Description
Sausage Pepper Casserole brings comfort straight from an Italian kitchen to your dinner table. Hearty ingredients blend beautifully, creating a satisfying meal that fills your home with warmth and delicious aromas.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 pound Italian sausage
Vegetables:
- 2 cup sliced bell peppers (red, green, and yellow)
- 1 cup diced onion
- 3 cloves minced garlic
Sauce and Seasoning:
- 14.5 ounce diced tomatoes (1 can)
- 8 ounce tomato sauce
- 1 tablespoon Italian seasoning
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Warm your oven to exactly 375°F and coat a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray.
- Cook 1 pound of Italian sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking the meat into small crumbles as it browns.
- Add 2 cups of sliced bell peppers, 1 cup of diced onion, and 3 minced garlic cloves to the skillet with the sausage. Sauté for precisely 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
- Pour in 14.5 ounces of diced tomatoes, 8 ounces of tomato sauce, 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning, 1 teaspoon of salt, and ½ teaspoon of black pepper. Stir thoroughly to combine all ingredients.
- Spread the sausage and vegetable mixture evenly across the greased baking dish.
- Generously sprinkle 2 cups of shredded mozzarella cheese over the entire surface of the casserole.
- Slide the dish into the 375°F oven and bake for 25-30 minutes until the cheese turns golden and bubbles around the edges.
- Allow the casserole to rest for 5 minutes before serving to help it set and cool slightly.
Notes
- Swap hot Italian sausage for mild if prefer less spice, and choose gluten-free breadcrumbs for those with wheat sensitivities.
- Chop vegetables uniformly to ensure even cooking and consistent texture throughout the casserole.
- Drain excess fat from sausage after browning to keep the dish from becoming too greasy and maintain a cleaner flavor profile.
- Fresh mozzarella creates a creamier topping compared to pre-shredded cheese, which can help enhance the overall richness of the dish.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Casseroles
- Method: Baking
- Cuisine: Italian
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 455 kcal
- Sugar: 6 g
- Sodium: 900 mg
- Fat: 32 g
- Saturated Fat: 13 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 17 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 11 g
- Fiber: 3 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 85 mg