Slow Cooker Italian sausage, peppers, and onions simmers for hours to create one simple meal that is delicious served over pasta, crusty bread, or potatoes.
I tend to start writing my slow cooker recipe posts with, “before kids I loved the relaxation that came with preparing dinner,” and then finishing them with, “now that I have kids I don’t have much time to cook!” That’s why I’m testing as many slow cooker recipes as possible this fall. As impatient as Mom is, the boys are even more impatient when it comes to being hungry at dinnertime. Regardless of if you have kids or not, it’s helpful to have as many recipes on hand that are quick to prepare and enjoy. For me, that’s the key to eating healthy. Ease and enjoyment— and nutritious ingredients of course!
Slow cooker sausage, peppers, and onions is exactly what the doctor ordered [or what the recipe title lends itself to be]. Dinner couldn’t get any easier! You can easily swap green bell pepper for yellow bell pepper, or even cubed or sliced eggplant. And by using canned tomatoes as the base or sauce for this recipe, it’s a highly economical meal as well. I should also mention you can also swap the Italian sausage for a brand or flavor that your family enjoys. I would personally have chosen hot Italian sausage if I was feeding myself, but the Serb crew’s tastebuds aren’t up for that challenge just yet!
We ate this meal exactly how I photographed it. In a BIG bowl. Joey had his with some farfalle pasta— and consequently only ate the pasta. Ted enjoyed his on whole wheat hoagie bread. I ate mine solo, because my carbs came from the red wine I ate it with. Spoken like a true Mom, right?! Now there’s one step I skipped that I think would have made my guys go even CRAZIER for this dish. That step is if I had browned the sausage before I added it to the slow cooker. Considering most mornings I’m lucky enough if I can drink my coffee warm, I decided the extra time I had while getting dinner in the slow cooker was better spent on drinking warm coffee than browning sausage. I’ll let you be the judge of that when you make this slow cooker sausage, peppers, and onions!
- 6-8 Italian Chicken Sausage Links
- 1 medium sized onion, sliced
- 2 red bell peppers, sliced
- 2 green bell peppers, sliced
- 1- 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes
- 6 cloves of garlic, peeled and smashed
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
- ½ cup chicken broth
- Grated Parmesan cheese, optional
- Add sausages to slow cooker. Top with remaining ingredients. Stir to combine.
- Cover, and cook on low for 6-8 hours.
- Serve immediately [delicious as is or on top of pasta, crusty bread, or rice]. Top with Parmesan cheese.
So here’s to my new friend the slow cooker! And all the tasty and healthy meals I’m serving up with his help. And yes, my slow cooker is apparently a “he.” I’m surrounded by men in my house and my kitchen utensils are no exception!
Hi Katie, yours is the crock-pot recipe for sausage and pepper that I grabbed today and I’m taking your advice to brown up the sausage so I’ll let you know how it goes. We have a crowd of friends coming over today and this is going to be a hit… I can tell.
Have a super weekend and keep the recipes coming, just for the HEALTH of it!
G’ma Nancy
Just for the health of it— love it Nancy! I hope you enjoyed the sausage!
Since the sausage, Boar’s Head, was pre-cooked, I skipped the browning process. Turned out great over rice.
I used regular Italian sausage precooked in the oven, and added some small seeded hot peppers small diced. At the end the sauce seemed thin, so I thickened it with 1/2 a 6oz can of tomato paste. Served on spiral pasta – came out great
This is the single best crock pot dish I’ve ever tasted. I’m making it again today. Thank you!
Tangy and sweet, perfect!