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Sausage and Peppers

5 from 4 votes
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posted: 04/21/25

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This post may contain affiliate links. Please read my disclosure policy

Sausage and Peppers is an easy weeknight dinner or the perfect game day meal. This recipe comes together with simple ingredients and is done in under 30 minutes!

overhead of a skillet of sausage and peppers

My family’s go-to fallback meal is what we affectionately refer to as “pasta and sausages.” It’s basically just sausages that are pan-fried and then finish cooking in spaghetti sauce. We cut them up and serve them over pasta. It’s a hit every single time.

We are expanding on that recipe a little, making some spaghetti sauce right in the pan and adding in a nice helping of vegetables. This delicious dinner recipe is perfect right out of the pan if you are eating low-carb. Otherwise, it is fantastic in a bun or over pasta.

Reader Review

I have made the sausage and peppers once before and going to make them again this weekend, They are delicious. Thanks for the great recipes.

overhead of ingredients for sausage and peppers, labeled: red and green bell peppers, hoagie rolls, yellow onion, garlic, sausages, crushed tomatoes, sugar, basil, oregano, olive oil, black pepper, kosher salt

Sausage and Peppers Ingredients

Here are the ingredients that create this flavorful meal. Be sure to scroll to the recipe card at the bottom of the post for the full recipe, including all measurements.

  • Bell peppers: A green bell pepper and a red bell pepper add the perfect amount of sweetness, but you can use any combination of two bell peppers.
  • Yellow onion: The flavor of onions varies quite a bit; the main difference is in sweetness, with red being the sweetest, then yellow, then white. Yellow onion works perfectly in this recipe.
  • Garlic cloves: Freshly grated garlic adds an amazing flavor to the sauce.
  • Salt and black pepper
  • Italian sausages: If your family doesn’t eat pork, there are great Italian turkey sausages on the market. Depending on your preference, you can use either sweet Italian sausages or hot Italian sausages.
  • Crushed tomatoes: A convenient way to make a sauce from scratch is to use canned tomatoes. Crushed tomatoes are great for creating a smooth, thick sauce.
  • Dried oregano: Dried herbs are easily incorporated into sauces, so they are preferred to fresh herbs in this recipe.
  • Dried basil: Adds a fresh flavor to the tomato sauce.
  • Granulated sugar: Helps to balance the acidity of tomatoes. Read more about why we add sugar to this recipe below.

How to Make Sausage and Peppers

Here is a brief overview of how to make this delicious sausage, peppers, and onions recipe. For the full recipe with all of the measurements, see the recipe card at the bottom of the post.

Step 1: Cook the Vegetables

In a large skillet over medium heat, add olive oil, and sauté the vegetables until they become tender, about five to seven minutes.

Step 2: Pan Fry the Sausages

Push the vegetables off to the side. Add in the sausages and brown them for about two minutes on each side. They do not need to cook all the way through.

overhead of person's hand holding metal tongs in a skillet of diced bell peppers, yellow onion, and italian sausages to make sausage and peppers. Red bell pepper and green bell pepper sitting beside.

Step 3: Make the Sauce

Stir in the crushed tomatoes and season with oregano, basil, and sugar. Bring the sauce to a simmer for 15 minutes. This will allow the flavors to combine, the sauce to thicken, and the sausages to finish cooking.

overhead of bowl of tomato sauce pouring into a skillet of diced peppers, onions, and sausages to make sausage and peppers.

Step 4: Put It All Together

This is great served alone or a number of different ways. Here are a few ideas:

  • Slice the sausages and serve it all over or with pasta.
  • Pop the sausage on a hoagie roll and top with sauce, peppers, and onions to make a sandwich. You could even add some cheese and throw it under the broiler.
  • Instead of pasta, serve it with spaghetti squash.
  • Make some sweet potatoes, dice the sausage and the peppers, and put it over the cooked potatoes.
side view of italian sausages in sauce with peppers in onions in a skillet

Adding Sugar to Tomato Sauce

I have a handful of recipes that use canned tomatoes, and I add a little bit of sugar to each of them. This inevitably confuses some people and even angers others. It is simply to balance the acidity in the canned tomatoes. Fresh tomatoes require no sugar, while canned tomatoes do. You will find that some brands need more than others. The goal is to take the bite out of the sauce without making it sweet, so you can start by adding a little and add more as needed.

Keto Sausage and Peppers

With the sausage, vegetables, and homemade tomato sauce, this is a fantastic keto recipe. You likely will want to leave out the sugar and replace it with baking soda to cut the acidity. To keep it keto, serve this over some spaghetti squash.

overhead of sausage, peppers, and onions in two buns

Making this Gluten Free

This is an easy recipe to make gluten-free. There are so many great gluten-free noodles on the market these days. I highly recommend boiling some of those and serving this over that. You could also enjoy it over spaghetti squash.

Making It In the Crockpot

I love that this meal comes together in under 30 minutes. If you want to do some meal prepping in the morning and come home to a hot and ready dinner, I have a great sausage, peppers, and onions recipe that comes together in the slow cooker.

Crockpot Sausage and Peppers

Crockpot Sausage and Peppers combines bell peppers, onions, and sausages with a delicious homemade sauce right in the slow cooker. This dinner recipe is light on work and big on taste.
overhead of sausage and peppers recipe on a platter

Storing and Reheating Leftovers

Store any leftover sausage, peppers, and onions with the sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days. Reheat only the portion you plan to eat in a small skillet until heated through. Store any leftover pasta or buns separately.

an italian sausage on a bun with sauce and bell peppers

What Sides to Serve with Sausage Peppers and Onions

If you make this Italian sausage and peppers recipe, leave me a comment letting me know what you think!

overhead of a skillet of sausage and peppers
5 from 4 votes

Sausage and Peppers

Serves: 5 servings
(tap # to scale)
Prep: 5 minutes
Cook: 23 minutes
Total: 28 minutes
Sausage and Peppers is an easy weeknight dinner or the perfect game day meal. This recipe comes together with simple ingredients and is done in under 30 minutes!

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1 medium green bell pepper cut into slices
  • 1 medium red bell pepper cut into slices
  • 1 small yellow onion cut into slices
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 pound Italian Sausages see note 1
  • 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
  • 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano
  • 1/2 tablespoon dried basil
  • 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar see note 2
  • 5 hoagie rolls for serving see note 3

Instructions

  • In a large skillet over medium heat, add the olive oil.
    2 tablespoons olive oil
  • Once the oil is hot, add in the bell peppers, onion, and garlic. Season with salt and pepper. Cook for 5 to 7 minutes.
    1 medium green bell pepper, 1 medium red bell pepper, 1 small yellow onion, 2 garlic cloves, 1 teaspoon kosher salt, 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • Make room for the sausages and then add them in. Cook for 2 minutes on each side.
    1 pound Italian Sausages
  • Stir in the crushed tomatoes. Season with oregano, basil, and sugar. Bring to a simmer. Cook for 15 minutes. You should see small bubbles the whole time the sauce is cooking. This cook time will finish cooking the sausages.
    28 ounces crushed tomatoes, 1/2 tablespoon dried oregano, 1/2 tablespoon dried basil, 1 1/2 teaspoons granulated sugar
  • Serve on hoagie rolls or over pasta.
    5 hoagie rolls for serving

Notes

  1. If your family doesn’t eat pork, there are great Italian turkey sausages on the market.
  2. Fresh tomatoes are very sweet, but canned tomatoes have some acidity to them. Adding a bit of sugar balances this without making the sauce sweet. Different brands may need more or less sugar, so start with a little and go from there until you no longer taste the bitterness.
  3. Please note that the nutritional information does not include the hoagie rolls. This makes a great low carb dinner if you leave them out!
Serving: 1serving Calories: 443kcal (22%) Carbohydrates: 19g (6%) Protein: 16g (32%) Fat: 35g (54%) Saturated Fat: 11g (69%) Polyunsaturated Fat: 4g Monounsaturated Fat: 17g Cholesterol: 69mg (23%) Sodium: 1341mg (58%) Potassium: 842mg (24%) Fiber: 5g (21%) Sugar: 11g (12%) Vitamin A: 1187IU (24%) Vitamin C: 68mg (82%) Calcium: 99mg (10%) Iron: 4mg (22%)
Author: Lisa Longley
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian
overhead of a skillet of sausage and peppers

did you make this

Sausage and Peppers

I’d love to see what you made! Tag me @lisasimplejoy and hashtag it #simplejoyrecipes!

Hi! I'm Lisa Longley, and I am committed to giving you simple dinner ideas and recipes that are easy to make; recipes that will fill your home with joy. I am the owner and author of SimpleJoy.com and I'm so glad that you are here.

Reader Interactions

    5 from 4 votes (1 rating without comment)

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  1. Emogene says

    What is the difference between red, white, and yellow onions? Isn’t a onion a onion no matter the color?

    • Lisa Longley says

      Actually, onions vary a lot. The main difference is in sweetness with red being the most sweet, then yellow, then white.

  2. jean Saloranta says

    5 stars
    I have made the sausage and peppers once before and going to make them again this weekend, They are delicious. Thanks for the great recipes.

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy you enjoyed them, Jean! Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know.

  3. Pam says

    Made this Sausage &Peppers, delicious, rave review from my critic!! I discovered I was out of oregano so substituted italian seasoning. Of course I added the CONTROVERSIAL sugar!! Will definitely be making this again!
    Thanks for your awesome recipes!!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so happy you and the critic enjoyed it, Pam! Thank you for taking the time to come back and let me know.

  4. Ka says

    5 stars
    Best way to make sausage sandwiches! Thanks for sharing!!

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked it!

  5. marilyn says

    just signed up anixous to try some of your recipes thank you

  6. Paul J Eaton says

    Here in Calgary it is a typical May Long Weekend Rain, hail and everything else the gods can dump on us, so all our friends came in when I announced a beer & sausage feast. Recipe hit the spot. Some needed a splash of hot sauce. We are now enjoying coffee with my homemade peanut butter vodka. A bit grainy, but everyone seems to love it. I have set up sleeping arrangements for all and collected car keys. No arguments as they can’t wait for my hangover breakfast- brunch thing. If this continues until tomorrow, they had better head to the booze outlet. Also, those that can cook can do what I did and clean up. No Clean, No Car Keys!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    Cheers, Pauly

    • Lisa Longley says

      Sounds like a great time, Paul! Glad this recipe was a hit!

  7. Marianne says

    5 stars
    We tried this tonight and we loved it **** with Bratwurst (we are in Germany). Thank you for this easy and delicious recipe

    • Lisa Longley says

      I’m so glad you liked it!

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