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Crockpot Sausage and Peppers

Crockpot sausage and peppers with tender bell peppers and fully cooked Italian sausage, finished with crushed tomatoes and Italian herbs. Slow-cooked until the peppers are soft and the sauce clings to every bite for an easy Italian-American main.
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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: Italian-American
Calories: 650
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Sausage and peppers
  • 2 lb Italian sausage links sweet, hot, or a mix
  • 2 red bell peppers sliced into strips
  • 2 green bell peppers sliced into strips
  • 1 yellow bell pepper sliced into strips
  • 2 onions large, sliced
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced
  • 1 can (14.5 oz) crushed tomatoes
  • 1 tsp Italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp dried basil
  • 0.5 tsp garlic powder
  • 0.5 tsp salt
  • 0.25 tsp black pepper
  • 0.25 tsp red pepper flakes
  • 1 hoagie rolls or cooked pasta for serving
  • 1 provolone cheese optional

Equipment

  • 1 Dutch oven

Method
 

Layer in the slow cooker
  1. Place the Italian sausage links in the slow cooker.
  2. Add the sliced bell peppers, onions, and minced garlic around and over the sausages.
  3. Pour the crushed tomatoes over everything.
  4. Sprinkle the Italian seasoning, dried basil, garlic powder, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes over the top.
Slow-cook until tender
  1. Cook on low for 5–6 hours until the sausages are fully cooked and the peppers are very tender.
  2. Alternatively, cook on high for 2.5–3 hours until the sausages are fully cooked and the peppers are very tender.
  3. Slice the sausages if desired and stir everything together.
Serve
  1. Serve the sausage and peppers on hoagie rolls topped with provolone or over cooked pasta.

Notes

Pro tip: For the best pepper texture, keep the lid on during cooking and avoid stirring until the end. Refrigerate leftovers in a sealed container for up to 3 days; freeze for up to 2 months (thaw in the fridge overnight). For a lighter option, serve over cooked whole-wheat pasta or cooked rice instead of hoagie rolls.