Italian Sausage & Pepper Casserole: A Must-Try Delight! Recipe
This Italian Sausage & Pepper Casserole is a hearty and flavorful dish combining savory Italian sausage, sweet bell peppers, and a rich tomato sauce, all topped with melted mozzarella cheese and baked to perfection. It’s an easy-to-make dinner that brings comforting Italian flavors to your table.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Total Time: 50 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: Casserole
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Ingredients
Scale
Meat & Vegetables
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 2 bell peppers (red and green), sliced
- 1 onion, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Tomato Base
- 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
- 1 can (8 oz) tomato sauce
- 1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
- Salt and pepper to taste
Topping
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat Oven: Preheat your oven to 375°F (190°C) to ensure it’s ready for baking the casserole evenly.
- Cook Sausage: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the Italian sausage until it is browned and cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Sauté Vegetables: Add the sliced red and green bell peppers, chopped onion, and minced garlic to the skillet with the sausage and sauté until the vegetables become tender and fragrant.
- Add Tomato and Seasoning: Stir in the diced tomatoes, tomato sauce, Italian seasoning, salt, and pepper into the skillet mixture, combining everything thoroughly.
- Assemble Casserole: Transfer the sausage and vegetable mixture into a casserole dish, spreading it evenly. Then top the mixture with 1 cup of shredded mozzarella cheese to create a delicious cheesy crust.
- Bake: Place the casserole dish in the preheated oven and bake for 25-30 minutes, or until the cheese is melted, bubbly, and golden brown on top.
- Cool and Serve: Remove the casserole from the oven and let it cool for a few minutes before serving to allow the flavors to set and prevent burning.
Notes
- You can substitute mild or spicy Italian sausage depending on your heat preference.
- For a lower-fat option, use turkey Italian sausage and reduced-fat mozzarella cheese.
- Add extra Italian herbs like basil or oregano for more flavor.
- This casserole pairs well with crusty bread or over pasta.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated in the oven or microwave.
Keywords: Italian sausage casserole, sausage and peppers, baked sausage dish, easy Italian dinner, cheesy sausage bake
