Effortless Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers: A Flavor-Packed Weeknight Meal Ready in Minutes!
Get ready to transform your weeknight dinners with this incredibly flavorful and ridiculously easy Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers recipe. This vibrant dish comes together in astonishingly little time, delivering a burst of classic Italian-American flavors with minimal effort. Requiring only a handful of readily available ingredients, you’ll have a satisfying, wholesome meal on the table in under 15 minutes from start to finish. Perfect for busy evenings, this recipe proves that quick cooking doesn’t mean compromising on taste or quality.
Why This Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers Recipe Is a Game Changer
The air fryer has truly revolutionized home cooking, and it’s no surprise that air fryer recipes are consistently trending across the internet. For Italian sausage and peppers, this appliance is nothing short of miraculous. Traditional methods often involve multiple pans, splattering oil, and longer cooking times. The air fryer, however, offers a streamlined approach that locks in flavor and delivers incredible texture.
Here’s why this recipe shines in the air fryer:
- Speed and Efficiency: Cooked in just minutes, the air fryer circulates hot air evenly, ensuring both your sausages are perfectly browned and juicy, and your peppers and onions are tender-crisp. This means less time in the kitchen and more time enjoying your meal.
- Minimal Cleanup: Say goodbye to greasy stovetops! The contained environment of the air fryer means virtually no mess, making post-dinner cleanup a breeze.
- Perfect Texture Every Time: The high-heat, circulating air creates beautifully seared sausages with a satisfying snap, while the vegetables soften and caramelize without becoming mushy. You achieve that delightful smoky char you’d expect from grilling, but right in your kitchen.
- Healthier Option: While the original recipe uses a modest amount of olive oil, the air fryer generally requires less oil than pan-frying, resulting in a lighter yet equally delicious dish. The fat from the sausages also renders nicely, contributing to the flavor of the vegetables.
RELATED – If you love quick and easy air fryer meals, you absolutely must also try our Air Fryer Bratwurst for another fantastic option!
Essential Ingredients for Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers
One of the beauties of this Italian sausage and peppers recipe is its simplicity. You don’t need a long list of exotic ingredients; just a few fresh, high-quality components will create an incredibly satisfying meal. Here’s what you’ll need to gather:
Selecting Your Ingredients: Tips for Maximum Flavor
- Bell Peppers: We recommend using a colorful trio of red, yellow, and orange bell peppers. Not only do they add visual appeal to your dish, but each color brings a slightly different sweetness and nuanced flavor. Choose firm, vibrant peppers without any soft spots.
- Onions: A large Vidalia or yellow onion is perfect for this recipe. Vidalia onions are known for their sweet, mild flavor, which caramelizes beautifully in the air fryer, complementing the savory sausage and peppers. Yellow onions offer a slightly sharper, more robust flavor that mellows nicely when cooked.
- Olive Oil: A good quality extra virgin olive oil helps the vegetables achieve that perfect tender-crisp texture and adds a rich depth of flavor.
- Salt and Black Pepper: Simple seasonings are all you need to enhance the natural flavors of the fresh ingredients. Adjust to your personal preference.
- Italian Sausages: The star of the show! You can opt for mild or hot Italian sausages, depending on your spice preference. Look for high-quality pork sausages, often seasoned with fennel, garlic, and other traditional Italian spices. If you prefer a lighter option, chicken or turkey Italian sausages can also be used.
- Sub Rolls: To serve these incredible sausage and peppers, hearty sub rolls or hoagie buns are ideal. They need to be sturdy enough to hold the generous filling.
- Cheese (Optional): Shaved Parmesan cheese adds a salty, umami kick and a delightful melty texture when broiled. Freshly grated mozzarella is another excellent choice for a classic, gooey finish.
How to Make Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers: Step-by-Step Guide
These step-by-step photos and detailed instructions are provided to help you visualize each stage of making this delicious recipe. For a convenient, printable version of this recipe, complete with precise measurements and full instructions, simply Jump to Recipe at the bottom of this page.
- Prepare Your Vegetables: Begin by thinly slicing your bell peppers (red, yellow, and orange) and onions into uniform 1/2-inch strips. Aim for consistent sizing so they cook evenly. Place all the sliced vegetables in a large mixing bowl. Drizzle them generously with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper. Toss everything together until the vegetables are well coated. This step ensures they absorb the seasoning and achieve a beautiful caramelization in the air fryer.
- Load the Air Fryer Basket: Transfer the seasoned onions and peppers into your air fryer basket. Make sure to spread them out in a single layer as much as possible without overcrowding. Overcrowding can steam the vegetables instead of crisping them, so cook in batches if necessary for optimal results.
- Add the Sausages: Once the vegetables are in place, gently roll your Italian sausages around in the basket. This ensures they get a light coating of the olive oil and seasoning from the vegetables, helping them brown beautifully. Nestle the sausages among the peppers and onions, making sure there’s some space for air to circulate around everything.
- Air Fry to Perfection: Place the basket into the air fryer and set the temperature to 350°F (175°C). Cook for an initial 7 minutes. At the halfway point (around 3-4 minutes), it’s a good idea to shake the basket or use tongs to flip the sausages and stir the vegetables. This promotes even cooking and browning on all sides. Continue cooking until the sausages are cooked through and the vegetables are tender-crisp and slightly caramelized.
- Rest the Sausages: Once cooked, carefully remove the sausages and vegetables from the air fryer basket. Transfer them to a plate or serving dish and cover loosely with aluminum foil. Allow the sausages to rest for 3-4 minutes. This crucial step allows the juices to redistribute throughout the meat, ensuring they remain incredibly tender and flavorful.
- Assemble and Serve: To serve, slice your sub rolls lengthwise (without cutting all the way through). Place one cooked Italian sausage into each bun, then generously top with the air-fried peppers and onions. If desired, sprinkle with shaved Parmesan or mozzarella cheese. For an extra special touch, you can then broil the assembled sausage rolls in your oven for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and bubbly and the buns are lightly toasted. Alternatively, place the prepared sausage rolls back into the air fryer for 1-3 minutes at 350°F (175°C), or until the cheese is perfectly melted and the buns are warm and lightly toasted.
Frequently Asked Questions About Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers
Here are some common questions to help you master this delicious and quick meal:
While many people adore their sausage and peppers served simply in a toasted bun, there are plenty of delicious accompaniments to complete your meal. If you’re looking for a side, a fresh green salad with a light vinaigrette makes for a perfect balance. For something heartier, you might want to try these twice baked potatoes or our crispy sweet potato fries. Roasted potatoes are also a fantastic, comforting choice. However, if you’re piling your sausages high in those delicious toasted buns, you might find yourself too satisfied for any additional sides! For a lower-carb option, consider serving the sausage and peppers over cauliflower rice or alongside a simple medley of steamed green beans.
Absolutely! While Italian sausage is traditional and highly recommended for its distinct flavor profile, you can experiment with other varieties. Bratwurst works wonderfully, as do chicken or turkey sausages if you’re looking for a leaner option. Just be sure to adjust cooking times as needed, as thicker or denser sausages may require a few extra minutes in the air fryer to cook through. Always ensure the internal temperature of the sausage reaches a safe 160°F (71°C).
While some air fryer models and recipes suggest preheating, for this dish, it’s generally not strictly necessary. The air fryer heats up quickly, and the cooking time is relatively short. However, if you prefer, you can preheat your air fryer to 350°F (175°C) for 3-5 minutes before adding the ingredients. This can help ensure a more immediate crisping effect, though results will be delicious either way.
Leftover Italian sausage and peppers are fantastic! Allow them to cool completely, then transfer the sausage and pepper mixture to an airtight container. It will keep fresh in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days. To reheat, you can use the air fryer again at 300-325°F (150-160°C) for 5-7 minutes, or until heated through and slightly re-crisped. Alternatively, reheat in a microwave or a conventional oven. For best texture, the air fryer or oven is recommended over the microwave.
Certainly! This recipe is quite versatile. Feel free to add other quick-cooking vegetables that you enjoy. Mushrooms, zucchini, thinly sliced carrots, or even cherry tomatoes would make wonderful additions. Just ensure you don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket, as this can lead to uneven cooking. If adding more vegetables, you might need to cook them in batches or slightly increase the overall cooking time, checking for doneness as you go.
These air fryer Italian sausage and peppers are more than just a meal; they’re an experience. Served hot on a perfectly toasted bun, brimming with succulent Italian sausage, sweet caramelized onions, and vibrant red, yellow, and orange peppers, all crowned with a generous layer of gooey, melty cheese – it’s comfort food elevated. The quick preparation time belies the depth of flavor you’ll achieve, making it an ideal choice for a delicious yet incredibly simple dinner that comes together in less than 15 minutes. Prepare for rave reviews!
Discover More Easy Air Fryer Recipes
The air fryer is a fantastic tool for countless dishes. If you loved this recipe, you’ll be thrilled to explore more ways to use your air fryer for quick, delicious, and convenient meals and snacks:
- Air Fryer Chicken Breasts: Juicy and tender chicken every time.
- Air Fryer Bagels: Achieve bakery-quality bagels at home.
- Air Fryer Chicken Nuggets: A healthier twist on a kid-friendly favorite.
- Air Fryer Pretzel Bites: Perfect for snacking or entertaining.
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Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers
IMPORTANT – There are often Frequently Asked Questions within the blog post that you may find helpful. Simply scroll back up to read them!
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Ingredients
- 1 red bell pepper
- 1 yellow bell pepper
- 1 orange bell pepper
- 1 large Vidalia or yellow onions
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ¼ cup olive oil
- 5 Italian sausages
- 5 sub rolls
- ½ cup shaved Parmesan cheese or Mozzarella (optional)
Things You’ll Need
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Air fryer
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Tongs
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Baking sheet
Before You Begin
- To serve, place sausages in buns and top with peppers, onions and Parmesan cheese. Broil in the oven for a few minutes to melt cheese and toast the buns. Alternatively, you can place the prepared sausage rolls back into the air fryer for 1-3 minutes or until the cheese is melted and buns are toasted.
- As with any air fryer recipe, times may vary depending on model. You may need to adjust the cooking time up or down a few minutes.
- Instead of Parmesan, you can use Mozzarella or your favorite melty cheese.
Instructions
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Slice the bell pepper and onions into 1/2-inch strips. Toss in a large bowl with olive oil, salt and pepper.
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Spread onions and peppers in the air fryer basket.
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Roll the sausages around in the basket to coat with oil on all sides. Nestle in the sausages.
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Bake in air fryer at 350 for 7 minutes.
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Remove from air fryer and cover with foil, allow to rest for 3-4 minutes.
Nutrition
The recipes on this blog are tested with a conventional gas oven and gas stovetop. It’s important to note that some ovens, especially as they age, can cook and bake inconsistently. Using an inexpensive oven thermometer can assure you that your oven is truly heating to the proper temperature. If you use a toaster oven or countertop oven, please keep in mind that they may not distribute heat the same as a conventional full sized oven and you may need to adjust your cooking/baking times. In the case of recipes made with a pressure cooker, air fryer, slow cooker, or other appliance, a link to the appliances we use is listed within each respective recipe. For baking recipes where measurements are given by weight, please note that results may not be the same if cups are used instead, and we can’t guarantee success with that method.