Description
Hearty Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers brings Italian-inspired comfort straight to your kitchen with minimal effort. Savory sausages and colorful bell peppers meld together, creating a deliciously simple meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 1 pound (1 lb) sausages – mildly spicy pork Italian sausage links
Vegetables:
- 3 bell peppers – one each of orange, yellow, and red (cut into strips)
- 1 large white onion (sliced into half moons)
- 4 garlic cloves (minced)
Seasonings and Liquids:
- 2 tablespoons (2 tbsp) olive oil
- 1 tablespoon (1 tbsp) Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon (1 tsp) sea salt
- 1 teaspoon (1 tsp) black pepper
- 16 ounces (16 oz) marinara sauce
Instructions
- Sear sausages in a skillet over medium-high heat until golden brown on all surfaces, approximately 3-4 minutes per side.
- Layer colorful bell peppers, sliced onions, and minced garlic into the slow cooker, creating a vibrant vegetable base.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, and black pepper over the vegetables, ensuring even distribution of aromatic spices.
- Drizzle marinara sauce across the vegetable mixture, coating the ingredients with rich, tangy flavor.
- Carefully nestle the browned sausages into the vegetable and sauce mixture, allowing them to partially submerge.
- Cover slow cooker and cook on low heat for 6-7 hours or on high heat for 3-4 hours, until sausages are fully cooked and vegetables are tender.
- Before serving, gently stir the contents to blend flavors and ensure even cooking, creating a harmonious and appetizing dish.
Notes
- Opt for high-quality Italian sausage with robust flavors to elevate the overall taste profile of the dish.
- Slice bell peppers and onions into consistent, medium-thick strips to ensure even cooking and prevent mushiness.
- Consider using homemade marinara sauce for a fresher, more personalized flavor that enhances the sausage’s richness.
- For a lighter version, choose lean chicken or turkey sausage and add extra herbs like fresh basil or oregano to maintain depth of flavor.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 7 hours
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 410 kcal
- Sugar: 7 g
- Sodium: 820 mg
- Fat: 30 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 13 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 19 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg