These easy to make cheesy stuffed Italian sausage and peppers can be put together in a few minutes then it’s off to bake in the oven or even to cook in the crockpot. They are so simple to make and can be enjoyed even if you aren’t on a keto or low carb diet.
Top the stuffed sausage with a store bought marinara sauce, a can of crushed tomatoes, homemade marinara or spaghetti sauce. The choice is up to you.
This is such a super easy dish to make and you can use your favorite brand of sausage to make this.
Stuffed Italian Sausage and Peppers
Serve this over your favorite type of pasta and add a side of gooey cheese covered garlic bread.
On a keto or low carb diet? Then make this a low carb recipe by serving the sausage and sauce over your favorite pasta replacement such as zucchini noodles, low carb pasta or spaghetti squash.
I love serving this over shirataki noodles (shown in the picture above). They look just like regular pasta and have a similar texture with a bit more chew.
No matter how you serve this your family will love the taste and you will love that it is such a simple recipe.
Ingredients to make Italian stuffed sausage and peppers:
Onion – use a medium onion and cut it into thin slices
Bell peppers – -use any color bell pepper for this recipe. I like to use a frozen blend with different colored peppers in the mix. You can easily use all one color such as green bell peppers. Just seed and cut the pepper into slices
Italian sausage links – use sweet or hot Italian sausage. The choice is up to you.
Mozzarella cheese sticks – use your favorite brand of cheese stick
Marinara sauce – use your favorite marinara sauce for this recipe. Looking to cut carbs? Use a keto marinara recipe or try a store bought brand such as Rao’s marinara sauce. See the recipe below or a fast and easy marinara sauce that you can make in a few minutes.
Shredded mozzarella cheese – used to top the sausages to make them even cheesier. Swap out the mozzarella for some Parmesan cheese for a different flavor.
Here’s a few tips on ingredients to help save you both time and money.
Use frozen vegetables:
You can use fresh peppers and onions for this dish or check the freezer section at your local stores for a bag of frozen peppers and onions.
I love frozen vegetables! They make this dish even easier. They save time on the meal prep and they often save me money. When it’s not time for these vegetables to be grown locally the cost of fresh peppers goes up. But the frozen vegetable price stays stable which means it saves me money.
My local grocery store carries a frozen vegetable mix of peppers and onions. At my local wholesale club I can get a bulk package with 3 individual bags (3.5 pounds total) for $7.99. That’s $2.28 per pound!
Fresh peppers are often selling for $1 to $1.25 each and they often weight about 4 or 5 ounces. That makes the fresh peppers $3 to $3.75 per pound. Personally I save the fresh peppers for salads and keep some of these frozen ones on hand for cooking in meals.
Marinara or spaghetti sauce:
Use your favorite store bought low or lower in sugar marinara or spaghetti sauce. Looking to make your own sauce? Then try this keto spaghetti sauce recipe. You can double the batch and freeze some for later.
Want an even quicker version of sauce? Try this:
- 15 ounces crushed tomatoes or tomato sauce
- 4 tablespoons pesto or 2 tablespoons Italian Seasoning
- 3 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
Mix the ingredients together and use in place of marinara or spaghetti sauce.
Directions to make Italian Stuffed Sausage and Peppers:
This is my favorite stuffed sausage recipe. This recipe can be made in the crockpot or in the oven. Both taste delicious. I love having the option of using either cooking method. One busy days it’s so nice to come home to a meal that is ready to serve.
I’ve included directions for cooking with both methods below.
I’ve also included some freezer meal instructions. It’s so easy to prep the sausage and then use them to put together freezer meals to use on busy days. This makes an already quick meal even faster to make.
To make Mozzarella Stuffed Italian Sausage:
Place your sliced peppers and onions into the bottom of the crockpot.
Prepare the sausage: Use a knife to make a slice down the middle of the sausage. Don’t cut all the way through the sausage and don’t remove the casing. Cut only part of the way through the sausage.
Place a mozzarella cheese stick into the cup opening in the sausage. Press it into the sausage. Place the stuffed sausages in the crockpot over the peppers and onions.
Pour the marinara sauce over the sausage.
Cook on low for 6 to 8 hours or on high for 4 hours or until the sausage are cooked all the way through.
Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese over the top, cover and allow the cheese to melt (about 5 to 10 minutes). Top with a bit of fresh herbs such as fresh parsley before serving.
To make Stuffed Italian Sausage and Peppers in the oven:
Preheat oven to 400.
Place the sliced onions and peppers into the bottom of a baking dish
Use a knife to place a cut down the side of the sausage. Don’t cut all the way through the sausage. Cut about halfway through the sausage. Do not remove the casing.
Put a mozzarella stick or your favorite type of string cheese into the cut in the sausage. Place the stuffed sausages into an 8 x 10-inch baking pan with the cheese stuffed side up. Repeat with the remaining sausage.
Pour the marinara sauce over the sausage.
Bake for 30-40 minutes until the sausage is 160 when checked with a meat thermometer.
Remove from the oven, top with shredded cheese and place back in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.
Serving Suggestions:
Serve the Italian stuffed sausage and peppers over you favorite keto noodle replacement. Spaghetti squash, zucchini and shirataki are my favorite keto noodle replacements.
Try serving over cauliflower rice or mashed potatoes.
Got a favorite keto bun? Why not turn this into a keto sub?
Try serving Zucchini Fries or even zucchini boats on the side.
Serving family and friends who eat a more traditional diet? Serve over your favorite pasta and include a piece of this cheesy garlic bread to enjoy on the side.
How to store leftover Stuffed Italian Sausage and Peppers:
Place your leftover Stuffed Sausage into an airtight container and store in the refrigerator for 3 to 5 days.
Reheat the sausage in the microwave or place in a baking dish to reheat in the oven.
Freezer Tips for Italian Stuffed Sausage and Peppers
Prep the sausage and stuff them with the cheese stick. Place the sausage in a gallon sized freezer bag.
You can freeze them as they are or include the marinara sauce. If adding the sauce pour it over them before freezing.
Freeze the prepared sausage. Don’t forget to include the recipe name, date and cooking instructions on the bag.
When it comes time to make the recipe simply place your peppers and onions into the baking pan and top with the thawed sausage in marinara sauce. Cook according to the recipe directions and top with shredded mozzarella cheese at the end.
Can I use other types of sausage to make stuffed sausage?
You sure can! I’ve been making this recipe for years and have tried all kinds of sausage to make this recipe. Most types of sausages will take delicious. Try some of these types:
- Sweet Italian Sausage
- Hot or Spicy Italian Sausage
- Mild Italian Sausage
- Chicken Sausage
- Turkey Sausage
- Bratwurst
- Chorizo
All of these types of sausage were delicious!
Can I use other types of cheese to make these stuffed sausage?
Yes you will be amazed at the types of cheese that can be used in this recipe.
Swap out the type of cheese in the cheese sticks. Go with cheddar cheese, Monterey Jack cheese, pepper jack cheese or your favorite type of cheese stick. They will all work.
You can also swap out the shredded mozzarella cheese that is sprinkled over the top at the end of the recipe. Again, use your favorite cheese and the recipe will taste delicious.
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Cheese Stuffed Italian Sausage and Peppers (Lazy Keto, Low Carb)
Ingredients
- 1 Onions
- 8 ounces Green Bell Pepper green, red, yellow or orange cut into slices
- 5 Italian Sausage links, about 1.5-2 pounds
- 5 Cheese Stick
- 1 cup marinara sauce
- 1 cup mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 400.
- Place the sliced onions and peppers into the bottom of a baking pan.1 Onions, 8 ounces Green Bell Pepper
- Use a knife to place a cut down the side of the sausage. Don't cut all the way through the sausage. Cut about halfway through the sausage. Do not remove the casing. Put a mozzarella stick into the cut in the sausage. Place the stuffed sausages into an 8 x 10-inch baking pan with the cheese stuffed side up. Repeat with the remaining sausage.5 Italian Sausage, 5 Cheese Stick
- Pour the marinara sauce over the sausage.1 cup marinara sauce
- Bake for 30-40 minutes until the sausage is 160 when checked with a meat thermometer.
- Remove from the oven, top with shredded cheese and place back in the oven for about 5 minutes or until the cheese has melted.1 cup mozzarella cheese
Notes
Nutrition
If you love fast, easy, lazy keto recipes then check out some of these other recipes you will love:
Or these other slow cooker (crock pot) recipes that you’re whole family will enjoy. They will never know that they are low carb:
Copycat Cheesecake Factory Chicken Piccata
If you are looking for other low-carb/keto recipe ideas, be sure to check out our growing Recipe Index full of low-carb/keto recipes!
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