Crockpot Sausage and Peppers Rustica is a super simple slow cooker dish with hot or mild italian sausage links, sweet bell peppers, onions, all in a delicious marinara sauce. The sausage cooks down, flavoring the red sauce and becoming extremely tender as it does. This sausage and peppers with red sauce recipe can be served on it's own, with pasta, or even on french bread for a tasty sandwich. Gluten Free and Dairy Free.

upclose of sausage and peppers in the crockpot

After making this recipe, I have officially decided I will never make sausage and peppers another way again. This is the BEST crock pot sausage and peppers recipe. Making sausage in the crockpot, means that it is not only tender, but the seasoned sausage has the opportunity to flavor the surrounding ingredients and vice versa.

Sausage and Peppers Rustica is an Olive Garden Dish, where it is served with pasta. Making this a slow cooker recipe makes it so easy to enjoy italian food at home any night of the week. Some of my other favorite Olive Garden at home dishes are Olive Garden Steak Gorgonzola and Chicken Veronese.

sausage and peppers with penne pasta on a white plate

Looking for more easy crockpot recipes?

Ingredients

Italian sausage links (hot or mild)
sweet bell peppers
onions
garlic cloves
jarred marinara sauce
italian seasoning
salt
red pepper flakes

How to Make Sausage and Peppers in the Crockpot

In a frying pan over medium heat, brown italian sausage on each side. Work in stages so as to not overcrowd the pan, it should only take a minute per side.

italian sausages wrapped in their original packaging

Place browned sausages at the bottom of the crockpot.

Top with sliced bell peppers, onions, minced garlic, italian seasoning, salt, and red pepper flakes.

Pour marinara sauce over the top.

sliced peppers and onions in a black crockpot

Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours, until sausages are cooked through.

Keep sausages whole or slice into bite-sized pieces to serve.

Top Tip

It is possible to make crockpot sausage and peppers without browning first, but to me it is a quick step that adds flavor and color to the dish. If you don't want to take the time, just skip that step and place the italian sausage links into the slow cooker straight from the package.

Sauce for Sausage and Peppers

hand holding jars of raos sauce over a crockpot

The easiest sauce for sausage in peppers is simply a large jar of good quality marinara sauce. We like Rao's Homemade Marinara sauce. The jar I used for this recipe was 32 oz. If you do not have marinara sauce on hand, you can substitute in 1 15 oz. can of diced tomatoes and 1 15 oz. can of tomato sauce.

How to Serve Sausage and Peppers

You can serve sausage and peppers several ways-- all delicious.

On its own. Keep this dish lower carb by serving it as is. You can always pair it with a fresh house salad for some variety and added color.

Over pasta. Make this dish just like Olive Garden Sausage and Peppers Rustica by serving it with pasta noodles. I like it with penne or farfalle. You can even serve it with homemade spinach pasta.

Over rice. Rice is easy to prepare and keeps this a gluten free italian dish.

On bread rolls. A crusty french baguette or submarine sandwich roll both make great breads for sausage and peppers. Be sure to serve with extra marinara sauce on the side.

sausage and peppers with penne pasta on a white plate sprinkled with cheese

Can you freeze sausage and peppers?

Yes, totally! Sausage and Peppers makes a great freezer meal. Simply allow to cool completely and store in an airtight container for several months. You can either reheat in a pan on the stove or back in a crockpot on low.