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It’s always worth knowing easy Crockpot recipes and this one is easy as well as delicious. With crowd-pleasing results, you really can’t go wrong! It’s a cozy, satisfying combination of sausages, fresh vegetables, herbs, seasonings, garlic, and marinara sauce. The ingredients in this slow cooker sausage and peppers recipe blend and cook beautifully in a slow cooker and the kitchen is going to smell incredible. Whether paired with crusty bread, rice, pasta, or mashed potatoes, this Italian favorite makes a simple yet tasty dinner the whole family will enjoy. This is also a great recipe to make for the gang on game day.
Sometimes the simplest recipes turn out to be the tastiest. Slow cooker sausage and peppers is the kind of recipe busy home cooks dream about. It’s easy and delicious.
More simple slow cooker recipe ideas include this mouthwatering carrot cake overnight oatmeal, tasty cashew chicken, and cozy lasagna soup.
Why You’ll Love It
Refreshingly easy: A lot of crockpot recipes are really simple and this crockpot sausage and peppers recipe is no exception. Just brown the sausages, add them with the other ingredients to the crockpot, cover and leave the slow cooker alone to work its magic!
Delicious Italian flavors: Who doesn’t love Italian flavors? Everything in here from the sweet Italian sausage and fresh vegetables to the rich-tasting marinara sauce is so tasty.
Ideal for all the family: Everyone loves recipes like this, from the youngest member of the family to the most senior. And you can pair this Italian sausage and peppers recipe with potatoes, rice, bread, or anything else you want.
Crockpot Sausage and Peppers Ingredients
A complete list of ingredients and amounts can be found in the recipe card below.
Italian sausages: Sweet Italian sausage, spicy Italian sausage, or any other kind will work here.
Marinara sauce: Use your favorite brand or my recipe for homemade marinara sauce.
Vegetables: Sweet onion, bell peppers and garlic add nutrients, flavor and color to the dish.
Ground paprika: Enriches the flavor.
Dried parsley and dried oregano: To add herby elements.
Onion powder: Adds a savory taste.
How to Make Sausage and Peppers in a Crockpot
For more detailed instructions with weights and measurements, jump to the printable recipe card.
Add ingredients to the crockpot: Stir the onions, bell peppers and olive oil together in the slow cooker. Add the herbs, seasonings and garlic, along with the marinara sauce, and stir well.
Brown the Italian sausage links: Brown the uncooked sausages in olive oil in a skillet, then add to the crockpot.
Cook the sausage and peppers recipe: Cover and cook until the sausages are cooked through and the veggies are tender.
The finishing touches: Cut the sausage links into bite-sized pieces and return them to the crockpot. Slow cook for 20 more minutes and then serve with your preferred side dishes.
Substitutions and Variations
Gluten-free option: Make sure the Italian sausage and marinara sauce are both gluten-free.
Another onion: Use yellow, red or white onion in place of the sweet onions.
Bell peppers: Use any color or colors of bell peppers you want (red, orange, green and/or yellow).
More garlic: Swap the onion powder for garlic powder.
Sausage options: Sweet or mild Italian sausage or hot Italian sausage are good. Turkey sausage or beef sausage may be used if you don’t want pork. Or even use chicken thighs instead of sausage.
Different herbs: Substitute Italian seasoning for the oregano.
Another sauce: Arrabbiata or Neapolitan sauce can be used instead of marinara. Another idea is a can of crushed tomatoes with a splash of red wine and some Italian seasoning.
Spice it up: Add red pepper flakes or hot sauce.
Make it more kid-friendly: Add a handful of shredded cheddar or mozzarella cheese and a few chopped cooked bacon slices when you add the chopped sausages back into the crockpot.
A deluxe version: Serve this easy crock pot sausage dish with fresh herbs and/or freshly grated parmesan cheese.
Serving Suggestions
Appetizers: Start the meal with antipasto skewers or one of these Italian appetizers.
Side dishes: Crockpot sausage and peppers is delicious with mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower, roasted carrots or mixed roasted vegetables, bread, rice, or perhaps
Desserts: Keep with the Italian theme and make limoncello tiramisu or lemon ricotta cake.
How to Store Sausage and Peppers
Store: Keep leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator and eat within 4 days.
Freeze: This can be frozen for up to 3 months.
Thaw: Defrost overnight in the refrigerator.
Reheat: You can warm it back up in the microwave or in a skillet.
Top Tips
A nice sear: Make sure the olive oil is hot before browning the sausage links, and turn them often so they don’t char in one spot.
Don’t open the crockpot: Opening the slow cooker during the cooking time means you’re letting all the hot air out and this just adds more time on to the recipe. You shouldn’t open the crockpot until 2 hours 40 minutes have passed.
Perfectly cooked sausages: Use a digital thermometer to check the sausages are cooked throughout. They need to be 165°F in the center.
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers FAQs
Yes you can. If you do this, it will take 6 or 7 hours to cook, which might be convenient if you’re planning to go out for a few hours anyway.
Yes, you can use vegetarian sausages or another protein altogether such as extra-firm tofu chunks.
It is quite low in carbs, but you might want to check the carb count on the marinara sauce. Some brands contain a lot of sugar. I love this one which is a keto-friendly marinara sauce. And, to keep it low carb, serve the sausage and peppers mixture over cauliflower rice.
Yes, and you can add them frozen so they cook in the sauce. A mixture of corn, carrots and peas would be good. Canned vegetables work too (drain them thoroughly first) although since these are already cooked you should just add them when you add the chopped Italian sausage back into the slow cooker, otherwise they might become mushy.
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Recipe
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 sweet onion, sliced
- 4 bell peppers, sliced (any colors)
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon parsley, dried
- 1 Teaspoon oregano, dried
- 1 Teaspoon salt
- 1 Teaspoon onion powder
- ½ Teaspoon black pepper
- ½ Teaspoon paprika
- 2 Cloves garlic, minced
- 2 Pounds Italian sausages, 9 or 10 links
- 1 Jar marinara sauce, or homemade marinara sauce
Instructions
- Place the sliced onions and bell peppers in the slow cooker.
- Add olive oil and mix to coat.
- Sprinkle the parsley, oregano, salt, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, and minced garlic over the onions and peppers. Mix well
- Add the marinara sauce and mix again. Set aside.
- In a skillet, over a medium-high heat, brown the Italian sausages for 2 minutes per side.
- Place the browned sausages on top of the pepper and onion mixture.
- Cover and cook on high for 2 hours 40 minutes or until the sausage’s internal temperature has reached 165°F.
- Cut the sausage links into bite-sized pieces and put them back in the slow cooker.
- Cook for an additional 20 minutes, and then serve hot.
Notes
Don’t open the crockpot: Opening the slow cooker during the cooking time means you’re letting all the hot air out and this just adds more time on to the recipe. You shouldn’t open the crockpot until 2 hours 40 minutes have passed.
Perfectly cooked sausages: Use a digital thermometer to check the sausages are cooked throughout. They need to be 165°F in the center.
Nutrition
Italian sausage and peppers star in this mouthwatering slow cooker sausage and peppers dish, which also boasts marinara sauce, garlic, fresh vegetables, and various herbs and spices for a well-balanced result. Don’t be surprised when everyone demands a second bowlful!
Other Recipes to Try
Bella Bucchiotti
Bella Bucchiotti is a Canadian-based syndicated food, travel, and lifestyle writer, photographer, and creator at xoxoBella. She founded xoxoBella in 2015, where she shares her love for food, dogs, sustainability, fitness, crafts, outdoor adventures, travel, and philanthropy to encourage others to run the extra mile, try new recipes, visit unfamiliar places, and stand for a cause. Bella creates stress-free and family-friendly recipes for weeknight dinners and festive feasts.
The ultimate comfort food. My family finished everything, so I guess they loved it. Ha!
Super simple to make and full of flavour. The leftovers the next day were maybe even better!