Description
A quick and easy 30-minute weeknight dinner featuring Italian sausage, bell peppers, and marinara sauce cooked in a single skillet for minimal cleanup and maximum flavor.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds Italian sausage (sweet or hot), casings removed
- 3 medium bell peppers (red, yellow, green), sliced
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced into half-moons
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 cups marinara sauce
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 0.5 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- Crusty bread or rolls for serving
- Grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
- Fresh basil, chopped (optional)
- Mozzarella cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Slice the bell peppers and onions into half-moons and mince the garlic.
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and add the olive oil.
- Remove sausage from casings and break into small chunks. Brown in the skillet for 5-7 minutes until cooked through. Drain excess fat if necessary, leaving about 1 tablespoon.
- Add the sliced peppers and onions to the skillet with the sausage. Stir to coat in the fat and cook for 5-6 minutes until peppers start to soften and onions become translucent.
- Add the minced garlic, dried oregano, and red pepper flakes. Stir constantly for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Pour in the marinara sauce and stir to combine. Reduce heat to medium-low and simmer for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the sauce thickens.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper.
- If using mozzarella, sprinkle over the top, cover, and let sit for 2 minutes until melted. If using Parmesan, sprinkle on top just before serving.
- Serve immediately with crusty bread and garnish with fresh basil.
Notes
Brown the sausage well to develop flavor. Do not overcrowd the pan to ensure proper browning rather than steaming. The dish improves in flavor when stored overnight. Can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of the skillet
- Calories: 450
- Sugar: 8
- Sodium: 850
- Fat: 22
- Saturated Fat: 7
- Carbohydrates: 35
- Fiber: 4
- Protein: 25
Keywords: one-pan dinner, sausage and peppers, easy weeknight meals, Italian skillet, quick dinner, family friendly