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Costco Italian Sausage with Peppers and Onions

Costco Italian sausage with peppers and onions is a classic for a reason — sweet peppers, caramelized onions, and perfectly browned sausage in one pan, ready in 35 minutes.

Prep Time
10 min
Cook Time
30 min
Servings
4
Cost / Serving
$3.75

Quick Answer

Brown Kirkland Italian sausages whole in a hot pan (8–10 minutes), remove, then sauté sliced bell peppers and onions in the rendered fat until caramelized. Return sausages to finish cooking through. Forty minutes; serves 4.

Sausage, peppers, and onions is one of the most reliable dinners in the Italian-American repertoire. Costco's Italian sausage has the perfect fat content and seasoning for this dish — it browns deeply without drying out, and the rendered fat goes right back into cooking the peppers and onions. Serve on a roll, over polenta, or with crusty bread.

Instructions

  1. 1

    Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add sausages and cook, turning occasionally, for 8–10 minutes until deeply browned on all sides. Remove and set aside (they don't need to be cooked through yet).

  2. 2

    Reduce heat to medium. Add remaining olive oil, onions, and peppers to the same pan. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 12–15 minutes until the onions are golden and soft and the peppers have caramelized at the edges.

  3. 3

    Add garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Stir for 1 minute.

  4. 4

    Pour in broth or wine, scraping up any brown bits from the bottom of the pan.

  5. 5

    Nestle the sausages back in among the peppers and onions. Cover and cook on medium-low for 10 minutes until sausages are cooked through (160°F internal temperature).

  6. 6

    Slice sausages on the diagonal and serve over or alongside the peppers and onions, with hoagie rolls or crusty bread.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I cook the sausage whole or slice it first?+
Cook it whole first to develop a browned crust, then slice before the final simmer. If you slice before browning, you lose the caramelized exterior and the sausage dries out more easily.
What's the best bread to serve with sausage and peppers?+
A soft Italian hoagie roll is classic — it compresses just enough to hold everything together without falling apart. Ciabatta or a baguette also works well. Avoid overly crusty bread that competes with the filling.
Can I make this in a slow cooker?+
Yes. Brown the sausages first for color, then add everything to a slow cooker and cook on low for 4–6 hours or high for 2–3 hours. The peppers will be softer but the flavor will be equally good.

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