Description
This Easy Baked Italian Sausage and Peppers recipe combines sweet bell peppers, savory Italian sausage, and aromatic garlic roasted to perfection. It’s a simple, hearty dish that’s perfect for a comforting weeknight meal or casual gathering. The vegetables are tender and caramelized, complementing the juicy, browned sausage for a classic Italian-American flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 2 bell peppers (any color), medium to large, cored and thinly sliced
- 1–2 jalapeños, thinly sliced (optional)
- 1 large yellow or sweet onion, thinly sliced
- 2–3 garlic cloves, very thinly sliced
- 1 teaspoon fennel seeds (optional)
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Other
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1½ lb Italian sausage (hot or sweet), cut into 4-inch pieces
- Italian flat-leaf parsley, leaves only, for garnish (optional)
- Rolls or Italian bread, for serving (optional)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven: Preheat your oven to 425°F (220°C) to ensure it’s ready for roasting the vegetables and sausage evenly.
- Prepare the vegetables: Spread the thinly sliced bell peppers, onion, garlic, and fennel seeds (if using) out evenly on a large rimmed baking sheet. Season generously with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Drizzle the olive oil over the vegetables and toss them gently until everything is well coated.
- Roast vegetables: Place the baking sheet in the oven and roast the vegetables for 20 minutes. Then, remove the pan and stir the vegetables well to promote even cooking and caramelization. Return the pan to the oven and continue roasting for an additional 20 minutes until the vegetables are very soft and the edges begin to caramelize lightly.
- Add the sausage: Arrange the sausage pieces on top of the roasted vegetables in a single layer. Return the pan to the oven and roast for about 8–10 minutes, or until the sausage is fully cooked through, reaching an internal temperature of 160°F (71°C) for pork or 165°F (74°C) for chicken sausage.
- Broil for browning: Move the pan to the top oven rack and switch your oven to the broil setting on high. Broil the sausage briefly, watching closely, until the sausage develops a nicely browned and slightly crisped exterior without burning.
- Garnish and serve: Remove the pan from the oven and garnish with chopped Italian flat-leaf parsley if desired. Serve the dish hot on its own or tucked into rolls or Italian bread for delicious sandwiches.
Notes
- You can adjust the heat by choosing hot or sweet Italian sausage depending on your preference.
- Omitting jalapeños makes the dish milder, but adding them adds a pleasant spicy kick.
- Use a meat thermometer to ensure sausage is fully cooked for food safety.
- Fennel seeds enhance the traditional Italian flavor but are optional.
- Leftovers store well in the fridge for up to 3 days and reheat nicely.
- For a complete meal, serve with a side of crusty bread or over cooked pasta or rice.
