Sausage & Bell Peppers Recipe

Prepare vegetables and aromatics

Seed and slice the bell peppers into 1/2-inch strips. Peel and thinly slice the onion into half-moons. Mince the garlic. Measure out dried oregano, smoked paprika, red pepper flakes (if using), salt, and pepper.

If sausages are in casings and you prefer crumbled sausage, remove casings by slicing lengthwise and pressing out the meat; otherwise leave sausages whole.

Brown whole sausages

Heat 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add whole sausages and brown on all sides, about 8 minutes total, turning occasionally. If using removed sausage meat, crumble and cook until browned and cooked through, about 6–8 minutes. Transfer browned sausages to a plate and set aside.

Cook onions and peppers

Reduce heat to medium and add the remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil to the skillet. Add sliced onions and sauté 3–4 minutes until starting to soften. Add the bell pepper strips and continue to cook 5–7 minutes until peppers are tender-crisp and onions are translucent, stirring occasionally.

Add garlic and spices

Stir in the minced garlic, dried oregano, smoked paprika, and red pepper flakes. Cook 30–45 seconds until fragrant, taking care not to burn the garlic.

Deglaze and simmer

Pour in the chicken stock (or water) and red wine vinegar (or lemon juice) to deglaze the pan, scraping any brown bits from the bottom with a wooden spoon. Return the browned sausages to the skillet (if whole, nestle them into the peppers; if crumbled, add the cooked meat back in). Bring to a gentle simmer, reduce heat to low, cover partially, and cook 6–8 minutes more to let flavors meld and sausages finish cooking through.

Taste and season with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper, adjusting to preference.

Remove from heat. Sprinkle chopped parsley over the sausages and peppers. If desired, shave or sprinkle grated Parmesan on top.

Serve hot with crusty bread to soak up juices, or spoon over cooked pasta or rice. Each serving is about 1/4 of the prepared dish.