⏱️ Prep Time: 10 minutes • 🍳 Cook Time: 30 minutes

This is one of those easy meals that feels like it came straight off a trattoria lunch menu. Whole Italian sausages, beautifully browned (with bonus grill marks if you’ve got a grill pan), simmered in a rustic mix of sweet bell peppers, onions, and a garlicky tomato glaze. Whether you serve it over polenta, pasta, or in a bun, it’s a winner.

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*Grill pan or skillet—either way, this is sausage perfection.* 🌭🔥

What I love about this dish is how simple it is—no fancy ingredients, just a few staples and one pan. If you’ve got a grill pan, absolutely use it to sear the sausages first. You’ll get those beautiful grill lines and extra flavor from the char. No grill pan? A regular skillet still gets the job done and lets all the browned bits melt into the tomato glaze later.

The tomato garlic pan sauce is more of a coating than a full-on marinara, which means it clings to everything without drowning the dish. I like to add a little splash of broth or water to help it all come together, and finish with fresh parsley or basil to brighten it up.

This is the kind of dish that tastes like it took hours, but really just takes one pan and about 30 minutes. It’s hearty, versatile, and makes your kitchen smell like magic.

🍽️ Servings: 4 • 🔥 Calories/Serving: 390

Ingredients

4 Italian sausages (sweet or spicy)
1 tbsp olive oil
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 yellow bell pepper, sliced
1 small onion, sliced
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp tomato paste
¼ cup water or chicken broth
½ tsp dried oregano
¼ tsp red pepper flakes (optional)
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tbsp fresh parsley or basil, chopped (for garnish)

Steps

Step 1

Heat a grill pan or large skillet over medium heat. Add olive oil and cook the whole sausages, turning occasionally, until browned and cooked through, about 8–10 minutes. If using a grill pan, aim for nice grill marks. Set sausages aside.

Step 2

In the same pan, add sliced onions and bell peppers. Sauté until softened and just starting to caramelize, about 6–7 minutes.

Step 3

Stir in the garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.

Step 4

Add tomato paste, oregano, and red pepper flakes. Stir to coat the veggies, then add water or broth to create a glossy pan sauce.

Step 5

Return the whole sausages to the pan, nestling them into the vegetables and sauce.

Step 6

Cover and simmer on low for 10–12 minutes, letting all the flavors come together.

Step 7

Uncover, garnish with fresh herbs, and serve hot with crusty bread, polenta, or pasta.

Make it your own!

🔥 Use a grill pan for smoky flavor
Grill marks make the sausages look amazing and add a hint of char.
🥖 Make it sandwich-style
Stuff the whole sausage, peppers, and sauce into a toasted roll with melty cheese.
🍅 Stretch the sauce
Add canned crushed tomatoes if you want more of a marinara-style sauce.
🧄 Boost the garlic
Add roasted garlic or double the fresh for a richer base.