How to Cook Italian Sausage
by Sommer Collier — last updated on Feb 1, 2025 
Use this recipe to learn How To Cook Italian Sausage perfect every time! Add some peppers and fire up the grill, oven or stovetop.
Sommer’s Recipe Notes
Every home cook needs to have a series of trusty go-to recipes that can be made in 30 minutes or less. (Because, hey, those nights happen!) This is why I recommend that you always keep a couple of ready-to-go proteins on hand. And packaged sausages are one of the best! They tend to have a long refrigerator shelf life, are easy to prepare, and are incredibly versatile to make all kinds of delicious family-friendly meals.
Italian Sausage and Peppers is a simple classic dish we make ALL the time. You can cook Italian sausages in 3 ways: in the oven, on the grill, or the stovetop. Whatever works best for you! While these are all great options, our favorite method to make traditional Italian sausages is in a cast-iron skillet.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe For Italian Sausages
- Quick and easy – This recipe is so easy and quick to put together. All you need is 30 minutes and a few sliced veggies!
- Customizable – I love that you can make this recipe using your favorite type of sausage — whether it’s chicken, pork or even the vegetarian kind.
- Meal prep hero – Make sure to cook up batches of this recipe and keep on hand for weekly meal preps.
This Italian sausage recipe brings the best all-time classic flavors altogether in one bite.
Ingredients You Need
- Butter – You can use either unsalted butter or olive oil.
- Italian sausage links – You can buy fresh sausages or pre-cooked smoked sausages. We used chicken sausages, yet this recipe can also be made with traditional pork sausage, beef sausage, hot Italian sausage, or even plant-based meatless veggie sausage.
- Bell peppers – Use any color and make sure they’re sliced.
- Onion – Make sure to peel and slice it.
Recipe Variations and Dietary Swaps
- Tomatoes – Mix in some crushed tomato sauce for a saucey version of this dish.
- Red pepper flakes – Sprinkle a pinch of crushed red pepper flakes for some spiciness.
- Low-fat – Use turkey or chicken sausages for a lower-fat version of the classic Italian sausages dish.
How to Cook Italian Sausage
Storage Notes
- Storing Leftovers – Place leftovers in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- Reheating Leftovers – Reheat in a skillet or in the oven until heated through.
Serving Suggestions
Serve these with your, and some shredded mozzarella.
Serve these Hot Italian Sausages as-is with peppers and onions for a low-carb meal. Or, pile the sausages, onions, and peppers on soft hoagie rolls and top with some creamy provolone cheese and tangy marinara sauce! As a side dish, serve these with some of my personal favorites:
- Italian Pasta Salad
- Minestrone Soup
- German Potato Salad
- Spicy Baked French Fries
- Tortellini Pasta Salad
You can also enjoy these with some roasted potatoes, my easy garlic bread or creamy polenta. The way to eat your Italian sausages is never ending, but an easy way to serve them up is on some Italian bread or on a bed of fresh pasta!
Frequently Asked Questions
Certainly! Feel free to use chicken and apple, cheese and spinach, turkey sausage, sweet Italian sausage, hot Italian sausage, or other variations you prefer.
Italian sausage is a type of sausage that is typically seasoned with fennel seed or anise. You can find all kinds of different Italian sausage variations including both sweet Italian sausage and spicy Italian sausage.
When you are cooking sausages on the stove, it is best to fry them up with butter. The butter complements the flavors of sausage better! Plus, you don’t need to be cooking the sausage at such a high heat that requires a high-smoke point oil. Fry them on medium heat with some butter!
Technically you can, but this method of cooking doesn’t result in the best flavor. For best results, cook the sausages in a skillet, on the grill, or in the oven.
Smoked sausages are already cooked, so you only need to warm them for a few minutes in a pan. However, raw sausages take about 10-12 minutes to cook through, or 15-20 minutes if they are very thick. They must reach 160°F inside to be fully cooked.
The best kind of sausages to use are classic, pre-cooked Italian Sausage links. It’s what makes this recipe so easy! Most packaged Italian sausages are already cooked when you buy them. So really, you are just warming them and caramelizing the exterior. This is done in only about 10 minutes, then the onions and bell peppers are seared right in the same skillet.
Pro Tip: If you buy raw sausages from the meat counter, they just need a few more minutes to cook.
How to Cook Italian Sausage
Video
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 8 Italian sausage links (I bought chicken sausages)
- 3 bell peppers varied colors
- 1 large onion
- Salt and pepper
Instructions
- Set a large cast iron skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon of butter. Once the butter has melted, place the Italian sausages into the skillet.
- Sear the sausages for 2 to 4 minutes per side, until the skin looks slightly blistered or charred. (6-8 minutes per side for raw sausages) Move the Italian sausages and place on a holding plate.
- Add the remaining butter to the skillet. Once melted, add in the onions. Sauté the onions for 2 minutes, then stir and the bell peppers and continue to sauté for another 3 to 4 minutes. The onion should be soft, but I prefer if the bell peppers are still slightly firm.
- Salt and pepper the onions and peppers to taste. Then stir the sausages back into the skillet to rewarm. Serve as-is for a low carb main dish, or pile the sausages, onions, and peppers on soft hoagie rolls and top with provolone cheese.
Notes
Italian Sausages in the oven – 350 degrees F, 25 minutes
Italian Sausages on the grill – Medium heat, 5-8 minutes (2-4 mins per side)
In a skillet – medium heat, 5-8 minutes (2-4 mins per side) For Raw Sausages:
Italian Sausages in the oven: 350 degrees F, 25 minutes
Italian Sausages on the grill – Medium heat, 12-16 minutes (6-8 mins per side)
In a skillet – medium heat, 12-16 minutes (6-8 mins per side) Boiled? Yes, you can boil raw or cooked Italian sausages, but why?? This just allows the flavor and juices to escape into the boiling water. I would always suggest cooking them another way. Like with peppers and onions in a skillet. Once the sausages have been cooked they will keep well for up to another 3-4 days in the refrigerator. Let them cool completely before transferring to an airtight container and storing.
Where is the Apple and sausage recipe? The picture says Apple, sausage and onion skillet. You only tell how to cook sausage.
these onion and peppers really just finish off the sausage! thank you so much for sharing this amazing recipe!