good option too.
Lisa Hatfield says
Jessica, we made this for dinner last night, incredible flavor and so yummy. Finally used the sausages we had in the freezer, a great easy family dinner recipe.
Jessica Robinson says
So glad to hear you loved them!! It’s one of our favorites!