An easy family recipe that’s wildly easy to prepare with crowd-pleasing results, my crockpot sausage and peppers requires no browning and makes a simple yet delicious slow cooker dump-and-go weeknight dinner, or a party go-to dish that’s guaranteed to please!

close up of crockpot sausage and peppers with a fork going into a black slow cooker

5 star review

“Made this last night and it was a crowd pleaser, and sooo easy! This will be a frequent meal at my house for sure, and what I bring to every potluck. Thank you!”

– Amy
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This Sausage & Peppers Dinner is so Easy in the Slow Cooker!

Okay, I’ve been holding out on you…This 4-ingredient(!!) slow cooker sausage and peppers recipe has been a staple in my kitchen for years, and I honestly thought it already held a spot here along with all my other easy dump and go slow cooker recipes.

Turns out, the recipe was still living in my head, so I set out to fix that problem as soon as possible! I originally learned this recipe from my mother-in-law, an upstate New York native, where American Italian food is taken very seriously.

She makes this crockpot sausage and peppers recipe year round, and the ease of prep makes it a staple for her during the warm summer months when they entertain a crowd of family out at the lake. Especially since there’s no pre-browning, the prep is an ultra simple chop and drop situation – plus the kitchen stays cool because you don’t have to turn on the stove or oven!

It’s also super adaptable, so you can throw in extra Italian sausage, extra sauce, and extra veggies to increase the serving size. That’s the amazing thing about it, no matter how many people you have to feed, you can stretch this recipe to make it work. It’s the perfect recipe for game day, or when you need to feed a crowd easily!

Tip: My mother-in-law occasionally adds meatballs to her sausage and peppers, so if you want to take her lead you can also add a bag of frozen, defrosted meatballs or my favorite meatballs if you like.

Welcome to My Kitchen! Let’s Make Sausage & Peppers for Dinner

sausages and sliced vegetables in a red sauce in a black slow cooker pot on a white background
sliced raw onions in a black slow cooker pot on a white background
sliced bell peppers in a black slow cooker pot on a white background
sausages and sliced vegetables in a red sauce in a black slow cooker pot on a white background
sausages and red sauce in a black slow cooker on a white background

Key Ingredients & Testing Notes

  • Sweet Italian sausage: I used uncooked (raw) sweet Italian sausage for this sausage and peppers dish in their casings. But if you prefer things a little more on the spicy side, you can use half or all spicy Italian sausage in its place – that works great for this recipe too. Pork sausage yields super tender, flavorful results in this recipe, but if you prefer not to use pork, chicken sausage will also work.
  • Bell peppers: You can use red, orange, yellow, or green bell peppers. All will taste great in this recipe! I used a mix of different colors of bell peppers but you could use all of just one too. 
  • Marinara sauce: Premade marinara sauce is such a great pantry staple and shortcut recipe ingredient, but be sure to look for a marinara sauce with really good flavor, since we’re using so few ingredients. Or, make your own. My homemade marinara can’t be beat!
  • Salt: Because of the salt in the marinara and sausages, you’ll notice that this recipe does not call for additional salt. However, because sausage and marinara brands differ in sodium, I suggest tasting the sauce at the end and adding salt if desired. 
close up of cooked crockpot sausage and peppers dinner on a white plate with fresh herbs on top
close up of crockpot sausage and peppers with a fork going into a black slow cooker
4.97 stars (29 ratings)

Crockpot Sausage & Peppers (Dump-and-Go!)

Developed and tested by A woman with long blonde hair, smiling, holds and pours a bottle of oil in a modern kitchen setting.Robyn Conley Downs
Servings: 6
Prep: 10 minutes
Cook: 4 hours
Total: 4 hours 10 minutes
Wildly easy to prepare with crowd-pleasing results, my crockpot sausage and peppers requires no browning and makes a simple weeknight dinner. It’s a party go-to, that’s guaranteed to please!
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Ingredients

  • 2 pounds sweet Italian sausage
  • 3 medium bell peppers, thinly sliced (red, orange, yellow, green, or a mix)
  • 2 medium yellow onions, thinly sliced
  • 1 (25 ounce) jar marinara sauce

Equipment

Instructions 

  • Add the sausage, bell peppers, onion, marinara, and salt to a 6-quart slow cooker.
  • Stir to combine, then cover. Cook on high for 4-5 hours or low for 7-8 hours. Do not uncover during this time.
  • Carefully remove the sausage and slice into 1-inch pieces. Add back to the slow cooker and stir. Taste, and adjust seasoning if desired.
  • Serve warm on rolls, over pasta, with bread, cooked spaghetti squash, or cauliflower rice.

Notes

  • Salt to Taste: Because of the salt in the marinara and sausages, this recipe does not call for additional salt. However, because sausage and marinara brands differ in sodium, I suggest tasting the sauce at the end and adding salt if desired. 
  • Optional Serving Suggestions: toasted sausage rolls or hoagie rolls, cooked pasta (any shape), garlic bread, shredded Italian cheese blend, parmesan cheese.
Course: Main Course
Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition Information:

Serving: 1 (of 6), Calories: 553kcal, Carbohydrates: 8g, Protein: 23g, Fat: 48g, Saturated Fat: 17g, Polyunsaturated Fat: 6g, Monounsaturated Fat: 22g, Cholesterol: 115mg, Sodium: 850mg, Potassium: 562mg, Fiber: 2g, Sugar: 4g, Vitamin A: 1864IU, Vitamin C: 82mg, Calcium: 40mg, Iron: 2mg
Nutrition disclaimer
Did you make this recipe?If you do, be sure to share it on Instagram and tag me at @realfoodwholelife so I can see!

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