Italian Crockpot Sausage and Peppers for One
Keeping with my style of simple meals, I bring you this uncomplicated and very tasty Crockpot Sausage and Peppers recipe for one. Some varieties of pasta dishes cook well in a slow cooker for incredibly easy and space-friendly meals. Everything except the pasta is fully cooked when the ingredients go into the slow cooker so it’s a very fast slow cooker meal. This recipe is ready in about two hours from prep to table.
A small slow cooker is so useful when cooking for one, look at more easy small slow cooker recipes like this easy small slow cooker Goulash , small slow cooker chicken divan and if you have some leftover peppers try my favorite comfort food slow cooker stuffed bell pepper for one.
Ingredient notes and substitutions
These simple ingredients are what you need to make pasta with sausage and peppers in a crockpot.
- Sausage: Aidell sausages are already cooked and you have a variety of flavors to select from, I love using the spicier Cajun style or Italian sausages. You can also use browned ground beef and season it to your taste. If you like extra meat add a third sausage.
- Tomatoes: My go-to are Pomi chopped, but you use canned crushed tomatoes or even substitute them with your favorite jarred marinara sauce. if you don’t want to open a can of tomato paste for just 1 tablespoon you use a tube of tomato paste.
- Ziti: The recipe uses Ziti, but it’s perfectly fine to use a smaller Penne or even an elbow noodle. This dish is just great over pasta! The pasta police won’t come knocking on your door, I promise. 🙂
- Vegetables: peppers, onions, tomatoes, and garlic is all the sauce needs, however, you can add mushroom for a little extra flavor.
- Cheese: You can use all Mozzarella, or add in a little ricotta and sprinkle some parmesan on top before serving.
- Italian Seasoning: I use red pepper flakes, garlic, and oregano but you can also use a premixed Italian seasoning.
Please see the recipe card below for full information and quantities.
Cooking Directions
Step 1: Coat the inside crock of a 3-quart slow cooker with vegetable spray and set aside while preparing the ingredients.
Step 2: Heat oil in a large skillet and brown the sausage and sauté the onions for about 3 minutes.
Step 3: Next, add the green and red pepper, garlic, and oregano and saute for about 4 minutes, the peppers should be just a little tender but not soft.
Step 4: Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, water, and heavy cream and simmer until sauce begins to thicken about 5 minutes.
Step 5: Stir in the dried Ziti, stir well to coat the Ziti with the sauce.
Step 6: Transfer to slow cooker, stir, tip with shredded mozzarella, cover, and cook on high for 2.5 hours on high setting. When done, sprinkle with a little mozzarella and serve hot
Different ways to serve sausage and peppers
Sausage and peppers is a classic Italian dish that is typically served over pasta. While there are many different ways to prepare this dish, the most important thing is to choose a sausage that you enjoy.
- For the peppers, you can either use sweet bell peppers or hot peppers, depending on your preference.
- Instead of serving over pasta, serve over steamed rice.
- Serve with a salad and French bread for a hearty meal.
- Slice a hoagie roll and make a sandwich with the sauce, minus the pasta.
Storing leftovers
The leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator and in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 2 days. To reheat, in the microwave sprinkle with a little water and reheat for about a minute, continuing in 15-20 second intervals until heated thoroughly.
If you plan on freezing, cook the sausage and peppers without the pasta. Let cool and store in an airtight container for up to one month. When ready to eat, cook the pasta and add to the heated sauce.
Equipment Used
- Stainless Steel Skillet – My 10-inch All-Clad Saute pan is beautiful and although it’s pricey, it should last a lifetime. I’ve had it for many years and it still performs great!
- 3-quart Crockpot – this model is the perfect size for the one or two-person household.
Common Questions
You can use a turkey sausage, meatballs, or a chicken apple sausage also works nicely.
Yes, follow the instructions up to the slow cooker point and continue cooking on low in the skillet for another 30-45 minutes until the peppers and nice and soft. Cook the pasta separately and add to the sauce.
Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 links aidell cajun sausage diced
- ¼ onion minced
- ¼ green pepper seeded and sliced into thin strips
- ¼ red pepper. seeded and sliced into thin strips
- ¼ orange pepper sliced into thin strips
- 1 garlic cloves minced
- ¼ teaspoon oregano
- 1 cup canned diced tomatoes with juice
- 1 tablespoon heavy cream
- 2 tablespoons water
- ¾ cups dried Ziti
- ⅛ teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1 tablespoon tomato paste
- ¼ cup mozzarella shredded
- salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Coat a 3-quart slow cooker with vegetable spray.
- Heat oil in a large skillet and brown the sausage and sauté the onions for about 3 minutes.
- Add the bell peppers, garlic,red pepper flakes, and oregano and saute for about 4 minutes.
- Stir in the tomatoes, tomato paste, water,and heavy cream and simmer until sauce start to thicken, about 5 minutes.
- Stir in the dried Ziti, and stir well to coat the pasta.
- Transfer to slow cooker, cover, and cook on high for 1 hour 30 minutes hours. Check the slow cooker after 1 hour to ensure the noodles don’t overcook, you may need to cook a little less or a little more time depending on your slow cooker.
- Sprinkle with mozzarelly and serve.
Notes
- if doubling the recipe, use a larger slow cooker.
- your favorite jarred sauce can be used instead of the tomatoes and spices.