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Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers is an easy crockpot dinner recipe with sausage links, sliced bell peppers, dried seasonings, and flavorful marinara sauce. Simple to make with convenient and fresh ingredients.

Serve over rice, pasta, potatoes, or grab some hoagie rolls and make sandwiches – this is my family’s preferred way to eat this sausage dinner recipe.

A white slow cooker with sausages in tomato sauce and tongs.

Easy Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers Recipe

This simple slow cooker dinner recipe for crock pot sausage, peppers, and onions is bursting with tons of flavor all thanks to some convenient, store-bought ingredients.

Canned marinara sauce is a fabulous shortcut to infuse the sausage and peppers with delicious tomato flavors. Sausage is a flavor packed power house and as it simmers in the slow cooker, all the flavors just perfectly meld together.

Top close up view of the sausages and peppers in marinara sauce.

The sausage is tender and so juicy! Slice up some bell peppers and onion, and then layer everything in the slow cooker and let it do all the work. My family loves the sausage, peppers, onion, and some sauce from the slow cooker inside hoagie rolls – think hot dog style. Or use any bread or bun you prefer.

Sausages and peppers inside hoagies rolls for a sandwich.

Ingredients Needed

Sausage Links : The classic one to use is Italian sausage links (use mild or hot Italian sausages), or you can use any variety of smoked sausage links you want. Try using turkey sausage links, chicken sausage links, smoked brats, beef sausage, pork sausage, hot sausages, spicy Italian sausage, applewood smoked, cheddar, etc. Really anything works in this recipe. My family prefers the texture of the smoked sausages which come in a pack of 6. The Italian sausage links come in a pack of 5 and they are raw versus the smoked sausage which is smoked/cooked.
Yellow Onion or Sweet Onion : Both of these onions are mild in flavor which pairs well with the zesty sausage and bell peppers. I use a sweet onion.
Red Bell Pepper, Green Bell Pepper, Yellow Bell Pepper : The recipe calls for sliced bell peppers. I love the mix of green bell peppers, red bell peppers, and a yellow bell pepper but feel free to use any combination of bell peppers you love.
Marinara Sauce : Use your favorite store-bought pasta sauce/marinra sauce in this recipe. Any variety, flavor works just fine. You can even use homemade marinara sauce leftover from another dinner, or if you have some in the freezer.
Garlic : Use fresh garlic cloves that have been minced or pressed, or use the equivalent to 3 cloves if using garlic paste or chopped garlic from a jar.
Kosher Salt & Black Pepper
Italian Seasoning
Crushed Red Pepper Flakes : These are optional and add some mild heat and flavor. If you want the flavor, but not the heat, add the amount called for in the recipe. Use more if you want some spicy heat. You could also omit it entirely if wanted (I’ve done that lots of times).

How To Make Crockpot Sausage and Peppers (Printable Recipe Card)

Spray the inside of a 6 Qt to 8 QT slow cooker with nonstick cooking spray, or drizzle some olive oil into the slow cooker to prevent the sausages from sticking.

Place the sausages in the bottom of the slow cooker in a single layer.

Add the sliced onion, and sliced bell peppers over top the sausages evenly.

Pour the marinara sauce evenly over top the peppers and onions. Sprinkle all the dried seasonings on top of the marinara sauce. Do not stir! Layering the ingredients keeps the sausages juicy and helps the peppers steam evenly.

Cover with the lid and cook on LOW heat for 4-5 hours or HIGH heat for 2-3 hours. Make sure the sausage links have reached an internal temperature of 165 degrees F before serving.

Serve the saucy peppers and sausage inside hoagie rolls for a sandwich, over rice or pasta, or over mashed potatoes. Enjoy!

How To Store Leftovers of Sausage and Peppers

Store leftovers inside an airtight container, in the refrigerator, for up to 3-4 days. Be sure and add some extra sauce from the slow cooker to ensure that the leftovers stay juicy while reheating.

To reheat, put leftovers (including the extra sauce) into a saucepan, and heat over medium heat until warmed through.

The finished dish also freezes really well. The sausages keep their texture, and the marinara sauce holds up beautifully. The peppers and onions will soften slightly once thawed, which works great if you plan to use this for subs, pasta bowls, or rice bowls. Cool completely, then freeze in a labeled freezer bag or airtight container, for up to 2 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge and reheat gently on the stove top or in the slow cooker.

Sliced sausages on a white serving plate with peppers.

Serving Suggestions For Slow Cooker Smoked Sausage and Peppers

This is such a versatile dish with so many delicious ways of serving it. It is a great recipe that fits into a low-carb diet if needed. Here are a few ideas to get you started.

Sausage & Pepper Sandwiches : Think hot dog with this! Get some hoagie rolls, or even hot dog buns, and make sandwiches with a sausage, some peppers, and of course some of the flavorful tomato sauce.
Mashed Potatoes : Serve the sausage and peppers over some creamy mashed potatoes – try my Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Crockpot Mashed Potatoes with fresh herbs, or Boursin Mashed Potatoes.
Roasted Potatoes : Serve some roasted potatoes alongside the dish like my Parmesan Roasted Potatoes or Garlic Parmesan Sweet Potatoes.
Pasta Bowls : Cook up your favorite pasta and top it with a sausage, peppers, and some extra pasta sauce from the slow cooker.
Rice Bowls : Make some white rice, brown rice, cauliflower rice, and make bowls from the recipe. Top it with some extra sauce such as garlic mayo or something else you love.
As Is : This recipe is super delicious on it’s own – eaten as is! Some people love to dip the sausages in cottage cheese, mustard, or whatever other sauce you love.

Inside of the white slow cooker showing the sausages and peppers and onions.

My Tips From The Kitchen

Add any additional seasonings as wanted – cajun seasoning blend, a bbq seasoning blend from Kinders brand (I love their seasoning mixes), or just additional garlic powder or onion powder are always great choices. The sausages themselves are very flavorful so we love the recipe as is, but it’s a very adaptable recipe to what you prefer. Using Italian style sausages is preferred because of the marinara sauce + Italian seasoning.
For a spicy flavor be sure and use a hot or spicy sausage, add more red pepper flakes, and you can even add a dash of hot sauce to the slow cooker as well.
Use your favorite sausage links or smoked sausage links in this recipe. There are so many varieties at the store so pick your favorite and it will work great.
Smoked sausage links come in a pack of 6. The uncooked, raw sausage links come in a pack of 5. The smoked sausage links are already cooked, but they get super tender & soft in the slow cooker (my family loves the smoked sausages). The raw Italian sausage links will obviously still cook in the slow cooker until juicy & tender, but their texture is a bit different. Use whichever you prefer.