Italian Sausage, Onions and Peppers Skillet

This easy Italian sausage onions and peppers skillet for beginners recipe is always my favorite recipe to make dinner with little fuss and very little cleanup! If you love both sausage and veggies, such as bell peppers, you’re going to absolutely love this one. I swear, it’s the best Italian sausage onions and peppers skillet recipe I’ve ever tried. It’s so memorable, I serve it often for my family, and hardly ever have any leftovers.

It’s so good, you’ll definitely want to have more than one serving! You can also make this recipe with other meat-based dishes or serve it on its own. It’s hearty, comforting, and even a bit spicy. You can try variations with this simple Italian sausage onions and peppers skillet meal, making it your own for your family.

You can also make this family friendly Italian sausage onions and peppers skillet to suit even the pickiest of eaters. The flavors melded together are truly out of this world, and one for the books. Don’t miss out on this quick Italian sausage onions and peppers skillet recipe! It’s sure to be a hit with your household.

Sausage with peppers and onions is an old school Italian recipe I love. I swear if I close my eyes the aroma is sending me to the Feast in Little Italy NYC!

Scroll to bottom for printable recipe card.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

• It’s a little spicy but not too spicy.
• It’s a great way to get some vegetables into your diet.
• It makes a quick and tasty meal by itself. 
• You can add or remove peppers and ingredients to make this a healthy Italian sausage onions and peppers skillet version that everyone in your family enjoys.

Ingredients:

• 2 Tbsp. olive oil
• 19.5 oz hot or mild turkey or pork Italian sausage
• 2 red bell peppers, cut into thick chunks
• 2 green bell peppers, cut into thick chunks
• 2 yellow peppers, cut into thick chunks
• 1 large yellow onion, cut into small chunks
• 1/2 tsp. Italian herb blend
• ½ tsp. Cayenne pepper
• ½ tsp. Smoked paprika
• ½ tsp. Dried Parsley
• fresh-ground black pepper to taste
• 1/2 cup grated Mozzarella

Ingredient Notes & Substitutions

Italian sausage: You can use chorizo instead of Italian sausage. Season with cilantro, wrap it in tortillas and have fajitas. Use ground turkey if you want to reduce the calories and fat in this skillet. Ground turkey will make this recipe even healthier with added peppers and onions. For a healthy Italian sausage onions and peppers skillet version, opt for ground turkey.

Mozzarella cheese: Asiago can be substituted for mozzarella, or you can use a blend if you like. An Italian blend will work perfectly if you’re using Italian sausage with this skillet recipe.

Yellow onion: I recommend a yellow onion because of its sweetness and how well it goes with various types of peppers. You can also swap the yellow onion for onion powder over the peppers and sausage, if you’re not a fan of the onion’s texture.

Cayenne pepper: You can add or omit cayenne pepper based on how spicy you want your skillet meal to taste. If you want to try something new, opt for a Cajun seasoning blend, such as Slap Ya Mama!

Olive oil: While olive oil is a bit healthier and lower in calories, you can swap it for butter if you’re going for a buttery taste.

How to Make It

Step 1. Preheat the oven to 375F. While your oven is preheating, you can determine which homemade Italian sausage onions and peppers skillet ideas are best for your recipe. Every household will likely have different preferences, especially when it comes to flavorings and choosing the right type of peppers and onions!

Step 2. Heat a little olive oil in a large cast-iron pan. Ensure your pan is at medium to medium-high. Avoid burning the oil or causing it to smoke too much.

Step 3. Start to brown the sausage over medium-high heat, turning occasionally to brown on all sides. Browning the Italian sausage will add mega flavor to this skillet meal.

Step 4. Set the sausage to the side once the browning is complete.

Step 5. Add the peppers and onions to the cast iron pan over medium-high heat.

Step 6. Cook until just until they’re starting to soften, about 4 minutes.

Step 7. Season the peppers with Italian herbs, cayenne, smoked paprika, and black pepper.

Step 8. Toss to evenly coat.

Step 9. Layer the browned sausage over the peppers mix and sprinkle with the desired amount of grated mozzarella.

Step 10. Bake for 25 minutes.

Step 11. Serve hot.

Enjoy!

 

Now, remember to save this recipe on Pinterest for later 🙂

Tips for Success

As with any skillet meal, start with a preheated skillet. Let the peppers and onions cook a bit before adding seasonings. Don’t be shy about taking a little taste to see if it needs more seasoning.

Storage & Reheating

You can keep this Italian sausage skillet in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 or 4 days, safely.

The leftovers make for a great protein bowl for lunch. Put them in the microwave for a minute, stir and then another minute. You can also reheat these on the stove over medium heat for approximately 10 minutes, or until they’re warmed up.

It’s possible to freeze this mix for up to 2 months using airtight containers, or a freezer-safe Ziploc bag!

Serving Suggestions

This is a dish best served hot. It’s a great dinner entree but it may be welcome at an Italian-themed luncheon. A cool side salad (such as a cucumber, tomato, and avocado salad) can provide a varied plate. 

Garlic bread may nicely balance out this meal of meat, vegetables and cheese. Zinfandel is excellent for any pork, but a smoky Italian sausage may pair with Sicilian and Paglian red wines.  If you’re feeling extra creative in the kitchen, you can also try our stuffed garlic bread with this skillet meal. Mmm mmm good!

FAQs

How long do you sauté the vegetables?

How soft do you want them? Ten minutes is the minimum, but you can go for fifteen to twenty minutes. 

Can I make this ahead of time for a gathering?

This dish is really best served directly from skillet to dish. 

Notes

This is the perfect skillet meal or side, especially if you’re watching what you eat or you’re searching for a complete skillet recipe that delivers plenty of nutrition.

Related Recipes you Might Enjoy:

Cheesy Italian Sausage Bake with Peppers  A similar dish that can be made in the oven. 

Hamburger Pepper and Onion Gyros The above recipe with a Greek twist. (No pun intended.) 

Pasta Pesto Salad  A good side dish for this recipe.