This slow cooker sausage and peppers recipe is one of those easy dinners that delivers big flavors with minimal effort.
Tender, juicy Italian sausage cooks low and slow with sliced bell peppers, onions, garlic, and a rich tomato sauce for a comforting meal the whole family will love. Whether you serve it on hoagie rolls, over cauliflower rice, or alongside sweet potatoes, this versatile dish is perfect for busy weeknights.
If you enjoy simple crock pot sausage dinners and hearty slow cooker recipes, this peppers recipe is about to become a regular part of your meal rotation.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
This easy slow cooker sausage recipe uses simple ingredients and only takes a few minutes of prep time. The slow cooking process creates tender sausage and flavorful peppers with hardly any hands-on work.
It’s also incredibly flexible. Use hot Italian sausage for a little heat, or swap in chicken sausage or turkey sausage for a lighter option. Serve it in a hoagie bun, over egg noodles, or enjoy it as a low-carb option with cauliflower rice.
Serving Suggestions
This versatile dish can be served in so many delicious ways:
- Pile the sausage and sliced peppers into toasted hoagie rolls or a hoagie bun
- Serve over cauliflower rice for a low-carb option
- Spoon over egg noodles or pasta
- Pair with roasted sweet potatoes
- Add a simple caprese salad on the side
- Use hot dog buns for an easy family dinner
The next day, leftover sausage tastes even better after the flavors have had more time to blend together.
Alternatives and Variations
There are plenty of ways to customize this crockpot sausage recipe.
- Use chicken sausage or turkey sausage instead of pork sausage
- Swap hot Italian sausage for mild sausage if you prefer less spice
- Add sweet peppers for extra sweetness
- Sprinkle in Cajun seasoning for a smoky kick
- Finish with Parmesan cheese or fresh basil
- Cook the sausage in the air fryer before adding it to the slow cooker for a quicker browning method
This recipe works beautifully with whatever good stuff you already have in the fridge.
Tips for the Best Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers
- Browning the sausage first creates a deeper flavor
- Place the sausage on top of the vegetables so everything cooks evenly
- Don’t overcook the peppers if you prefer them slightly firm
- Add extra red pepper flakes if you like more heat
- Use quality marinara sauce in place of tomato sauce for an even richer flavor
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Step by Step
Ingredients
- 2 lbs hot Italian sausage or sweet Italian sausage
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion, sliced
- 2 green bell peppers, sliced
- 2 red bell peppers, sliced
- 1 yellow pepper, sliced
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup tomato puree
Preparation
Heat a tablespoon of oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the raw sausage and cook for a few minutes until browned on all sides. The sausage does not need to be fully cooked at this stage. Browning adds extra flavor and helps lock in the juices for perfectly juicy Italian sausage.
Place the sliced peppers and yellow onion in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Add the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, black pepper, and red pepper flakes.
Arrange the browned sausage on top of the vegetables. In a bowl, stir together the crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato puree, and tomato paste. Pour the sauce mixture over the sausage and peppers. Make sure there is enough liquid for the slow cooking process. The vegetables will also release moisture as they cook.
Cover and cook on low for 5-6 hours or on high for 3-4 hours. Cooking times may vary slightly depending on your crockpot sausage setup. The sausage should reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees F before serving.
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Leftovers
Storage: Allow leftovers to cool completely before storing. Place the sausage and peppers in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 4 days. The flavors continue developing, making this dish especially delicious the next day.
Reheating: Reheat leftovers in a skillet over medium heat until warmed through. You can also microwave individual portions in 30-second intervals, stirring between each round of heating. If the sauce thickens too much, add a splash of water or tomato sauce before reheating.
Freezing: This recipe freezes very well. Transfer cooled leftovers to a freezer-safe airtight container or freezer bag. Freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
Recipe
Originally Published On: July 6, 2026
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers
Ingredients
- 2 lbs hot Italian sausage ( or sweet Italian sausage)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- 1 yellow onion (sliced)
- 2 green bell peppers (sliced)
- 2 red bell peppers (sliced)
- 1 yellow pepper (sliced)
- 3 cloves minced garlic
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes
- 6 oz tomato paste
- 28 oz crushed tomatoes
- 15 oz tomato sauce
- 1/2 cup tomato puree
Recommended Equipment
Instructions
- Brown the sausage in olive oil over medium heat
- Add sliced peppers and onion to the slow cooker
- Stir in garlic and seasonings
- Place the sausage on top of the vegetables
- Combine tomato products and pour over everything
- Cook on low for 5-6 hours or high for 3-4 hours
- Serve on hoagie rolls, over cauliflower rice, or with your favorite sides
All nutritional information is based on third-party calculations and should be considered estimates. Actual nutrition content will vary based on brands used, measuring methods, portion sizes, and more.
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- Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers
This is one of my favorite recipes from my Sicilian culture but I haven’t made it in a long time. Thanks for the reminder and also a little different twist on it!
I love when I can use my slow cooker! I am excited to try this out. It looks like an amazing dish.
This is so good! I put them on some toasted sub rolls and made sandwiches. Delicious.
Slow cooker meals like this are such a help when the day gets away from you. Browning the sausage first feels like a small step that probably adds loads of flavour, and I liked that you gave a few different ways to serve it too. I could easily see this becoming a regular dinner.
Excellent Recipe and great write up! Will add this to my list of favourites 😍
First time I’ve tried sausages in a slow cooker. Was absolutely delicious and a hit with the family.
This sounds like a great recipe to make on a busy days as it doesn’t need much prep or attention. I love that there are also minimal ingredients but it’s full of flavour. Switching the sausages or changing the accompaniment means you can make it a few times in a week without it feeling samey which really does help!!!
This slow cooker sausage and peppers recipe looks wonderfully comforting. I like you simple ingredients, rich flavors, and effortless preparation make it perfect for busy family weeknight dinners.
This looks like such an easy and comforting meal! I love that the slow cooker does all the hard work, and the sausage with peppers is always a winning combination
Oh wow I love how juicy and flavor rich these sausages look! Such a comforting and easy to do dish for a week night where slow cooker does most of the work.
Love the recipe for its simple prep time and no exotic ingredients. Wish there was a vegetarian version of this for my family and friends.
That dish looks so moist and delicious I could almost taste the deliciousness. I haven’t used a slow cooker in decades but I love how well it prepares dishes.
We’re trying to cut back on red meat, so I think I’ll give this recipe a try using chicken sausage instead. I love the idea of adding cheese and fresh basil, and I can already imagine it served in a sandwich. It sounds so good! Thanks for sharing this slow cooker sausage and peppers recipe. Gosh, your post made me hungry!