Sausage, onions and peppers is a lovely, basic, classic dish. It’s so easy to make, because you start in a pan and finish it in a Crock Pot. This is great, because the Crock Pot allows you to keep the dish warm as long as you want. You can also use it to transport this dish to a party, making this recipe great for a potluck.
This recipe will serve 4 to 6 people.
- 1 to 1 1/2 pounds Italian sausage, half sweet and half spicy
- About 1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 orange bell pepper
- 2 medium yellow onions
- 1 tsp. kosher salt
- 1 tsp. fresh ground black pepper
- 1/2 tsp. fresh thyme
- 1/2 cup chopped basil
- 5 cloves garlic, sliced thin
- 2 tbsp. tomato paste
- 1 cup marsala wine
- 1 15 oz. can pureed tomatoes
- 1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes
Cut the onions in half then slice them. Slice the peppers into strips. Peel the garlic then slice it paper thin.
Heat the oil in a pan over medium-low heat. Cook the sausages on all sides until they are browned. This should take about 15 to 20 minutes, but watch them closely. You don’t want the oil to burn or the sausages to be undercooked. I have a Le Creuset wok, and it is actually great to use for cooking the sausage. When the sausage is finished, remove it and place it on a paper-towel-lined plate to let it cool.
Keep the heat on the pan. Add the peppers and onions. Season them with salt and pepper. Toss them so they are coated with oil. Add a little more oil if you need to. Cook the peppers and onions for about 5 minutes, until they become soft and begin to brown. Add the garlic and cook for about 1 to 2 more minutes.
Sauteeing the peppers and onions.
Reduce the heat a little and add the tomato paste. Stir it into the peppers. Add the marsala wine, pureed tomatoes, chili, thyme and basil. Stir very well. Bring the dish to a simmer. Add more salt and pepper if necessary.
Sausage in the crock pot, waiting for the peppers, onions and sauce.
Once the dish is simmering, turn off the heat. Cut the sausages into bite-sized pieces and place them in the Crock Pot. Add the tomato sauce to the Crock Pot (carefully, so it doesn’t splash all over you!) and turn it on. Heat everything together, stirring occasionally. Continue simmering on low for at least 1 hour. Serve! You can keep the Crock Pot on low so the dish stays warm.
Simmering in the crock pot.
Serve your sausage, onions and peppers in bowls with slices of fresh Italian bread (to dip in the sauce). Or, get some nice Italian rolls and load them up and eat this as a delicious (if somewhat messy) sandwich. You can also use the leftovers to make a calzone, or serve it over pasta.
Ready to eat!
