This Crockpot Sausage and Peppers is an easy slow cooker dinner you’ll want to make on repeat! Juicy Italian sausage, colorful bell peppers, and a rich tomato sauce simmer together all day for a meal that’s packed with flavor and practically effortless. Serve it on hoagie rolls, over pasta or rice, or spoon it over creamy mashed potatoes for an easy family dinner everyone will love.
I love a good dump-and-go slow cooker dinner, especially on those mornings when I know the afternoon is going to get away from me. A few minutes of prep is all it takes, and by dinnertime the sausage is perfectly cooked, the peppers are tender, and the tomato sauce is full of rich, slow-cooked flavor.
One of my favorite things about this recipe is how many ways you can serve it. Pile it onto hoagie rolls for an easy sandwich, spoon it over pasta, rice, or mashed potatoes, or enjoy it just as it is. It’s one of those dependable dinners that’s simple enough for a busy weeknight but delicious enough to make again and again.
Why I LOVE this recipe!
- It’s a true dump-and-go dinner – Slice, layer, and walk away. The crockpot does everything from here, no babysitting required.
- Incredibly versatile – Serve it as a sandwich, over rice, over pasta, over mashed potatoes! This sausage and veggies recipe works just about any way you want to serve it, which makes it a weeknight hero.
- Big flavor with simple ingredients – Crushed tomatoes, garlic, balsamic vinegar, and Italian seasoning come together into a deeply flavorful sauce that tastes like it simmered on the stove for hours.
- Perfect for feeding a crowd – Two pounds of sausage links make plenty for the whole family, and it scales up easily for gatherings, game days, or meal prep!
Recipe Notes
This crock pot sausage and peppers recipe is as simple as promised! Just a few minutes of slicing vegetables and the slow cooker takes it from there, making it ideal for a family-friendly dinner any night of the week.
In this section I am going to go through a few tips and tricks I use for how to make slow cooker sausage and peppers to get the absolute best and most delicious results.
Make sure to scroll to the bottom for the FULL recipe card.
Ingredients + Substitutions
- Yellow onion – One large yellow onion, thinly sliced, adds a natural sweetness as it cooks down slowly in the crockpot. White onion or sweet Vidalia onion work just as well.
- Bell peppers – A mix of green, red, and yellow peppers gives you the best balance of flavor and a beautiful pop of color. Feel free to use all of one color if that’s what you have!
- Sweet Italian sausage links – If your family likes a little heat, hot Italian sausage is a fantastic swap, or use a mix of both! You can also use turkey Italian sausage links for a lighter option.
- Crushed tomatoes – San Marzano crushed tomatoes are especially great here for their deep, slightly sweet flavor. Marinara sauce also works in a pinch.
- Balsamic vinegar – Just one tablespoon adds a subtle depth and slight sweetness that rounds out the flavors. Don’t skip it!
- Garlic – Jarred minced garlic works in a pinch, use about 1½ teaspoons.
- Italian seasoning – One tablespoon of homemade Italian seasoning is absolutely worth making if you haven’t tried it yet! Otherwise, use your favorite store-bought blend.
- Dried oregano – A little extra oregano deepens the herbal flavor of the sauce.
Make sure to see the recipe card at the bottom of this post for the full quantities and ingredients list.
Recipe Variations
If you love this recipe as much as we do and want some quick ways to change it up for variety, these little tips will do the trick!
- Spicy Sausage Peppers – Use hot Italian sausage links instead of mild, and add a pinch of red pepper flakes to the tomato sauce for a version with a real kick.
- Sausage, Peppers, and Mushrooms – Add a generous handful of sliced mushrooms to the crockpot along with the peppers and onions. They’ll soak up all that incredible sauce and add a hearty, meaty texture.
- Classic Sausage and Peppers – If you want dinner quick, you can skip using the crockpot and follow my stovetop sausage and peppers recipe instead!
Recipe Step by Step
I am going to highlight a few key steps in the recipe here, but make sure to jump down to the recipe card for comprehensive instructions on how to make crockpot sausage and peppers.
Thinly slice the onion and bell peppers. Lay them in the bottom of the slow cooker.
Lay the sausage links on top of the peppers and onions.
Pour the crushed tomatoes and vinegar over the sausage then top with garlic, Italian seasoning, and oregano. Use a spoon to stir the seasonings and vinegar into the tomatoes.
Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high, or 4-5 hours on low. Once done, mix the contents of the slow cooker well and garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley if desired. Serve on hoagie rolls, or over rice or potatoes.
Recipe Tips
- Don’t pierce the sausages – I recommend keeping the links whole while they cook, since piercing them lets all the flavorful juices escape into the sauce rather than staying locked inside the sausage for a juicier result. If you want to, you can slice them for easier serving later, but I prefer to keep them whole!
- Slice the vegetables thinly and evenly – The thinner and more uniform your pepper and onion slices, the more evenly they’ll cook and the silkier they’ll become by the time dinner is ready.
- Stir everything together at the end – Once the cook time is up, give the crockpot a good stir to ensure all the sauce, peppers, and onions are mixed together.
- Let it rest with the lid off for a few minutes – If your sauce looks a little thin, crack the lid and let the crockpot sit on low for 10 to 15 minutes, it’ll thicken up nicely without any extra steps.
Recipe Short Cuts
If you need to make this recipe, but are extra short on time, here are a few ideas that can help make this recipe even faster!
- Use pre-sliced peppers and onions – Many grocery stores sell bags of pre-sliced stir-fry peppers and onions in the produce section. Just open the bag and dump them right in!
- Prep it the night before – Slice all the vegetables and store them in an airtight container in the fridge. In the morning, just layer everything in the crockpot and turn it on.
- Use jarred minced garlic – Skip peeling and mincing fresh garlic and use pre-minced garlic instead.
- Serve over instant rice or store-bought hoagie rolls – No need to cook anything elaborate on the side. Instant rice or a bag of hoagie rolls from the bakery section keeps dinner on the table fast.
Freezer Meal Instructions
Making this crockpot sausage and peppers recipe into a freezer meal is simple! Follow the steps below and you can store this recipe in the freezer for up to 6 months.
To freeze before cooking
- Add all of the ingredients to a large gallon-sized freezer bag or freezer-safe container — sausage links, sliced peppers, sliced onion, crushed tomatoes, balsamic vinegar, garlic, and seasonings.
- Seal well, pressing out as much air as possible, then label with the date and cooking instructions.
- Freeze for up to 6 months. When ready to cook, thaw overnight in the refrigerator, then pour the contents into the slow cooker and cook as directed.
How to Freeze Crockpot Sausage and Peppers After Cooking
- Allow the cooked sausage and peppers to cool completely to room temperature before transferring to storage containers.
- Portion into meal-sized freezer-safe airtight containers or heavy-duty freezer bags, making sure to include plenty of the tomato sauce with each portion.
- Freeze for up to 2 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and warm gently on the stovetop over medium-low heat, or microwave in 60-second intervals until heated through.
What to Serve with Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
Since this protein based dinner has the hearty, classic flavors of Italian sausage in a rich tomato sauce, it pairs beautifully with a wide variety of sides, from crusty bread to creamy potatoes.
Choose one or several of these side dishes to create a wholesome, well-rounded dinner. There are both classic options and some healthy options to keep it light.
Side Dish Ideas
Crockpot Sausage and Peppers Leftovers
If you have leftovers after making this recipe, then it is your lucky day! They save and reheat well, and can make the start of another delicious dish.
To save leftovers, separate into meal sized portions and then place in an airtight container and store:
- in the refrigerator for 3-4 days
- in the freezer up to a month
Leftover Recipes
Here are a few ways to repurpose those leftovers and give them a delicious makeover!
- Sausage and Pepper Pasta – Chop or slice the leftover sausage and toss everything with your favorite cooked pasta for an easy, saucy pasta dinner.
- Sausage and Pepper Stuffed Baked Potatoes – Split open a fluffy baked potato and pile it high with reheated sausage, peppers, and sauce, then top with shredded mozzarella and a sprinkle of parmesan for a hearty, satisfying meal with almost no extra effort.
- Sausage and Pepper Rice Bowl – Reheat leftovers and serve over fluffy white or brown rice, topped with a sprinkle of parmesan!
Recipe FAQ’s
What are some common mistakes when slow cooking sausage?
The biggest mistakes are piercing the sausage links before cooking (which lets all those delicious juices escape) and lifting the lid during cooking, which releases heat and steam and can add time to your cook.
Do I have to cook sausage before putting it in a crockpot?
Nope, that’s one of the great things about this recipe! The sausage links cook perfectly right in the slow cooker without any pre-browning, making this a true dump-and-go dinner.
How long does it take to cook sausage in a crockpot on high?
Italian sausage links cook on high in the crockpot in about 3–4 hours! You’ll know they’re done when they reach an internal temperature of 160°F and the peppers and onions are completely tender and silky.
Can I cook this on high to save time?
Absolutely! Cooking on high for 3–4 hours will give you the same delicious results as cooking on low for 4–5 hours. Just make sure the sausages reach an internal temperature of 160°F and the peppers are fully tender before serving.
More EASY Crockpot Recipes
If you enjoyed this recipe, I really hope you will take a moment to grab a few more easy recipes for another busy night!
You can check out all of my easy crockpot recipes here, or see a few of our readers favorite recipes below.
- Slow Cooker Stuffed Peppers
- Crockpot Steak Bites
- Crockpot Sausage and Potatoes
- Slow Cooker Spaghetti Sauce
Crockpot Sausage and Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced
- 3 bell peppers, green, red, yellow
- 2 pounds mild Italian sausage links, (about 8)
- 28 ounces crushed tomatoes
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
Instructions
- Thinly slice the onion and bell peppers. Lay them in the bottom of the slow cooker.
- Lay the sausage links on top of the peppers and onions. Pour the crushed tomatoes and vinegar over the sausage then top with garlic, Italian seasoning, and oregano. Use a spoon to stir the seasonings and vinegar into the tomatoes.
- Cover and cook for 3-4 hours on high, or 4-5 hours on low.
- Once done, mix the contents of the slow cooker well and garnish with parmesan cheese and parsley if desired. Serve on hoagie rolls, or over rice or potatoes.
Recipe Notes
- 8 hoagie rolls
- 1/4 cup grated parmesan cheese
- 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
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