Think about it: sweet Italian sausage cooked on low with some tender onions and bell peppers tossed together in a tasty tomato sauce. Mouth watering yet? This meal is a no brainer! Make some of this delicious Crockpot Sausage and Peppers the next time you are in the mood for a quick and easy Italian dinner.
Having previously shared my recipe for Chicken Parmesan Sandwiches, I have been looking for some more delicious Italian meals to add to our list of dinner ideas.
I don’t know about you, but when I think of sausage and peppers, I think comfort. By cooking this classic combo on low in the crockpot, the sausages are incredibly juicy (yet tender). By cooking the sausage in the slow cooker, each bite is infused with sauce and some of those classic Italian flavors.
This recipe is super easy to make in the crockpot and works great if you want to have some leftovers to last you a few meals. You can store your leftovers in some glass containers and keep them in the fridge for up to 4 days.
And trust me; it’s so good you’ll be sad when all the leftovers are gone (I was!).
Frequently Asked Questions About This Crockpot Sausage and Peppers Recipe
Before I share my recipe for sausage and peppers, here are a few questions I have gotten from our readers that I wanted to share:
What Kind Of Crockpot Do I Use?
To make this dinner recipe, I used this 6-quart crockpot to make sure I could fit all of the ingredients in one pot without taking up too much counter room.
Do I Put Raw Or Cooked Sausages In The Slow Cooker?
For this recipe, I went ahead and used raw sausages and cooked it low and slow to develop some of those juicy flavors. If you decide to use precooked sausages, make sure you reduce the amount of time you leave your sausage and peppers to cook in the crockpot.
Can I use Turkey Sausage Instead?
Yes! If you are looking for a healthier alternative to regular pork sausage, you can replace them with turkey or chicken Italian sausage. Even though these kinds of sausages don’t have as much fat, they are still full of bold flavor.
What Can I Serve With Sausage And Peppers?
In my opinion, the best way to enjoy this crockpot meal is by loading up the sausage and peppers into a hoagie bun with a side of baked polenta fries or on top of some pasta.
Low Carb Option
If you are looking for a low carb option, you can serve this Italian dish with a side of broccoli rabe or cauliflower rice.
Crockpot Sausage And Peppers
Now it’s time to cook!
To make this sausage and peppers recipe, you will first need to gather all of the ingredients off this list:
- Sweet Italian sausage links
- Red bell pepper
- Yellow bell pepper
- Orange bell pepper
- Green bell pepper
- Sweet onion
- Crushed Italian tomatoes
- Tomato sauce
If you are low on time and are trying to put this crockpot meal together, I recommend using some delicious jarred tomato sauce. If you do have a little more time to spare, I would suggest trying to make your own tomato sauce to give it some of that fresh flavor—the extra effort is worth it!
Along with those main ingredients, these are some of the must-have seasonings to really pull this meal together:
- Basil
- Thyme
- Oregano
- Smoked paprika
- Red pepper flakes
- Sea salt
- Cracked black pepper
- Garlic powder
To know the exact amounts you will need for this recipe, scroll down to the bottom of this post and check out the recipe card.
How To Make Sausage and Peppers In The Slow Cooker
In your slow cooker, layer all of the ingredients individually. Start out it the crushed tomatoes, then, the tomato sauce, and all of the seasonings.
Give it a quick stir before you layer the sweet Italian sausage links. Finally, add the chopped onions and peppers on top as the final layer.
Cover the crockpot with the lid and cook on low for approximately 5 hours. After the sausage and peppers have been cooking for the first 3 hours, press the onions and peppers down into the tomato sauce every 30 minutes. That way the vegetables will start to cook down.
Once the sausage and peppers are all done, I recommend serving it on your favorite roll, or even over your favorite pasta!
Honestly, you don’t even really need to serve this with anything. The sausage and peppers are quite filling and can be a meal on their own.
Cooking Tips
- Your sausage will still have a nice firmness, and so will your vegetables. If you want them softer, cook for an additional 3 hours on low (which is how I like them).
- To really enhance the flavor of all of the ingredients, lightly sauteed the sausages and peppers in a skillet to give them a little color before placing them into the crockpot to finish cooking.
More Slow Cooker Recipes
If you loved this Crockpot Sausage and Peppers, check out some of our best recipes from The Slow Cooking Club:
Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
Sweet Italian sausage cooked on low with some tender onions and bell peppers tossed in a tasty tomato sauce...yum! Make some of this delicious Crockpot Sausage and Peppers the next time you are in the mood for a quick and easy Italian dinner.
Ingredients
- 2 pounds sweet Italian sausage links
- 1 red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
- 1 orange bell pepper, sliced
- 1 green bell pepper, sliced
- 1 sweet onion, sliced
- 1 – 28oz can crushed Italian tomatoes
- 1 – 15oz can tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon basil
- 1 teaspoon thyme
- 1 teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 teaspoon cracked pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
Instructions
- In a slow cooker, layer ingredients: crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, and all seasonings. Then add in sausage links. Finally, layer onions and peppers on top.
- Cover and cook approximately 5 hours. After the first 3 hours, press onions and peppers down into the sauce every 30 minutes. The vegetables will start cooking down.
- Once done, serve on your favorite roll, or even over your favorite pasta!
Notes
Your sausage will still have a nice firmness to the sausage, and so will your vegetables. If you want them softer, cook for an additional 3 hours on low (which is how I like them).
Sausage Cassoulet is such a full and satisfying dish you really don t have to think too much about what to serve it with. I like to serve it with thick crusty bread, which is perfect for mopping up the sauce at the end!