Crockpot Sausage & Peppers
Are you ready for another cozy crockpot dinner idea? I know I am! This one might be one of the easiest slow cooker recipes you’ll ever make. Juicy Italian sausage simmers all day with colorful bell peppers, onions, garlic, and marinara sauce until everything’s tender, flavorful, and coated in that rich, herby goodness. It’s the kind of meal that fills your kitchen with the best smell and tastes even better than it looks.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe:
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Set it and forget it: No need to hover over the stove, just dump and go.
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Big flavor, minimal effort: Just a quick sear, a handful of simple ingredients, and a few hours later you’ve got a saucy, flavorful dinner.
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Versatile serving options: Pile it into buns, spoon it over mashed potatoes, or toss it with pasta. It’s delicious every way.
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Perfect for meal prep: Makes great leftovers that reheat beautifully.
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Crowd-pleaser: Whether it’s game day, a family dinner, or an easy weeknight meal, everyone loves sausage and peppers.
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Customizable: Use any sausage you like — mild, spicy, or even chicken — to make it your own.
By the way, I’ve got tons of popular crockpot recipes that I think you’ll love! Check out my crockpot pot roast, crockpot chicken cacciatore, crockpot chicken parmesan soup, crockpot pulled ham, and crockpot garlic butter steak bites!
Ingredients
Please note that there’s a printable recipe card at the bottom of this post!
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Italian sausage links – use your favorite variety — mild, sweet, or spicy — depending on how bold you want the flavor.
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Olive oil – just a little to sear the sausages and lock in that rich, caramelized flavor before slow cooking.
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Bell peppers – use a colorful mix of red, yellow, and green for sweetness and that classic sausage-and-peppers look.
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Onions – they soften and caramelize beautifully in the sauce, adding tons of flavor.
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Garlic – because sausage and peppers just wouldn’t be complete without it.
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Marinara sauce – creates a saucy base that keeps everything juicy and flavorful.
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Italian seasoning – ties all those savory flavors together with a hint of herbs.
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Salt and pepper – season to taste and let the ingredients shine.
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Hot dog buns (or hoagie rolls) – for serving, because nothing beats a warm, saucy sausage sandwich.
How To Make Crockpot Sausage & Peppers
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a little oil. Add the sausage links and sear for about 2–3 minutes on each side, just until they’re browned and a little crispy — this step adds tons of flavor.
- While the sausages are browning, add the bell peppers, onions, garlic, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to your crockpot. Give it a quick stir to mix everything together.
- Place the seared sausage links on top of the pepper mixture.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hours, until the sausages are cooked through and the peppers and onions are tender and saucy.
- Stir everything together before serving so the sausages get coated in all that flavorful sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in a sealed container in the fridge for 3–4 days. When you’re ready to enjoy them again, reheat on the stovetop over medium heat for about 10–12 minutes, until everything’s hot and the sausages are warmed through!
Recipe Notes
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Searing the sausage first adds rich flavor and keeps the texture nice and juicy, so don’t skip this step!
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If you prefer a thicker sauce, leave the lid off for the last 20–30 minutes of cooking so some of the liquid can evaporate.
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Want extra flavor? Add a splash of red wine or a few crushed red pepper flakes for a little kick.
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Don’t over-stir while cooking — the sausages can break apart. Just give it one good stir before serving.
Substitutions & Variations
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Sausage options: Use whatever you love — classic Italian sausage, spicy hot links, bratwurst, or even cheese-filled or chicken apple sausage links all work great.
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Different sauces: Swap marinara for crushed tomatoes, tomato basil sauce, or even a spicy arrabbiata for a little extra heat.
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Veggie boost: Add mushrooms, zucchini, or eggplant for extra color and flavor.
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Low-carb option: Skip the buns and serve over cauliflower rice or zoodles instead.
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Cheesy twist: Sprinkle with shredded mozzarella or provolone before serving for a melty, indulgent finish.
Serving Ideas
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Serve in hot dog buns or hoagie rolls for the classic sausage-and-peppers sandwich. Keep the sausages whole so they fit perfectly in the bun — messy, saucy, and delicious!
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For something heartier, spoon the sausage and peppers over mashed potatoes — the sauce soaks right in and it’s total comfort food. If you’re serving it this way, you can slice the sausages before cooking so everything mixes together nicely.
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Add cheese on top! Melt some mozzarella, provolone, or Parmesan right before serving for a gooey, indulgent touch.
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You can also serve it over rice or pasta if you’re feeding a crowd — it stretches the meal and still tastes amazing.
Crockpot Sausage & Peppers
Ingredients
- 2 (19 oz) packages Italian sausage links
- 1 tablespoon olive oil to sear links
- 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
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat with a little oil. Add the sausage links and sear for about 2–3 minutes on each side, just until they’re browned and a little crispy — this step adds tons of flavor.
- While the sausages are browning, add the bell peppers, onions, garlic, marinara sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper to your crockpot. Give it a quick stir to mix everything together.
- Place the seared sausage links on top of the pepper mixture.
- Cover and cook on low for 5 hours or high for 3 hours, until the sausages are cooked through and the peppers and onions are tender and saucy.
- Stir everything together before serving so the sausages get coated in all that flavorful sauce.
- Serve and enjoy!
I love how versatile this recipe is, and that you can serve it stuffed into sandwiches or over mashed potatoes depending on what you’re in the mood for! Give it a try, and let me know how you served it. Your comments really help other readers who might be thinking about giving it a go, and it always makes my day too. Enjoy, and thanks so much for being here!
