The Perfect 30-Minute Sausage and Peppers Recipe for Busy Nights

Air fryer sausage and peppers bring a sizzling symphony of robust flavors straight to your plate.

Italian-inspired comfort food gets a modern twist with this crispy, health-conscious cooking method.

Succulent sausages upgrade into golden-brown delights, while colorful peppers caramelize and develop deep, rich undertones.

Minimal oil meets maximum taste in this quick weeknight solution that satisfies hearty appetites.

Each bite promises a perfect balance of smoky, sweet, and spicy elements that dance across your palate.

Home cooks appreciate how this technique simplifies traditional recipes without compromising quality or taste.

Dinner just got more delicious and considerably easier.

Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers: A Simple, Flavor-Packed Dish

• Unleash Quick Flavor Explosion: This air fryer recipe transforms simple ingredients into a mouthwatering meal in just 12-14 minutes, making it perfect for busy weeknights or spontaneous gatherings.
• Enjoy Hassle-Free Cooking Method: The air fryer technique ensures even cooking, crispy edges, and minimal cleanup, allowing you to spend less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your delicious meal.
• Savor Balanced Nutritional Punch: Packed with 15g of protein, 5g of fiber, and a mix of colorful peppers and hearty sausage, this dish offers a satisfying balance of nutrients that keeps you full and energized.
• Create Customizable Comfort Food: Easily adapt the recipe by switching sausage types, experimenting with different pepper varieties, or adjusting seasonings to suit your taste preferences and dietary needs.

What You’ll Need for Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers

Main Ingredients:

• Sausage: Hearty protein that provides rich flavor and satisfying texture, choose Italian or your favorite variety for best results.
• Bell Peppers: Sweet and colorful vegetable that adds crunch and vibrant flavor, mix red, yellow, and green for visual appeal.
• Onions: Classic aromatic that enhances overall taste and provides natural sweetness, white or yellow onions work perfectly.

• Olive Oil: Helps ingredients cook evenly and prevents sticking, use extra virgin for better flavor.
• Garlic: Adds depth and aromatic quality to the dish, fresh minced or granulated both work well.
• Salt: Essential for balancing and highlighting other flavors, kosher or sea salt recommended.
• Black Pepper: Provides subtle heat and complexity, freshly ground preferred.

• Extra Garlic: Allows customization of final flavor intensity after cooking.
• Additional Salt: Permits final seasoning adjustment to personal taste preference.
• Additional Black Pepper: Enables final spice level modification according to individual liking.

How to Cook Sausage and Peppers to Perfection in the Air Fryer

Step 1: Prepare Ingredients

Gather all ingredients and slice sausage into bite-sized pieces. Chop peppers and onions into similar-sized chunks.

• Sausage
• Bell peppers
• Onions
• Olive oil
• Seasonings

Step 2: Mix and Coat

Toss sausage, peppers, and onions in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle seasonings. Stir thoroughly to ensure even coating.

Step 3: Load Air Fryer

Transfer the seasoned mixture into the air fryer basket. Spread ingredients loosely without overcrowding, allowing heat to circulate evenly.

Step 4: Cook to Perfection

Set air fryer to 400°F. Cook for 12 minutes, gently shaking or stirring halfway through to promote even browning. For extra crispy edges, add 2 more minutes of cooking time.

Step 5: Serve and Enjoy

Carefully remove sausage and peppers from air fryer. Taste and adjust seasonings with additional garlic, salt, and pepper if desired. Serve hot and savor the delicious meal.

Storing Air Fried Sausage and Peppers to Keep Them Fresh

• Refrigeration: Store your cooked sausage and peppers in an airtight container within two hours of cooking. Keep the leftovers refrigerated for up to 3-4 days, ensuring maximum freshness and food safety.
• Air Fryer Reheating: Warm your leftovers directly in the air fryer at 350°F for 3-4 minutes. Spread the mixture evenly in the basket, which helps maintain the original crispiness and prevents soggy edges. Shake the basket halfway through reheating to distribute heat uniformly.
• Microwave Option: When you're short on time, reheat in the microwave for 1-2 minutes, stirring halfway through. Cover the dish with a microwave-safe lid or paper towel to retain moisture and prevent splattering.

Serve Your Sausage and Peppers with These Side Dishes

• Elevate with Italian Red Wine: Pair this robust sausage and peppers dish with a bold Chianti or Sangiovese, complementing the rich, spicy flavors of the sausage and bringing out the sweetness of the roasted peppers.
• Serve on Crusty Bread: Transform the sausage and peppers into a mouthwatering sandwich by loading it onto a fresh, crispy Italian roll or ciabatta, creating a hearty meal that captures classic street food vibes.
• Match with Tangy Salad: Balance the richness of the sausage with a crisp side salad featuring arugula, cherry tomatoes, and a zesty lemon vinaigrette, cutting through the dish's intensity and adding a fresh counterpoint.
• Cool Down with Beer: Crack open a cold, hoppy IPA or a smooth amber ale to enhance the smoky, spicy notes of the sausage while providing a refreshing contrast to the dish's warmth.

Experiment with Variations of Sausage and Peppers

• Spicy Southwest Sausage: Replace standard seasonings with chili powder, cumin, and smoked paprika. Add jalapeños and black beans for extra heat and protein.
• Mediterranean Style Mix: Swap bell peppers for zucchini and eggplant. Season with oregano, thyme, and sprinkle crumbled feta cheese after cooking for a Greek-inspired version.
• Italian Herb Fusion: Use Italian sausage and add chopped sun-dried tomatoes. Season with basil, rosemary, and a splash of balsamic vinegar for rich Mediterranean flavor profiles.
• Low-Carb Veggie Packed Option: Replace sausage with chicken sausage and increase vegetable variety. Include mushrooms, cauliflower florets, and red cabbage for a nutrient-dense alternative.

Tips for Making the Most Flavorful Sausage and Peppers

• Slice Uniformly: Cut sausage and vegetables into similar-sized pieces to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the dish.
• Avoid Overcrowding: Leave enough space between ingredients in the air fryer basket to allow hot air circulation, preventing steaming and promoting crispy edges.
• Shake and Rotate: Toss the mixture halfway through cooking to guarantee all sides get golden brown and prevent sticking to the basket.
• Check Internal Temperature: Use a meat thermometer to confirm sausage reaches 160°F for safe consumption, especially with fresh or raw sausages.
• Season Boldly: Don't be shy with herbs and spices; they enhance the natural flavors of sausage and peppers, creating a more robust and delicious meal.

Sausage and Peppers Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.6 from 25 reviews

• Total Time: 22 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Pin Recipe

Description

Sausage and peppers sizzle to perfection in this quick air fryer classic. Italian-inspired flavors meld effortlessly, delivering a mouthwatering meal you’ll crave again and again.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 16 ounces (453 grams) Polish sausage, kielbasa, or your choice of rope sausage or link sausages

Vegetables:

• 3 bell peppers, any color combination, seeds and stems removed, chopped into 1-inch pieces
• 0.5 large yellow or white onion, sliced into 1-inch pieces

Seasonings and Oil:

• 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) avocado oil or olive oil
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon parsley
• 0.5 teaspoon onion powder
• Pinch of salt
• Pinch of pepper

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Slice hot Italian sausage into 1/2-inch (1.27-centimeter) diagonal pieces and dice bell peppers and onions into uniform chunks for even cooking.
2. Drizzle olive oil over the sausage, peppers, and onions in a mixing bowl, then sprinkle with dried oregano, garlic powder, kosher salt, and black pepper, ensuring all ingredients are thoroughly coated.
3. Transfer the seasoned mixture to the air fryer basket, arranging the ingredients in a loose, slightly overlapping configuration to promote consistent heat circulation.
4. Set the air fryer temperature to 400°F (204°C) and cook for 10-12 minutes, gently shaking or stirring the contents halfway through the cooking process to promote even browning.
5. Check the internal temperature of the sausage, which should reach 160°F (71°C) for safe consumption, and verify that the vegetables are tender and slightly caramelized.
6. Once cooked, carefully remove the sausage and vegetable mixture from the air fryer, allowing it to rest for 2-3 minutes to redistribute the internal juices.
7. Taste and adjust seasoning with additional herbs or spices if desired, then serve hot alongside your preferred accompaniments like rice, pasta, or crusty bread.

Notes

• Prep ingredients quickly by slicing sausage and chopping peppers and onions in advance for faster cooking.
• Choose high-quality Italian sausage for maximum flavor and rich, robust taste in the final dish.
• Tossing ingredients midway ensures even cooking and prevents any pieces from burning or sticking.
• Extra cooking time creates crispy edges and caramelized surfaces on sausage and vegetables.
• Serve immediately with crusty bread, over pasta, or in a hoagie roll for a complete meal.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 12 minutes
• Category: Dinner, Lunch
• Method: Frying
• Cuisine: Italian

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 320 kcal
• Sugar: 4g
• Sodium: 1200mg
• Fat: 24g
• Saturated Fat: 8g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14g
• Trans Fat: 0g
• Carbohydrates: 18g
• Fiber: 5g
• Protein: 15g
• Cholesterol: 60mg