If you’re craving a dish that’s bursting with vibrant colors, bold flavors, and effortless comfort, look no further than this Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Recipe. It’s a heartwarming blend of perfectly seared Italian sausage nestled among sweet, tender bell peppers and onions, all simmered slowly in a rich marinara sauce. This recipe transforms simple ingredients into a spectacular meal that fills your home with incredible aromas and promises satisfying bites every time.
Ingredients You’ll Need
Gathering the right ingredients for this Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Recipe is straightforward, but each component plays a crucial role in building layers of flavor, texture, and color. Make sure to choose fresh produce and quality sausage to elevate the dish.
- Italian sausage links: Use authentic Italian sausage to provide that savory, herby depth central to the dish’s character.
- Olive oil: Just a tablespoon for searing the sausage, adding a gorgeous caramelized exterior.
- Bell peppers (mix of colors): Red, yellow, and green peppers bring sweetness, crunch, and a pop of color to the slow-cooked medley.
- Onions: Sliced into strips, they melt down to a silky sweetness that complements the peppers and sausage perfectly.
- Garlic cloves: Minced fresh garlic infuses the sauce with aromatic warmth.
- Marinara sauce: A 1 1/2 cups sized addition that lends a tangy tomato base, making the whole dish fragrant and saucy.
- Italian seasoning: A blend of herbs that deepens the rustic, Mediterranean flavor.
- Salt and pepper: To taste, these seasonings enhance all the flavors without overpowering them.
How to Make Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Recipe
Step 1: Sear the Sausage
Start by heating olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Place the Italian sausage links in the skillet and sear them for about 2 to 3 minutes on each side. This quick browning step is a game changer—it locks in the sausage’s juices and adds a lovely crisp texture that stands out against the tender vegetables later on.
Step 2: Prepare the Vegetables and Sauce
While the sausages are browning, slice your bell peppers and onions into strips and mince the garlic cloves. Add all the veggies, garlic, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper directly into your slow cooker. Layering these ingredients now lets the flavors mingle gently as they cook.
Step 3: Add the Sausages to the Slow Cooker
Once the sausages are nicely browned, arrange them on top of the pepper and onion mixture in the crockpot. This setup allows the sausages to slowly infuse their savory juices down into the vegetables.
Step 4: Slow Cook to Perfection
Cover your slow cooker and set it on low for 5 hours or on high for 3 hours. This long, gentle cooking softens the peppers and onions beautifully while ensuring the sausages are cooked through and tender.
Step 5: Final Stir and Serve
Before serving, give everything a good stir so that the sausage juices blend fully with the sauce and vegetables. If you like, warm some hot dog buns on the side—this dish is perfect for spooning into a soft bun for a casual, satisfying meal.
How to Serve Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Recipe
Garnishes
If you want to brighten your Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Recipe, try sprinkling freshly chopped parsley or basil over the top. A light grating of Parmesan cheese also adds a lovely nutty richness that complements the dish’s Italian flavors beautifully.
Side Dishes
This hearty dish pairs wonderfully with a crusty baguette or garlic bread, perfect for mopping up the luscious sauce. For a lighter contrast, a crisp green salad or steamed green beans add freshness and balance.
Creative Ways to Present
Feeling playful? Serve this Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers as a filling for hoagie rolls to create mouthwatering sandwiches, or layer it over creamy polenta for a comforting dinner twist. You can even toss the mixture with cooked pasta for a quick yet impressive weeknight dinner that everyone will love.
Make Ahead and Storage
Storing Leftovers
Place leftover Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers in an airtight container and refrigerate. It keeps well for up to 4 days, making it an excellent option for meal prep or easy meals throughout the week.
Freezing
This dish freezes beautifully. Portion it into freezer-safe containers and it will stay delicious for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy, thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
Reheating
Warm leftovers gently in a saucepan over medium heat or microwave them in short bursts, stirring occasionally to keep the sausage juicy and the peppers tender. If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of water or broth to loosen it up.
FAQs
Can I use frozen sausage links for this recipe?
Yes, you can use frozen sausage links, but it’s best to thaw them first and sear them before adding to the slow cooker. This helps ensure even cooking and better flavor.
What type of bell peppers work best?
Using a mix of red, yellow, and green bell peppers gives the dish a colorful appeal and a nice balance of sweetness and slight bitterness, enhancing both flavor and visual impact.
Is it possible to make this recipe spicy?
Absolutely! To kick up the heat, use spicy Italian sausage or add crushed red pepper flakes when you add the seasoning and sauce.
Can I skip searing the sausage?
You can skip searing to save time, but searing adds a fantastic texture and depth of flavor that really makes this Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Recipe stand out.
What is the best way to serve this dish for a crowd?
Serve the Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers buffet-style with hoagie rolls, soft French bread, and sides like salads or pasta so guests can customize their plates and enjoy the meal their way.
Final Thoughts
This Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Recipe is one of those comforting classics that always brings smiles to the table. It’s easy to prepare, packed with flavor, and wonderfully flexible for different occasions. I encourage you to give it a try—it might just become your new favorite go-to dinner!
Print
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Recipe
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 5 hours
- Total Time: 5 hours 15 minutes
- Yield: 10 servings
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Description
This Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers recipe is a hearty and flavorful meal featuring tender Italian sausage links cooked to perfection with a colorful medley of bell peppers, onions, garlic, and marinara sauce. Perfect for a comforting family dinner, this dish combines simple ingredients with long, slow cooking to bring out deep, rich flavors.
Ingredients
Sausage
- 2 (19-ounce) packages Italian sausage links
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil (for searing)
Vegetables and Sauce
- 6 bell peppers (mix of colors, sliced into strips)
- 2 onions (sliced into strips)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
- 1 1/2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper (to taste)
Instructions
- Brown the Sausages: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil. Place the Italian sausage links into the skillet and sear for 2-3 minutes on each side until browned and slightly crisped. This step helps lock in flavor and adds a nice texture to the sausages.
- Add Vegetables and Seasonings to Slow Cooker: While the sausages are browning, prepare the peppers, onions, and garlic. Add the sliced bell peppers, onions, minced garlic, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper directly into the crockpot, mixing lightly to combine.
- Layer the Sausages: Place the browned sausage links on top of the vegetable and sauce mixture in the slow cooker. This layering ensures the sausages absorb the rich flavors while cooking.
- Slow Cook the Dish: Cover the crockpot and cook on low heat for 5 hours or on high heat for 3 hours. Cook until the peppers and onions are tender and the sausages are completely cooked through, softening the vegetables and blending the flavors beautifully.
- Finish and Serve: Once cooking is complete, gently stir the sausages and vegetables in the sauce to combine all flavors evenly. Serve hot, optionally with warmed hot dog buns for a satisfying meal.
Notes
- Searing the sausage links before slow cooking adds extra flavor and texture, but you can skip this step if short on time.
- Feel free to use any combination of bell pepper colors to brighten the dish.
- For a spicier version, add red pepper flakes or use spicy Italian sausage.
- This dish freezes well—store leftovers in airtight containers for up to 3 months.
- Serving with warm buns turns the dish into delicious sausage and pepper sandwiches.
