This Oven Baked Italian Sausage is cooked over a bed of sweet bell peppers, onions, garlic, and tomato sauce for an easy, flavorful dinner. The sausages turn out juicy and tender, while the vegetables cook down into a rich sauce that is perfect for serving over pasta or spooning into an Italian sausage sandwich.
Everything goes into one baking dish with just a few minutes of preparation. The sausage cooks covered first, allowing the peppers and onions to soften and release their juices into the tomato sauce. Then, the dish is uncovered so the sausages can brown and the sauce can reduce.
I like to keep simple meals simple, so I would just make a really basic salad like Lemon Arugula Salad or dress up a bag salad mix with homemade Italian Salad Dressing.
Jump to:
Why You'll Love This Recipe
This is one of those easy Italian dinners that practically makes itself. The best part is that the sausage and sauce cook together, so there is no need to brown the sausage separately or make a sauce on the stovetop.
As the peppers and onions cook, they release their natural juices and mix with the tomato sauce, garlic, and sausage drippings. The result is tender Italian sausage with plenty of flavorful sauce for sandwiches, pasta, or a simple dinner with crusty bread.
Ingredients
- Italian Sausage: Use fresh Italian sausage links, mild, sweet, or hot. Leave the links whole so they stay juicy as they bake.
- Bell Peppers: A combination of red and green bell peppers adds color and sweetness to the sauce.
- Yellow Onion: Thinly sliced onion becomes soft and sweet as it cooks with the peppers.
- Garlic: Whole smashed garlic cloves add flavor to the sauce without overpowering it.
- Olive Oil: Helps coat the vegetables and adds richness.
- Tomato Sauce: Use plain tomato sauce as the base. It will thin out as the vegetables release their juices, then reduce slightly during the uncovered baking time.
- Basil: Fresh basil adds a classic Italian flavor. Dried basil works just as well.
- Salt, Pepper, and Red Chili Flakes: Season the vegetables and add a little heat if desired.
See recipe card for quantities.
How to Bake Italian Sausage in the Oven
Prepare the Peppers and Onions
Preheat the oven to 350°F.
Slice the bell peppers and onion into thin strips and place them in a large baking dish. Add the smashed garlic cloves and olive oil. Season with salt, black pepper, and red chili flakes, then toss to coat.
Pour the tomato sauce and water over the vegetables. Add the basil and mix until everything is evenly coated.
Add the Sausage and Bake
Arrange the Italian sausage links in a single layer on top of the peppers and onions.
Cover the baking dish with parchment paper, then seal tightly with aluminum foil. The parchment creates a barrier between the acidic tomato sauce and the foil.
Bake at 350°F for 30 minutes.
Uncover and Brown the Sausage
Remove the parchment and foil. You will notice that the peppers and onions have released quite a bit of liquid, creating a flavorful sauce around the sausages.
Return the baking dish to the oven, uncovered, for 15 minutes. Turn the sausage links and bake for another 15 minutes, or until cooked through.
For extra color, turn the broiler to low and broil for 3-5 minutes, watching closely.
The sausage is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F for pork Italian sausage or 165°F for chicken or turkey sausage.
Diana's Tips for Success
- Keep the sausage links whole. There is no need to pierce the casings. Keeping them intact helps retain the juices.
- Slice the vegetables evenly. Thinly sliced peppers and onions soften nicely during the covered baking time.
- Finish under the broiler. The sausages cook through in the sauce, but a few minutes under the broiler gives them a beautifully browned exterior.
Top Tip
Don't add too much liquid. The vegetables release plenty of moisture as they cook. Just a tablespoon of water is enough to help loosen the tomato sauce at the beginning.
Serving Suggestions
My favorite way to serve these oven baked Italian sausages is in a toasted Italian roll. Add a sausage link and pile on the soft peppers and onions, then spoon some of the tomato sauce over everything. The sauce soaks into the bread and makes a fantastic Italian sausage sandwich.
You can also serve the sausages over pasta, creamy polenta, or alongside roasted potatoes. Add a simple green salad and some crusty bread to soak up the extra sauce.
For a quicker stovetop version without tomato sauce, try my Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions. This skillet version uses red wine vinegar for a bright, tangy finish.
Storage and Reheating
Store leftover Italian sausage with the peppers and tomato sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
Reheat in a covered skillet over medium-low heat until warmed through. Add a splash of water if the sauce has thickened. Leftovers can also be reheated in the microwave.
For longer storage, freeze the cooked sausage and sauce in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months for best quality.
Related
Looking for more delicious sausage recipes? Try these:
- Sausage Green Bean and Potato Skillet
- Sous Vide Sausage with Beer Gravy
- Spanish Chorizo and White Bean Stew
Stay in the Know! Follow Delicious by Design on Facebook for new recipes and cooking tips! Love this recipe? Leave a 5 Star Review!
📖 Recipe
Oven Baked Italian Sausage
Ingredients
- 1½ cups green bell peppers seeded and sliced
- 1½ cups red bell peppers seeded and sliced
- 1 large yellow onion thinly sliced
- 4 large cloves garlic smashed
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon water
- 1 small bundle fresh basil or 1 teaspoon dried basil
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ¼ teaspoon red chili flakes optional
- 1½ -2 pounds fresh Italian sausage links mild or spicy
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350°F.
- Place the sliced bell peppers, onion, and smashed garlic cloves in a large baking dish. Add olive oil, salt, black pepper, and optional red chili flakes. Toss to coat.
- Add tomato sauce, water, and basil. Toss until the vegetables are evenly coated.
- Arrange the Italian sausage links in a single layer over the vegetables. Cover with parchment paper, then seal tightly with aluminum foil.
- Bake covered for 30 minutes.
- Remove the parchment and foil. Bake uncovered for 15 minutes, then turn the sausages and bake for another 15 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 160°F for pork sausage or 165°F for poultry sausage.
- Broil on low for 3-5 minutes to brown the sausage, watching closely.
- Serve with the peppers, onions, and tomato sauce.
Notes
- Use mild, sweet, or hot Italian sausage according to your preference.
- Cooking times may vary depending on the thickness of the sausage.
- The peppers and onions release liquid during baking, creating a flavorful sauce.
- Serve in toasted Italian rolls or over pasta.
- Refrigerate leftovers for up to 4 days.
Nutrition
Never miss a new recipe from Delicious by Design! Sign-up below for weekly recipes directly in your inbox.
Leave a Reply