Crockpot Italian Sausage and Peppers
This Crockpot Italian Sausage and Peppers recipe is simple and delicious, perfect for busy weeknights or family gatherings.
Equipment
- Skillet For searing sausages.
- Slow Cooker For cooking the dish.
- Broiler For melting cheese if desired.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 5 count uncooked Italian sausages
- 2 count bell peppers, sliced (1 red and 1 green)
- 1 count large onion, sliced
- 0.5 teaspoon garlic salt or a mix of salt and garlic powder
- 0.5 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- 0.5 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- 1 cup marinara or pasta sauce (Rao's recommended)
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 0.75 cup shredded Mozzarella cheese (optional) (not pre-shredded)
- 5 count buns for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and drizzle in the olive oil. This step helps to enhance the flavors of the sausage.
- Add the Italian sausages to the skillet and sear them for 2-3 minutes on each side until they start to brown. This step enhances the flavor, so don’t worry about cooking them all the way through. Once browned, transfer the sausages to the bottom of a slow cooker.
- Layer the sliced onions and bell peppers on top of the sausages. Sprinkle with garlic salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning.
- Pour the marinara sauce evenly over the onion and pepper mixture.
- Cover and cook on high for 3-4 hours or low for 6-7 hours, until the peppers are soft and the sausages are fully cooked. Stir occasionally if possible.
- (Optional) If you’d like to add cheese, sprinkle ½ to ¾ cup of your favorite shredded white cheese over the sausage and pepper mix. Broil for 1-2 minutes, keeping it about 4 inches from the heat source, until the cheese is melted.
- For serving, toast the buns and add a little butter to each. Fill the buns with the sausage and peppers mixture, and if desired, sprinkle with additional shredded cheese. Broil the assembled buns for a minute or two until the cheese melts, watching closely to prevent burning.
Notes
Recipe notes: Feel free to mix and match your favorite bell pepper colors for a vibrant dish. You can also serve this dish over rice or pasta if you prefer not to use buns.