This recipe for sausage and peppers is easy to make and is perfect for a weeknight meal or scaled to feed a crowd! It is full of sweet and mild Italian sausage, multi-colored peppers, onions, and cooked in tomato sauce. This is the best sausage & pepper recipe you will ever eat.
Cooking with sausage is like adding instant flavor to a recipe. It tastes great in soups like our sausage, kale, and sweet potato soup, or as a topping for homemade gluten-free pizza, or add as an extra flavor boost for easy stuffed peppers.
Whether you make peppers and sausage in a skillet or in the oven for a big crowd of party-goers, this is a dish you will want to have in your recipe box
for sure!
Sausage & peppers
I have been making sausage and peppers for years and have served it in many different ways. Sometimes with peppers and onions, just peppers, with sauce or no sauce. No matter how I prepare this dish, it always comes out perfect. How have I prepared it?
- Cut sausage links into medallions, fried in a cast-iron skillet with a little bit of olive oil and chopped onions and peppers.
- Sliced and cooked in the same manner as above, steamed with a little bit of water.
- I've used hot, mild, and sweet sausage and just one color pepper to a combination of every color variety.
- Cooked sausage and peppers in a skillet, the oven, in a crockpot
, and even an electric roaster oven.
, and even an 
. Through much trial and error, I have found the best way to cook Italian sausage and peppers and want you to enjoy this recipe too.
What I love most about this meal is anyone who eats it has the same reaction- “This is SO DELICIOUS!”
In fact, we shared this in our News Channel 13 cooking segment while in the “Let's Eat” Kitchen and have that linked below if you want to watch!
You will also find tips on how to cook sausage and peppers for a crowd below as well as a print-friendly recipe.
Helpful tools to have for Italian sausage & peppers
- Roasting Pan– I always brown my sausage in a roasting pan with olive oil to make sure it is cooked through.
- Cooking Fork– Using a cooking fork makes turning the sausage links an easy task.
- Chef Knife– A good sharp chef knife is important to use when slicing and chopping your sausage, peppers, and onions.
- Cutting Board– A wooden cutting board is best to keep your knives sharp and in good working condition.
- Wooden Spatula- I like using a wooden spatula because it makes stirring a big pan easy.
- Large Serving Spoon– Great for scooping out links and peppers and onions onto your plate or into a fresh Italian roll.
I always brown my sausage in a roasting pan with 
to make sure it is cooked through. 
Using a cooking fork makes turning the sausage links an easy task. 
A good sharp chef knife is important to use when slicing and chopping your sausage, peppers, and onions.
A wooden cutting board is best to keep your knives sharp and in good working condition. 
I like using a wooden 
Great for scooping out links and peppers and onions onto your plate or into a fresh Italian roll.
How to cook sausage & peppers in the oven
This is a question we receive a lot. When preparing sausage and peppers in the oven you will find it is really easy.
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
- Meanwhile, add one tablespoon olive oil to your roasting pan and then add sausage links.
- Once you have your roasting pan of sausage ready, you will place it in the oven.
- Cook sausage for about 30 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes.
- While sausage is cooking, chop your peppers and onions.
- When sausage is browned and cooked completely, pour your onions and peppers over the top of sausage.
- Add tomato sauce, salt, and pepper.
- Return to oven and cook for 30-45 minutes, stirring every 10 minutes, until peppers and onions are soft.
of sausage ready, you will place it in the oven. 
, salt, and pepper.
How to cook sausage & peppers for a crowd
In my trial and errors, I have found what tastes best is to use both hot and sweet sausage and every color pepper with only a few green ones mixed in.
The pictures that will follow were taken as I prepared to make this for a party of 100.
It's A LOT of sausages, but the ratio to peppers and onions will be the same even if you are making a smaller batch.
Sausage and peppers for 100
This is perfect for a family reunion, graduation party, birthday party, or large neighborhood parties!
Ingredients for sausage and peppers recipe for a crowd:
- 8- 1lb. packages each of the hot links and sweet links. That's 16 lb. of sausage.
- 6 peppers each; red, orange, yellow, cut in 1-inch strips
- 3 peppers green, cut in 1-inch strips
- 2 lb bag of onions, plus 2 if needed, cut in 1-inch strips
- 1 28-ounce can of Hunts Tomato Sauce
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- In a large roasting pan, brown sausage in a 350-degree oven, stirring every 15 minutes.
- While sausage is cooking, wash and cut peppers in strips (about 1″ thick). I used (6) peppers of each color- red, orange, and yellow and only (3) green.
- Next, cut up onions (2lb. bag) in the same size strips as your peppers.
- Throw all together into a big bowl.
- You should have slightly more onion than peppers. If not, add 2-3 more onions.
- Once the sausage is browned, follow this
, brown sausage in a 350-degree oven, stirring every 15 minutes.
.Cooking Tip!
I cut all the links in half (across, not lengthwise). I then split the sweet in half, lengthwise, careful not to cut all the way through. Once this is done, add all the peppers and onions.
7. Then add (1) large can (28oz.) of tomato sauce. (I use Hunt's brand
) .
8. Just pour over the top, no need to stir just yet.
9. Then shake on salt and pepper. I would say I add about 2 tsp. of each to this size recipe.
Cook this in a 350-degree oven for about 45-60 minutes, stirring every 15 minutes or so. The water from the peppers and onions will mix with the juice from the sausage and sauce and will give you enough “sauce”.
Sausage and peppers will be done when the peppers are soft- if you picked them up with a fork
they would droop over the sides.
Cooking sausage & peppers in electric roaster
When making this big batch for a party, I pull out my electric roaster
and set it on 200 degrees to keep everything warm. I love my electric roaster- it's the perfect appliance to have for entertaining large crowds! I've even cooked our Thanksgiving Turkey in my Hamilton Beach Roaster
!
That's it. So easy.
Sausage and Peppers 101
If you need a smaller batch– I would probably break it down like this:
For every package of sausage links, I would use (1) green pepper, (2) of red, yellow, and orange; If the peppers are huge, then I would half the quantity. Use 5-6 onions. The sauce is the tricky one…
- If using one package of sausage: I would use the tiny can of sauce (8 ounces)
- 2 packages: the medium size can;
- 3 packages: use 1 medium & 1 small can;
- 4 packages: 2 medium cans;
- and 5 or more packages: 1 big can of sauce.
I just made this the other night and did not add the sauce and it was still really good. I think the secret is the multi-color peppers.
If you enjoy making this delicious sausage & peppers recipe, please help me share the love by sharing on Facebook and Pinterest!
And be sure to tag us @eatpicks- #eatpicks if you share on Instagram!
Sausage and Peppers
Sausage and peppers is easy for a quick weeknight dinner or can be scaled to feed a crowd! It's perfect for any party! Delicious and easy, your guests will come back for more!
Ingredients
- 8- 1lb. packages each of hot links and sweet links. That's 16 lb. of sausage.
- 6 peppers each; red, orange, yellow, cut in 1-inch strips
- 3 peppers green, cut in 1-inch strips
- 2 lb bag of onions, plus 2 if needed, cut in 1-inch strips
- 1 28-ounce can of Hunts Tomato Sauce
- Salt & Pepper
Instructions
- In a large roasting pan, brown sausage in a 350' oven, stirring every 15 min. or so.
- While that is cooking, you want to wash and cut in strips (about 1" thick) your peppers. I used (6) peppers of each color- red, orange and yellow and only (3) green.
- Then cut up onions (2lb. bag) in the same size strip.
- Throw all together into a big bowl.
- You should have slightly more onion than peppers. If not, add 2-3 more onions.
- Once the sausage is browned, there is a very easy way to show guests which is hot and which is sweet.
- add (1) large can (28oz.) of tomato sauce. (I use Hunts brand)
- Just pour over the top, no need to stir just yet.
- shake on salt and pepper. I would say I add about 2 tsp. of each to this size recipe.
Notes
Note: This recipe is for a large crowd. For a quick family dinner:
- 1-2 packages of sausage links
- 3-4 multi-colored bell peppers
- 3 large onions
- 1- 8 ounce can tomato sauce
- salt & pepper
Follow cooking instructions above.
Recommended Products
As an Amazon Associate and member of other affiliate programs, I earn from qualifying purchases.
- Party Essentials 33 Piece Party Serving Kit, Includes Chafing Kits and Serving Utensils
- Hunt's Tomato Sauce, 15 oz, 6 Pack
- Pink Checkered Gingham 6 Pack Premium Disposable Plastic Tablecloth 54 Inch. x 108 Inch. Rectangle Table Cover By Grandipity
- WUSTHOF Classic 8 Inch Chef Knife | Full-Tang Classic Cooks Knife | Precision Forged High-Carbon Stainless Steel German Made
- Hamilton Beach 28 lb 22-Quart Roaster Oven with Self-Basting Lid (Stainless Steel)
- Lodge Cast Iron Skillet, Pre-Seasoned and Ready for Stove Top or Oven Use
Nutrition Information:
Yield:
100Serving Size:
1Amount Per Serving: Calories: 235Total Fat: 21gSaturated Fat: 7gTrans Fat: 0gUnsaturated Fat: 11gCholesterol: 45mgSodium: 611mgCarbohydrates: 3gFiber: 0gSugar: 2gProtein: 9g
Here is our News Channel 13 Cooking Segment Making Sausage & Peppers recipe!
Original post: 9/26/12
Updated post: 6/22/17, 6/8/19, 6/19/20
Karen Corso says
Kelly, how long did you cook the sausage in the oven before adding the peppers and onions?
Thank you. Karen
Kelly Pugliano says
Hi Karen, I would say that this dish takes me approximately 30 minutes for the sausage to brown and cook all the way through. You want to make sure that the sausage is no longer pink inside. Just be sure to stir them up and turn them every 15 minutes or so.
Karen Corso says
Thanks, Kelly, for your quick response!
Kelly Pugliano says
You bet! Thanks for trying out our recipe! 🙂
Amy says
how many people are you cooking for with this recipe? We are having a big party next weekend and love this recipe for a side dish!
Kelly Pugliano says
Hi Amy, In the post, I mention that I was preparing for 100 people. Toward the end of the post, you will see that I break this recipe down for different portions. If you have any other questions, let me know!
Yvette Christopher says
Can you brown and then freeze the sausages to just reheat in the electric roaster later? Or did you cook sausages for 100 on the same day?
Kelly Pugliano says
You could cook and freeze the sausage, however, I usually cook the entire dish the same day. If I am making ahead of time, I freeze all of it. Then I can just put in roaster a few hours before the party.
Karen says
I am making this for about 60 people and want to use my electric oven do you throw everything in there at once or do you brown your sausage first how many hours a head of time should I make this party is at 3
Kelly Pugliano says
Hi Karen,
Do you mean an electric Roasting Oven? I would brown the sausage first and then you can add everything together. If the party is at 3, I would start it around 1. Once the onions and peppers are soft, it is done. Then you can just keep warm. Have a great party!