Description

This Crockpot Sausage & Peppers recipe is a simple, hearty slow cooker meal perfect for busy days. Italian sausages are seared for added flavor and then slow-cooked with a colorful mix of bell peppers, onions, garlic, marinara sauce, and Italian seasoning, resulting in a tender, saucy dish that’s ideal for serving over pasta, rice, or in sandwiches.

Ingredients

Scale

Sausage

2 (19 oz) packages Italian sausage links
1 tablespoon olive oil (to sear links)

Vegetables & 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

Sear the Sausages: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add olive oil. Place the Italian sausage links in the skillet and sear for 2 to 3 minutes on each side until they develop a browned, slightly crispy exterior. This step enhances the flavor of the sausages before slow cooking.
Prepare the Crockpot Mixture: While the sausages are searing, add the sliced bell peppers, onions, minced garlic, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper into the crockpot. Stir gently to combine all ingredients evenly.
Arrange Sausages on Vegetables: Place the browned sausage links on top of the pepper and onion mixture in the crockpot. This layering helps cook the sausages evenly while infusing the vegetables with their flavor.
Slow Cook the Dish: Cover the crockpot with the lid and cook on low heat for 5 hours, or on high heat for 3 hours. The sausages should be cooked through, and the peppers and onions will become tender and soaked in the sauce.
Combine and Serve: Once cooking is complete, give the crockpot contents a gentle stir to coat the sausages in the flavorful sauce. Serve hot as desired, either alone or alongside your favorite pasta, rice, or bread.
Enjoy Your Meal: Dish out and enjoy this comforting and easy Crockpot Sausage & Peppers dinner, perfect for family meals or casual gatherings.

Notes

For best flavor, do not skip searing the sausages before adding to the crockpot.
You can use sweet, mild, or hot Italian sausages depending on your spice preference.
This dish freezes well – store leftovers in an airtight container for up to 3 months.
To make it gluten-free, ensure your marinara sauce and sausage are certified gluten-free.
Serve over pasta, polenta, rice, or in hoagie rolls for a hearty sandwich.
Adjust salt cautiously if your marinara sauce or sausage is already seasoned.

Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours
Category: Main Course
Method: Slow Cooking
Cuisine: Italian-American

Keywords: crockpot sausage peppers, slow cooker sausage and peppers, Italian sausage recipe, easy crockpot dinner, sausage and peppers slow cooker, Italian sausage peppers onions