Description
This Baked Italian Sausage and Peppers recipe features colorful bell peppers, sweet onions, and savory Italian sausages baked together with Italian seasoning and olive oil, finished with marinara sauce, fresh basil, and Parmesan cheese for a delicious and easy meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Vegetables
- 4 bell peppers (any color), sliced
- 2 white onions, sliced
Protein
- 1 pound Italian sausage (sweet, mild, or hot)
Seasonings & Oils
- 2 Tablespoons olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt (omit if your seasoning has salt)
Sauce & Garnish
- 1½ cups marinara sauce (for dipping and baking)
- Basil (fresh, for serving)
- Parmesan cheese (grated, for serving)
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit to prepare for baking the ingredients evenly.
- Prepare Vegetables and Sausage: Spread the sliced bell peppers and onions on a large sheet pan. Toss them with olive oil, Italian seasoning, and kosher salt. Nestle the Italian sausages among the vegetables on the pan.
- Initial Bake: Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes. Remove the pan, then flip the sausages and stir the peppers and onions to ensure even cooking and to prevent burning.
- Add Marinara and Continue Baking: Pour the marinara sauce into an oven-safe bowl and place it on the oven rack. Return the pan with the vegetables and sausages to the oven and bake for an additional 15 minutes or until the sausages are fully cooked through.
- Garnish and Serve: Remove everything from the oven and top with fresh basil leaves and grated Parmesan cheese before serving.
Notes
- Use a mix of colored bell peppers for a vibrant dish.
- If you prefer, use turkey or chicken Italian sausage for a leaner option.
- Omit or reduce salt if your Italian seasoning contains salt to avoid oversalting.
- Marinara sauce can be served on the side for dipping or poured over the cooked sausages and vegetables.
- Fresh basil and Parmesan cheese add brightness and creamy saltiness — substitute with vegan cheese and fresh herbs for a vegan version.
- Use an oven-proof dish for the marinara sauce to safely heat it in the oven.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 400 kcal
- Sugar: 8 g
- Sodium: 750 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 10 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 15 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 15 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 22 g
- Cholesterol: 70 mg
