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Home » Recipes » All Recipes

Crockpot Sausage and Peppers Rustica

Published: Dec 31, 2021 · Modified: Mar 4, 2024 by Sarah Baumeister · This post may contain affiliate links · 4 Comments

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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

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Ingredients

ingredients for crockpot sausage and peppers
  • 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
tongs holding a browning sausage link
browned italian sausage links in a crockpot

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 red and green bell peppers
sliced peppers and onions in a black crockpot
sauce poured over top of 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.

upclose of sausage and peppers in the crockpot

Crockpot Sausage and Peppers Rustica

Sarah Baumeister
Crockpot Sausage and Peppers are so tender, flavorful, and easy to prepare. Only a few simple ingredients and you can enjoy italian at home!
4.72 from 7 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes mins
Cook Time 3 hours hrs
Total Time 3 hours hrs 10 minutes mins
Course Instant Pot
Cuisine Italian
Servings 6 servings
Calories 551 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 8-10 Italian sausage links hot or mild
  • 3 sweet bell peppers any color
  • 2 yellow onions
  • 3 garlic cloves
  • 1 32 oz. jar marinara sauce
  • 1 tsp. italian seasoning
  • 1 tsp. salt
  • ½ tsp. red pepper flakes optional

Instructions
 

  • 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.
  • 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.
  • 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.

Nutrition

Serving: 1gCalories: 551kcalCarbohydrates: 26gProtein: 27gFat: 37gSaturated Fat: 13gPolyunsaturated Fat: 28gCholesterol: 75mgSodium: 900mgFiber: 4gSugar: 14g
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Georgia Gill

    February 21, 2023 at 5:19 pm

    Made this in my crockpot was delicious

    Reply
    • Sarah

      March 12, 2023 at 9:03 pm

      So glad to hear it!

      Reply
  2. Marie Akers

    June 27, 2023 at 1:57 pm

    Hello. Does it make a difference if the sausages are put straight into the crockpot and not browned first? Thanks so much.

    Reply
    • Sarah

      June 27, 2023 at 5:43 pm

      Hi Marie!

      It adds a bit of flavor, but that's it. Feel free to skip this step if you want to save time/dishes.

      -Sarah

      Reply
4.72 from 7 votes (7 ratings without comment)

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Hi, I'm Sarah!

I am a wife, mother, and believer. I have been cooking since I can remember and love sharing recipes with all of you. You will find a variety of recipes here from healthy family dinners, to ways to prepare venison, to soups, to baked goods, anything and everything delicious.

About Sarah

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