Description
Hearty Italian sausage and pepper casserole delivers comfort straight from Mediterranean kitchens with bold, rustic flavors. Savory sausages nestled among roasted peppers create a satisfying meal you’ll crave again and again.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat:
- 1 pound (1 lb) Italian sausage (mild or spicy)
Vegetables:
- 2 bell peppers, sliced (red and green)
- 1 large onion, sliced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 can (14.5 ounces) diced tomatoes
Cheese and Seasonings:
- 1/2 cup marinara sauce
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon dried basil
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- Salt, to taste
- Pepper, to taste
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Garnish:
- Fresh basil (chopped)
- Fresh parsley (chopped)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375F (190C) and prepare a 9×13-inch casserole dish with non-stick spray.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Crumble Italian sausage and cook until thoroughly browned, approximately 6-8 minutes. Remove excess fat and transfer sausage to a separate plate.
- Using the same skillet, sauté sliced bell peppers and onions until they become tender and slightly caramelized, about 5-7 minutes. Add minced garlic and cook for an additional minute until aromatic.
- Reintroduce the cooked sausage to the skillet with the vegetables. Incorporate diced tomatoes, marinara sauce, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Simmer the mixture for 5 minutes to meld the flavors.
- Pour the sausage and vegetable mixture into the prepared casserole dish, ensuring even distribution.
- Sprinkle mozzarella and Parmesan cheeses uniformly across the top of the casserole.
- Cover the dish with aluminum foil and bake for 20 minutes. Remove the foil and continue baking for an additional 10-15 minutes until the cheese melts completely and develops a golden-brown crust.
- Allow the casserole to rest for a few minutes after removing from the oven. Garnish with fresh chopped basil or parsley before serving.
Notes
- Perfectly brown sausage by avoiding overcrowding the skillet, allowing meat to develop a golden crust without steaming.
- Control spice levels by adjusting red pepper flakes or selecting mild versus hot Italian sausage for personalized heat preference.
- Enhance vegetable texture by cutting peppers and onions in uniform sizes to ensure even cooking and consistent caramelization.
- Create a low-carb version by replacing marinara with diced tomatoes and serving over cauliflower rice or zucchini noodles instead of traditional pasta.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 35 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 780 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 12 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 10 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 90 mg