Description
A set-it-and-forget-it slow cooker dinner featuring tender Italian sausage, sweet caramelized peppers, and a rich creamy sauce. Perfect for busy weeknights and easily customizable.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1.5 pounds Italian sausage (mild or hot), sliced into ½-inch rounds
- 3 medium bell peppers (red, yellow, green mix), sliced into strips
- 1 large yellow onion, sliced into half-moons
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 cup heavy cream
- ½ cup chicken broth (low-sodium)
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning (or dried oregano and basil)
- 1 teaspoon salt (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- ¼ cup grated Parmesan cheese (optional)
Instructions
- Slice the bell peppers and yellow onion into uniform strips and half-moons. Mince the garlic.
- Remove sausage from casings if necessary and slice into ½-inch rounds.
- Place the sliced sausage, peppers, onions, and minced garlic into the slow cooker.
- Sprinkle Italian seasoning, salt, black pepper, and red pepper flakes over the ingredients. Pour in the chicken broth and stir gently to distribute spices.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 6-7 hours or HIGH for 3-4 hours until peppers are tender and sausage is cooked through.
- Stir in the heavy cream (and Parmesan cheese if using).
- Cook on HIGH for an additional 15-20 minutes to allow the sauce to thicken and flavors to meld.
- Taste and adjust seasoning with salt or pepper as needed.
- Serve over egg noodles, in hoagie rolls, or over rice.
Notes
Add cream at the end of cooking to prevent curdling. If the sauce is too thin, cook uncovered on HIGH for an extra 30 minutes. This dish does not freeze well due to the dairy content; store leftovers in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat gently with a splash of milk or cream to maintain texture.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 6 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Cuisine: Italian-American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving (approx. 1
- Calories: 380
- Sugar: 6
- Sodium: 650
- Fat: 28
- Saturated Fat: 12
- Carbohydrates: 12
- Fiber: 2
- Protein: 18
Keywords: slow cooker, crockpot, sausage and peppers, creamy sausage, easy dinner, weeknight meals, one pot meal, Italian sausage, comfort food