Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers: An Effortless & Flavorful Weeknight Meal

Discover the ultimate comfort food that brings rich, savory flavors to your dinner table with minimal effort: Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers. This beloved classic combines juicy Italian sausages with tender bell peppers and onions, all simmered to perfection in a flavorful marinara sauce. It’s a remarkably versatile dish that can be served in countless ways, making it an indispensable recipe for busy weeknights or relaxed weekend gatherings. Forget being stumped on what to cook – this recipe is a guaranteed crowd-pleaser that delivers delicious results every time.

Why You’ll Love This Easy Crock Pot Recipe

This Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers recipe isn’t just easy; it’s a culinary gem that simplifies mealtime without compromising on taste. Here’s why it deserves a permanent spot in your recipe rotation:

• Effortless Preparation: The beauty of a slow cooker meal lies in its simplicity. After a bit of chopping and a quick sauté (optional but highly recommended for flavor), your crock pot does all the heavy lifting, allowing you to focus on other tasks.
• Incredible Flavor Profile: The combination of sweet or hot Italian sausage with colorful bell peppers, onions, and aromatic seasonings slowly melds in marinara sauce, creating a deeply rich and satisfying dish. Each bite is bursting with robust Italian-inspired flavors.
• Versatility at Its Best: Whether you’re craving a hearty sandwich, a comforting pasta dish, or a low-carb meal, these sausage and peppers adapt beautifully. They are perfect on their own, over rice, or even as a pizza topping.
• Family-Friendly: This dish appeals to a wide range of palates, making it an excellent choice for family dinners. It’s hearty, comforting, and packed with wholesome ingredients that even picky eaters tend to enjoy.
• Perfect for Meal Prep: Make a large batch and enjoy the leftovers throughout the week. The flavors often deepen overnight, making it even more delicious the next day. It also freezes exceptionally well.

“Absolutely delicious! My husband couldn’t stop talking about how good this was! Thank you so much for this recipe.”
– Betsy

Frequently Asked Questions About Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers

How to Serve Sausage and Peppers?

The serving possibilities for this Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers recipe are truly endless! My personal favorite ways to enjoy them include:

• On Hot Dog Buns or Sub Rolls: For a classic, satisfying meal, nestle whole sausages and a generous helping of peppers and onions into toasted hot dog buns or crusty sub rolls. You can add a sprinkle of provolone or mozzarella cheese for extra indulgence.
• Sliced on Their Own: For a lighter, low-carb option, simply slice the cooked sausages and serve them alongside the tender peppers and onions. This highlights the natural flavors of the ingredients.
• Over Pasta or Rice: Transform this dish into a complete meal by serving it over a bed of your favorite pasta (like penne or spaghetti), fluffy white rice, or even egg noodles. The rich marinara sauce coats everything beautifully.
• Polenta or Mashed Potatoes: For a creamy and comforting pairing, serve the sausage and peppers over soft polenta or a mound of creamy mashed potatoes, allowing the sauce to seep into every nook and cranny.
• As a Topping: Get creative! Use the sliced sausage and pepper mixture as a topping for homemade pizza, flatbreads, or even a baked potato.

What do you eat with Sausage and Peppers?

While this dish is satisfying enough to be a meal on its own, pairing it with a simple side can elevate your dining experience. Here are a few side dish ideas to complement your Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers:

• Southern Fried Potatoes: A classic, crispy complement.
• Mac and Cheese: Creamy and comforting, perfect for a family meal.
• Grilled Vegetables: Asparagus, zucchini, or broccoli offer a fresh, healthy contrast.
• Pasta Salad: A refreshing cold side, especially nice for warmer weather.
• Crusty Bread: Essential for soaking up every last drop of the delicious sauce.
• Simple Green Salad: A light, crisp salad with a vinaigrette dressing can cut through the richness.

Can I make these Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers in the oven instead?

Absolutely! The recipe can easily be adapted for oven baking if you prefer. Here’s how:

1. Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a large baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
2. Slice the sausage, bell peppers, and onions as you would for the slow cooker version.
3. Arrange the sausage, bell peppers, and onions in a single layer on the prepared baking sheet.
4. Drizzle generously with olive oil (since we’re not adding butter in the oven) and season with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Toss everything to ensure even coating.
5. Bake for 25-35 minutes, or until the peppers are tender-crisp and the sausages are cooked through and browned. You may want to rotate the pan halfway through cooking to promote even browning.
6. Serve immediately as desired.

Can I serve with more sauce?

If you’re a fan of extra saucy Sausage and Peppers, you can certainly add more! Simply warm up additional marinara sauce separately on the stovetop and drizzle it over the cooked dish before serving. This is especially good if you’re serving it over pasta or rice.

How to store leftovers?

Storing leftovers correctly ensures you can enjoy this delicious meal for days to come:

• Refrigeration: Transfer any leftover Sausage and Peppers to an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4-5 days.
• Freezing: For longer storage, this dish freezes beautifully. Place the cooled leftovers in a freezer-safe container or heavy-duty freezer bags. It will keep well in the freezer for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.

To reheat, simply warm the desired portion in the microwave or on the stovetop over medium heat until heated through. Add a splash of water or extra marinara sauce if needed to restore moisture.

Essential Ingredients for Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers

This simple yet satisfying dish relies on a few key ingredients, each playing a crucial role in building its incredible flavor. Here’s a closer look at what you’ll need:

• Bell Peppers: I recommend using a mix of red and green peppers for a vibrant color and balanced flavor. Red peppers offer a sweeter note, while green peppers provide a slightly bitter, more traditional flavor. You can also add yellow or orange bell peppers for even more color and sweetness.
• Onion: A large yellow or white onion, sliced, will soften beautifully in the slow cooker and add a foundational aromatic sweetness to the dish.
• Italian Sweet Sausage: The star of the show! Italian sweet sausages are seasoned with fennel and other herbs, contributing a distinctive flavor. If you prefer a bit of heat, feel free to use hot Italian sausage or a mix of both. Johnsonville Italian Sweet Sausages are a popular choice for their quality and flavor.
• Marinara Sauce: A good quality marinara sauce is essential. It serves as the flavorful base for the peppers and onions, enveloping everything in a rich, tomatoey goodness. You can use your favorite jarred brand or homemade marinara.
• Seasonings:
  • Italian Seasoning: A blend of dried herbs like oregano, basil, thyme, and rosemary that enhances the Italian flavors.
  • Garlic Powder: Adds a pungent, aromatic depth that complements the other ingredients perfectly.
  • Salt and Pepper: Basic seasonings to bring out and balance all the flavors. Adjust to your personal taste.
• Salted Butter: Used for browning the sausages (an optional but recommended step). It adds a rich, golden crust and extra flavor to the sausages before they go into the slow cooker.
• Serving Accompaniments: Hot dog buns, sub rolls, or cooked pasta are ideal for serving, but as mentioned, the versatility allows for many other options.

How to Make Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers: Step-by-Step Guide

Making this incredibly flavorful dish in your slow cooker is straightforward. The longest part is the initial prep work of slicing the vegetables, after which your slow cooker takes over, making it truly hands-off!

Step 1: Prepare the Vegetables

Begin by thinly slicing all your red and green bell peppers, along with the large onion. Aim for uniform slices so they cook evenly and become perfectly tender. This preparation step is the most time-consuming, but once it’s done, the rest is a breeze!

Step 2: Load the Slow Cooker

Transfer all of your sliced bell peppers and onions into a large (4 to 6-quart) slow cooker. An oval-shaped slow cooker often works best for accommodating the sausage links later. Evenly season the vegetables with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt, and black pepper. Pour the marinara sauce over the seasoned peppers and onions. Stir everything thoroughly to ensure the vegetables are well coated with the sauce and seasonings. Cover the slow cooker with its lid.

Step 3: Initial Slow Cook

Set your slow cooker to the LOW setting and cook the vegetables for 2 hours. During this initial cooking period, the peppers and onions will begin to soften and infuse the marinara sauce with their sweet and savory flavors. Stir occasionally if you can, to ensure even cooking and to prevent any vegetables from sticking.

Step 4: Brown the Sausages (Optional, but Recommended for Flavor)

While the vegetables are softening, it’s time to prepare the Italian sausages. Heat 2 tablespoons of salted butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Once the butter is melted and shimmering, add the Italian sausage links to the skillet. Sear the sausages on all sides until they develop a beautiful golden-brown crust. This browning step adds an extra layer of flavor and texture to the sausages, which makes a significant difference in the final dish. If you’re short on time or prefer to skip this step, you can add the raw sausage links directly to the slow cooker with the vegetables.

Step 5: Combine and Continue Cooking

Once the peppers and onions are tender from their initial cook, carefully add the seared (or raw, if skipping browning) Italian sausage links into the slow cooker, nestling them among the vegetables. Ensure they are submerged in the marinara sauce as much as possible. Cover the slow cooker again and continue to cook on the LOW setting for an additional 4 hours. Stir the contents gently every hour or so, as the peppers continue to cook down and soften further. Be careful not to break up the sausages, as they will become very tender from the slow cooking process.

Step 6: Slice and Serve

After the full cooking time, the sausages should be fully cooked, tender, and infused with the flavors of the peppers and sauce, and the vegetables will be perfectly soft. If you prefer your sausages sliced for serving (e.g., for sandwiches or over pasta), carefully remove them from the slow cooker, slice them into desired pieces, and then return them to the pot to mix with the peppers and sauce. Serve your delicious Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers hot, either on their own, in toasted hot dog buns, or over a bed of pasta.

Craving More Easy & Delicious Recipes?

If you loved the simplicity and flavor of these Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers, you’re in for a treat! Here are more fantastic recipes to inspire your next meal:

• Slow Cooker Brats
• Sheet Pan Sausage and Peppers
• Easy Sausage Baked Beans
• Crock Pot Kielbasa and Potatoes
• Sausage Spaghetti Cups
• Creamy Tuscan Sausage Tortellini Soup
• Sausage, Egg and Cheese Biscuit Casserole
• Crock Pot Creamy Sausage and Potatoes
• Air Fryer Sausage Balls
• Polish Casserole for Two
• Crock Pot Lasagna
• Crock Pot Pork Loin
• Kielbasa Sheet Pan Meal
• Crock Pot Round Steak

Originally published: December 2017
Updated photos & republished: May 2025 (Note: original post was a sponsored post for Johnsonville Sizzling Sausage Grill which has been discontinued)

Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers

These Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers are so tasty and incredibly flavorful and simple to make. Italian sausage, peppers, onions and seasoning.

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 6 hours

Total Time: 6 hours 15 minutes

Servings: 10 servings

Author: Brandie Skibinski

Ingredients

• 4 red peppers, sliced
• 4 green peppers, sliced
• 1 large onion, sliced
• salt and pepper, to taste
• 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
• ½ Tablespoon garlic powder
• 1 ¼ cups marinara sauce
• 2 Tablespoons salted butter
• 2 (19 ounce) packages Johnsonville Italian Sweet Sausages
• hot dog buns (or cooked pasta), to serve

Instructions

1. Add 4 red peppers, sliced, 4 green peppers, sliced and 1 large onion, sliced into a wide (or oval) 4 to 6-quart slow cooker.
2. Season veggies with salt and pepper, to taste, 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning and 1/2 Tablespoon garlic powder.
   

   
   

3. Pour 1 ¼ cups marinara sauce over peppers and onion. Stir well. Cover and allow to cook on low for 2 hours (stirring occasionally).
   

   
   

4. When peppers and onions are soft and cooked, it’s time to start browning the sausages.
   

   
   

5. Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add 2 Tablespoons salted butter. Sear both sides of all the Italian sausage links to get a golden-brown color. When done, add to the slow cooker. Note: you can skip this step if you don’t want to brown the sausages. Add links to the slow cooker.
   

   
   

6. Cover and cook 4 more hours on low, stirring every hour or so as the peppers cooked down. But be careful not to break up the sausages as they will become soft from cooking.
   

   
   

7. If you want to eat the sausages sliced, just remove from the crock pot, slice them up then add back in.
8. Serve it all up by itself or on sub or hot dog buns!

Video

Notes

• Please refer to the Frequently Asked Questions and ingredient list above for other substitutions or for the answers to the most common questions.

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: American

Nutrition

Calories: 427kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 17g | Fat: 37g | Sodium: 974mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g

Nutritional Disclaimer

“The Country Cook” is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. If calorie count and other nutritional values are important to you, we recommend running the ingredients through whichever online nutritional calculator you prefer. Calories and other nutritional values can vary quite a bit depending on which brands were used.

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