Slice Of Italian Sausage Recipe

Prepare sausage

Remove the casing from the Italian sausage link by slicing lengthwise and peeling it away. Break sausage meat into 1-inch chunks.

Cook sausage

Heat a 10-inch skillet over medium-high heat. Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and swirl to coat. Add the sausage chunks and cook, stirring and pressing to break them further, until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Use a slotted spoon to transfer cooked sausage to a plate and set aside, leaving rendered fat in the pan.

Sauté vegetables

Reduce heat to medium. If the pan is very dry, add up to 1 teaspoon olive oil. Add thinly sliced onion and red bell pepper; cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to brown, 4–5 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook 30 seconds until fragrant.

Simmer with sauce

Return the cooked sausage to the pan with the vegetables. Stir in 1/4 cup crushed tomatoes or marinara, 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes, 1/4 teaspoon dried oregano, 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt, and 1/4 teaspoon black pepper. Reduce heat to low and simmer gently for 3–4 minutes to let flavors meld. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed. If using fresh basil, stir in torn leaves off heat.

Prep roll and melt cheese

Slice the roll lengthwise, leaving a hinge if desired. Lightly butter the cut sides and toast them face-down in a separate skillet or under a broiler until golden, about 1–2 minutes. Pile the sausage, peppers, and sauce onto the bottom half of the roll. Top with two slices of provolone. Cover the pan with a lid (or place under broiler briefly) until cheese melts, about 1–2 minutes.

Assemble and serve

Close the sandwich, press gently, cut in half if serving immediately, and serve hot. Optional: serve with extra marinara on the side for dipping.