Description
This Smothered Italian Sausage recipe features sweet Italian sausages cooked to a perfect brown and simmered with vibrant red bell peppers, onions, garlic, broccolini, spinach, crushed tomatoes, fresh basil, and mild banana peppers. The dish is richly flavored, hearty, and perfect for a comforting meal that’s packed with fresh vegetables and aromatic herbs.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Oil
- ¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil, plus more (optional) for serving
- 8 sweet Italian sausage links (2½ lb./1.1 kg)
Vegetables
- 3 red bell peppers, sliced
- 2 medium red onions, sliced
- 5 garlic cloves, sliced
- 1 bunch broccolini (2 cups/200 g), ends trimmed and cut into 1″ pieces
- 2 bunches spinach (4 oz./115 g total)
- 1 12-oz./355-ml jar mild banana peppers, undrained
Other Ingredients
- Crushed red pepper flakes, to taste
- 1 28-oz./794-g can crushed tomatoes
- 1 bunch fresh basil (1½ oz./45 g), leaves picked
- Kosher salt, to taste
- Freshly ground black pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Brown the Sausages: Heat ¼ cup (60 ml) extra-virgin olive oil in a Dutch oven over high heat until shimmering. Add the 8 sweet Italian sausage links (2½ lb./1.1 kg), cover the pot, and cook for 5–6 minutes until browned on one side. Flip the sausages and cook the other side until browned.
- Sauté the Peppers, Onions, and Garlic: Add the sliced red bell peppers, red onions, and garlic cloves to the pot. Cover and cook, stirring occasionally, for 5–6 minutes until the vegetables are soft and fragrant.
- Add the Greens and Tomatoes: Stir in the broccolini pieces and spinach. Cover and cook for another 3–4 minutes until the greens begin to wilt. Add crushed red pepper flakes to taste, then pour in the can of crushed tomatoes. Stir in the fresh basil leaves and the jar of undrained mild banana peppers. Cover and cook for 10 minutes, stirring occasionally to blend the flavors.
- Season and Serve: Taste and season the dish with kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper as needed. For an extra touch of richness, drizzle a little more olive oil on top before serving immediately.
Notes
- Use Italian sausage with natural casings for best browning.
- For more heat, increase the amount of crushed red pepper flakes or add hot banana peppers instead of mild.
- Broccolini can be substituted with broccoli or broccolini stems if preferred.
- This dish pairs wonderfully with crusty bread or over polenta or pasta.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheat nicely on the stovetop.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Italian
Keywords: Italian sausage, smothered sausage, Italian recipe, sausage with vegetables, easy Italian dinner, stovetop recipe
