Italian Sausage and Peppers
Italian sausage and peppers is a dish that makes a fantastic weeknight meal. or choice for a weekend barbecue. Serve with or without bread and rolls.
If you run out of new dinner ideas because you’re in a rut of making the same thing, then this is your sign to try Italian sausage and peppers!
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. I was gifted some Hatch chiles from Melissa’s Produce without any obligation to share or post a recipe. I love their produce and, as usual, all opinions are my own.
Unlike many of my recipes, this isn’t from my Nonna, and is simply a super quick and easy recipe that’s picked up popularity over the years, because of how good it is!
Salsiccia peperonata, in Italian, is something you can make several different ways, so check out the variations below to choose your favorite! Normally, I’d use sweet, long Italian peppers, but the Hatch chiles were fantastic, too (mostly because they, too, don’t have thick flesh as bell peppers do.)
VARIATIONS of ITALIAN SAUSAGE and PEPPERS
- Italian sausage with peppers served in bread (French bread or rolls.)
- Italian sausage, peppers and onions served in bread.
- Italian sausage with peppers and tomatoes (my favorite) served in bread.
- Any of the above, served on a plate with bread, or rolls served alongside.
The preparation couldn’t be simpler, whether you serve the sausages in rolls or bread as sandwiches, or just on a plate with bread on the side. This Italian sausage and peppers recipe will be one you’ll make once and won’t need the recipe again, it’s that easy.
I like to prepare the sausages in an air fryer, and while they’re cooking, fry the peppers.
Love Italian sausages? Try this sausage and mushroom risotto recipe with step by step directions!
Frying Hatch Chile Peppers
Can You Fry Hatch Chiles?
It’s not the norm to fry Hatch chile peppers as they are usually roasted and the skin is removed. However, I tried frying them and they were fantastic! The skin wasn’t an issue for my family, and they tasted great with the Italian sausages, so give this recipe a try!
Note: Hatch chiles have a short summer season, and this year, Melissa’s Produce shipping begins on August 11th. I always buy some roasted Hatch chiles and keep them in the freezer all year long for my Four cheese mac and cheese with Hatch chiles, green chicken enchiladas, and What a Girl Eats’ white chicken chili!
Italian Sausage and Peppers
A family recipe Serves 4
FULL PRINTABLE RECIPE BELOW
Ingredients
- Italian sausages, fresh
- sweet/hot long (or bell) peppers (I used Hatch chiles) see notes
- extra virgin olive oil
- salt
- (optional: onions, garlic, tomatoes, tomato purée and bread)
Directions
Place the Italian sausages on parchment paper in the air fryer and set to cook at 350° F (175° C) for 20 minutes (set timer for 10 minutes to turn over half way through cooking.) If you want to be certain the sausages are cooked thoroughly, use a meat thermometer to check for 165° F (74° C.)
While the Italian Sausages are Cooking, Prepare the Peppers
I usually use long, Italian sweet peppers, but used Hatch this particular time. Put the extra virgin olive oil in a sauté pan over medium to medium high heat and start adding the peppers. If you want onions, add them at the same time.
Fry, occasionally turning them so they cook evenly.
The peppers will be soft when they are ready. Add salt as desired.
Might I add that these are excellent on their own in between two slices of fresh, crusty homemade bread, or a roll? Any type of sweet or mild pepper is so good this way!
Optional Addition of Tomatoes
You can add any type of cut up fresh tomatoes to a pan of heated olive oil (with or without garlic, as you desire.)
Here, you can see I fried these in the same pan that the peppers were fried in. Cook until a sauce forms (about 5 minutes or so, we’re not making a sugo) and add salt and pepper (taste and add more as needed.) You can cook the tomatoes separately, if you have family or guests who won’t want the tomatoes, or you can cook them with the peppers.
If you want more detailed instructions on the latter, you can follow my peperonata recipe, which is essentially what you’re making to serve on, or with, the Italian sausages.
Serve the Italian Sausage and Peppers
Place a cooked sausage in a roll or bread, and top with plain fried peppers, or fried peppers and onions.
My ultimate choice is the peperonata mixture.
If this doesn’t knock your socks off, I don’t know what will! Let me know if you try it in the comments below.
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Italian Sausage and Peppers
Ingredients
- 4 links Italian sausages hot or mild
- 1 ¼ lbs sweet peppers (long peppers or Hatch chiles, see notes) washed, stem and seeds removed and cut into wide slices – see photos
- 2 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil (more as needed)
- ½ tsp salt (just a suggestion, please salt and taste)
- ½ onion (OPTIONAL: large onion, sliced)
- 12 oz tomatoes (OPTIONAL: cherry, Roma, grape, etc. or even good quality canned tomatoes work)
Instructions
- Place the Italian sausages on parchment paper in the air fryer and set to cook at 350° F (175° C) for 20 minutes (set timer for 10 minutes to turn over half way through cooking.)
- Put the extra virgin olive oil in a sauté pan over medium to medium high heat and start adding the peppers. If you want onions, add them at the same time.
- Fry, occasionally turning them so they cook evenly. Add more oil if needed.
- The peppers will be soft when they are ready. Add salt as desired.
- Might I add that these are excellent on their own in between two slices of fresh, crusty homemade bread, or a roll? Any type of sweet or mild pepper is so good this way!
- In the same pan as you fried the peppers, add any type of cut up fresh tomatoes to a pan of heated olive oil (with or without garlic, as you desire.)
- Cook until a quick sauce forms (about 5 minutes or so, we’re not making a sugo) and add salt and pepper (taste and add more as needed.) You can cook the tomatoes separately, if you have family or guests who won’t want the tomatoes, or you can cook them with the peppers.
- If you want more detailed instructions on the latter, you can follow my peperonata recipe, which is essentially what you’re making to serve on, or with, the Italian sausages.
- Place a cooked sausage in a roll or bread, and top with plain fried peppers, or fried peppers and onions.
Notes
- A thin fleshed pepper is best, Hatch chiles are good, but bell peppers will also work as long as they are cooked enough.
- If you want to be certain the sausages are cooked thoroughly, use a meat thermometer to check for 165° F (74° C.)
- Nutrition information does not include onion, tomatoes, bread or rolls
- FREEZING: you can freeze the cooked sausages separately from the fried peppers/tomato and pepper combination. They both freeze well.
- If you are going to make this recipe, I suggest going back to the post (without using the JUMP TO RECIPE button), as there are step by step photos and helpful tips to ensure a great end result.)