Italian Sausage With Peppers And Onions Recipe

Brown the sausages

Pat sausages dry with paper towel. Heat 2 tbs olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add sausages in a single layer without crowding. Brown on all sides, about 2–3 minutes per side, turning with tongs until golden. (They will not be fully cooked through.) Remove sausages to a plate and set aside.

Optional: finish sausages

If you prefer the sausages fully cooked before combining, reduce heat to medium-low, add 2–3 tbs water or wine to the skillet, cover, and simmer for 6–8 minutes until an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) is reached. Remove and set aside.

In the same skillet, add 1 tbs olive oil and reduce heat to medium. Add the sliced onions and peppers. Season with a pinch of salt and cook, stirring occasionally, until softened and beginning to caramelize, about 8–10 minutes. If the pan gets dry, add a splash of water or wine to deglaze.

Add the minced garlic and cook for 30–60 seconds until fragrant. Stir to combine and scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan for extra flavor.

Pour 1 tablespoon white wine (or chicken broth) into the skillet to deglaze, scraping up any browned bits. Let it reduce for 30–60 seconds.

Add 1 cup tomato passata (or crushed tomatoes), 1 tsp dried oregano, 1 tsp dried basil, 1 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp black pepper, and red pepper flakes if using. Stir to combine and bring the mixture to a gentle simmer.

Return the browned sausages to the skillet, nestling them into the peppers and sauce. Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer gently for 12–15 minutes, turning sausages once halfway through, until sausages are cooked through (internal temperature 160°F / 71°C) and the flavors have melded.

Taste the sauce and adjust seasoning with additional salt, pepper, or red pepper flakes as needed. Sprinkle chopped fresh parsley over the sausages and peppers.

If using, sprinkle grated Parmesan over the top. Serve the sausages and peppers on crusty rolls to make sandwiches, or spoon over cooked pasta or rice. Ladle some of the sauce over each portion. Serves 6.