Sausage and Peppers

Name: Sausage and Peppers with Hot Cherry Peppers
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 45 min
Total time: 1 h
Yield: 4 servings
Cuisine: Italian-American
Ingredients: 1 lb hot Italian sausage; 1 tbsp butter; 2 bell peppers, sliced; 1 large onion, sliced; 4 cloves garlic, sliced; 1 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 cup jarred hot cherry peppers, halved; 1 tbsp hot cherry pepper brine; 2 tbsp tomato paste; 4 hoagie buns; 1/4 cup mayonnaise; 1 tbsp cherry pepper hoagie spread

This sausage and peppers recipe combines spicy Italian sausage with sautéed bell peppers, onions, and a standout ingredient—hot cherry peppers—finished with a creamy cherry pepper spread on a toasted bun.

🌍Italian-American 🏷️Sausage and peppers 🏷️Italian sausage 🏷️Sandwich 🏷️Hoagie Spicy

🏷️

🏷️Comfort food

-0:00

melissajorealrecipesonTikTok

Total

1h

Servings

4

Difficulty

Easy

Est. Cost

$23–$38

Recipe Source

View original recipe

From TikTok · by melissajorealrecipes

-0:00

melissajorealrecipesonTikTok

Ingredients

1 lb hot Italian sausage
1 tbsp butter
2 bell peppers, sliced
1 large onion, sliced
4 cloves garlic, sliced
1 tbsp olive oil
1/2 cup jarred hot cherry peppers, halved
1 tbsp hot cherry pepper brine
2 tbsp tomato paste
4 hoagie buns
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tbsp cherry pepper hoagie spread

12 Ingredients

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Instructions

1
Preheat your oven to 375°F.
2
In a large skillet over medium-high heat, melt the butter. Add the sliced bell peppers, onions, and garlic, and sauté until softened and slightly charred.
3
While the vegetables cook, place the Italian sausages in a baking dish and drizzle with olive oil.
4
Bake the sausages for 30 minutes.
5
Meanwhile, slice the hot cherry peppers in half and remove the stems.
6
Add the tomato paste, halved cherry peppers, and cherry pepper brine to the skillet with the sautéed vegetables. Stir to combine and cook for another minute.
7
Remove the partially cooked sausages from the oven. Pour the pepper and onion mixture into the baking dish.
8
Nestle the sausages on top of the pepper mixture.
9
Return the dish to the oven to bake until the sausages are fully cooked and the flavors have melded, about 15-20 more minutes.
10
While the dish finishes baking, place the hoagie buns on a baking sheet and toast them in the oven until lightly golden.
11
In a small bowl, mix together the mayonnaise and cherry pepper hoagie spread.
12
To assemble, spread the creamy pepper mixture on the toasted buns. Top with a sausage and a generous portion of the pepper and onion mixture.

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Tips & Notes

Pro tips

Slice peppers and onions evenly so they cook at the same rate as the sausage.
Use the hot cherry pepper brine in the tomato paste mixture—it adds tangy heat that ties the filling together.
Toast the hoagie buns lightly before serving to prevent them from absorbing too much moisture from the filling.
Don't skip halving the cherry peppers; whole peppers release flavor unevenly and are harder to eat in the sandwich.

Substitutions

Hot Italian sausage → sweet Italian sausage or fennel sausage (reduce spice; omit cherry peppers or add red pepper flakes)
Bell peppers → cubanelle or banana peppers (similar sweetness and texture)
Hoagie buns → ciabatta rolls or Italian sub rolls (sturdier structure)
Hot cherry peppers → peperoncini or pickled jalapeños (similar spice and brine acidity)

Storage & make-ahead

Store cooked sausage and peppers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days; reheat gently on the stovetop over medium heat or covered in the oven at 350°F for 10–15 minutes.

Common Questions

Can I use sweet Italian sausage instead of hot?

Yes, but the dish will lose its signature spice. To compensate, increase the hot cherry peppers or add red pepper flakes.

What do hot cherry peppers taste like?

They're small, sweet peppers with a sharp, spicy bite. The brine adds tangy heat that balances the rich sausage.

Can I make this ahead?

Yes. Cook the sausage, peppers, and onions up to 2 days ahead, refrigerate in an airtight container, and reheat gently on the stovetop or in the oven.