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Easy One-Pan Lazy Sausage and Peppers Skillet: Best Weeknight Dinner

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This one-pan lazy sausage and peppers skillet is the easiest, most forgiving dinner you’ll ever make. It’s warm, savory, and perfect for busy weeknights when you need something that tastes like you tried, even though you barely did.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • 1 ½ pounds Italian sausage (mild or hot, links or bulk)
  • 2 medium bell peppers, sliced into ½-inch strips (any color, mix recommended)
  • 1 large yellow onion, halved and sliced into thin half-moons
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced (or 1 teaspoon garlic powder)
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
  • ½ teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
  • ¼ teaspoon black pepper
  • ¼ cup chicken broth (low-sodium preferred)
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • Optional: ¼ teaspoon red pepper flakes for heat
  • Optional: 2 tablespoons fresh parsley or basil for garnish

Instructions

  1. Prep your ingredients first. Slice the bell peppers into ½-inch strips. Slice the onion into thin half-moons. Mince the garlic. If using sausage links, slice them into 1-inch rounds.
  2. Heat your skillet over medium-high heat. Add the olive oil and let it shimmer for about 30 seconds.
  3. Add the sausage pieces to the pan in a single layer. Cook for 4-5 minutes without moving them, until the underside is deeply golden brown. Flip and cook for another 3-4 minutes on the other side. Use a slotted spoon to transfer the sausage to a plate and set aside. Leave the rendered fat in the pan.
  4. Add the peppers and onions to the same pan. Spread them out in an even layer. Let them cook undisturbed for 3-4 minutes, then stir and cook for another 4-5 minutes, until the onions are translucent and the peppers have softened but still have a little bite. If the pan looks dry, add a splash of the chicken broth.
  5. Push the peppers and onions to one side of the pan, add the minced garlic, oregano, smoked paprika, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the empty space. Cook for 30 seconds until fragrant, then stir everything together.
  6. Spoon the tomato paste into the pan and stir it into the vegetables. Cook for 1 minute. Then pour in the chicken broth and stir, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
  7. Return the sausage to the pan. Nestle the browned sausage pieces back into the pepper-onion mixture. Reduce the heat to medium-low, cover the pan, and let everything simmer together for 5-7 minutes.
  8. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
  9. Garnish with fresh parsley or basil if desired. Serve hot, straight from the pan.

Notes

Don’t skip the browning step—it adds depth of flavor. Watch your heat: medium-high for browning, medium-low for simmering. If your pan is overcrowded, cook in batches. Let sausage rest before slicing if using links. This dish tastes even better the next day as flavors meld.

Nutrition

Keywords: sausage and peppers, one-pan dinner, weeknight dinner, easy skillet meal, Italian sausage, bell peppers, quick dinner, comfort food

Find it online: https://dahliadishes.com/easy-one-pan-lazy-sausage-and-peppers-skillet-best-weeknight-dinner/