A twist on an Italian classic: Italian Sausage Bake. This recipe has fresh ingredients that are baked in the oven ideal for a delicious Sunday dinner. This gluten free / dairy free dinner comes together in about an hour and a half.
I’ve been making this Italian Sausage Bake recipe for years now. Because of that I can make it with my eyes closed. It’s one of my go-to monthly recipes because not only is it easy-to-make, but my family loves it!
Over the years I’ve found that it is best to let the sausage cook on top over the vegetables. The juices from the sausage permeates into the veggies creating the most flavorful and simple dish. Since you have your starch, veggies, and proteins all in one–this is all you have to make. For my husband and I, I place the sausage bake on a bed of fresh spinach. The spinach will wilt as the hot Italian sausage and potatoes sit. I always pair this dinner crusty Italian bread and a side salad.
In this post you will learn the following information.
Ingredients
- Italian Sausage – I prefer to use mild sausage, but you can use hot, too!
- Baby Potatoes – For this recipe I like to use baby potatoes, that I quarter. This helps to keep the consistency of the size. If you don’t have baby potatoes just make sure the potatoes are about 1-inch and even in size.
- Grape tomatoes – Grape or cherry tomatoes work. Any sort of small round tomato is what is meant for this recipe. I find diced tomatoes just turn to mush. Where using the smaller whole variety of tomato stays mostly in tack.
- Bell pepper – I prefer red, orange, and yellow bell peppers as they aren’t as pungent and tend to be on the sweeter side. You can use green, but it will change the flavor of this recipe.
- Red Onion – I like to use red onions as they are sweeter and give a nice color to this recipe. White onions work fine, too!
- Garlic – For this recipe I like to smash a few cloves of garlic and toss them in the vegetable mixture. No need to chop them up. Since this dish cooks for a long time the garlic will soften over time.
- Olive Oil – I like to toss the vegetables in a little olive oil. The sausage will produce additional oil and flavor, but this gets the dish started.
- Seasonings – The standard salt and pepper are a must for this recipe. I also like to add dried Italian seasoning. If you have fresh herbs you can substitute them for the dried herbs. In past, I’ve used a few sprigs of fresh thyme throughout the dish.
- Aluminum Foil – Although, not an ingredient you will need a large sheet of aluminum foil to cover the bake so the vegetables and sausage can steam in the oven.
Directions
Preheat the oven to 400°F.
In a large baking dish, toss grape tomatoes, potatoes, bell peppers, and red onion with one tablespoon olive oil and chopped garlic. Add salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix well.
Place the sausage links on top of the vegetables. Place sprigs of thyme throughout the dish (if desired). Cover with foil and bake for 60 minutes.
Remove tinfoil from baking dish, mix vegetables around, and bake for an additional 30 minutes until sausage is golden brown. (*You may need to turn the sausage to prevent from burning). Serve immediately.
FAQs
You can cook Italian Sausage multiple ways whether it’s indoor or outdoor. I’m excited to share with you four different ways you can cook sausage.
Italian sausage is delicious when it’s baked. You can grill Italian sausage, Slow cooker Italian Sausage, or even make Instant Pot Italian Sausage.
To cook fresh sausage by itself, you need to cook it at 350 degree’s Fahrenheit for at least 40-50 minutes. Or until you insert a thermometer in the center and the internal temperature reads 165 degrees Fahrenheit. For this recipe you will actually need to cook it double the time because of all the vegetables in the pan.
In general boiling or baking sausage is the healthier option when cooking. These two methods require the least amount of oil.
Tips & Tricks
Here are a few of my favorite tips and tricks I’ve found helpful when making this recipe.
- Prep Veggies – You can prep the bell peppers, onions, smashed garlic, and tomatoes ahead of time. Just store in a Ziploc baggy. Then once you are ready to make the dinner, all you need to do is quarter the potatoes. Then drizzle on the olive oil and season!
- Sausage – You can use just about any sausage for this recipe. I’ve always used Italian pork mild or hot sausage. I have had other readers use Bratwurst and even chicken sausage. I have never tested either of those varieties so just make sure to monitor how the sausage is doing. You might have to alter the cooking times. Just know the internal temperature of the sausage should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add more veggies – As if this recipe doesn’t have enough veggies already in it, I love to serve this meal on top of a bed of fresh spinach. I typically only do this for the adults since the kids don’t care for the fresh spinach. Since the baked sausage and peppers and potatoes are hot they instantly start to wilt the spinach. I also like to use a little bit of the oil and juices from the pan and drizzle over the sausage and potato bake!
- Cooking Times – As always, cooking times may vary depending on your oven. This recipe cooks for so long because of all the vegetables piled under the sausage. After the sausage bake is uncovered and cooking in the oven. You can check the vegetables at the 15 minutes point. The goal is for the potatoes to be soft and fork-tender. The Italian sausage will be cooked at this point.
- Herbs – Over the years I have used fresh thyme sprigs and as recently noted Italian Seasoning. You can get creative as to what spices you put in this recipe. Just know, as always your flavor profile will change if you change the spices suggested.
- Cheese – My kids love when I sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese on top of their sausage and potatoes. If you like Italian grated cheese you can add this on top once you serve!
- Recipe Substitutions – You can always substitute some of these ingredients for other vegetables. Of course the recipe will turn out a little different. Here is what I have used and others who have made this recipe have used.
- Mushrooms
- Green Beans
- Fennel
- Cauliflower
Sausage Recipes
If you love sausage you will love these other sausage recipes!
If you make this Italian sausage and potatoes, I would be honored and love for you to take the time to leave a star rating and comment! I spend hours developing and testing these recipes, and always love to hear feedback and user experience!
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Italian Sausage Bake
Equipment
- Oven
Ingredients
- 1 pint Grape Tomatoes (red, yellow, orange variety)
- 1 lb. Honey Gold Potatoes quartered
- 1 Red Bell Pepper chopped length-wise 1-inch
- 1 Orange Bell Pepper chopped length-wise 1-inch
- 1 Red Onion quartered
- 3 Garlic cloves smashed
- 1 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon Black Pepper
- 1 tablespoon Dried Italian Seasoning
- 10 Italian Sausage Links (mild or hot)
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 400°F.
- In a large 9×11 glass baking dish, toss grape tomatoes, quartered baby potatoes, bell peppers, and red onion with one tablespoon olive oil and chopped garlic.
- Add salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Mix well.
- Place the sausage links on top of the vegetables. Cover with foil and bake for 60 minutes.
- Remove the sausage bake from the oven. Then, remove the tinfoil from baking dish, mix vegetables around, and bake for an additional 30 minutes until sausage is golden brown. (*You may need to turn the sausage to prevent from burning). Serve immediately.
Notes
- Prep Veggies – You can prep the bell peppers, onions, smashed garlic, and tomatoes ahead of time. Just store in a Ziploc baggy. Then once you are ready to make the dinner, all you need to do is quarter the potatoes. Then drizzle on the olive oil and season!
- Sausage – You can use just about any sausage for this recipe. I’ve always used Italian pork mild or hot sausage. I have had other readers use Bratwurst and even chicken sausage. I have never tested either of those varieties so just make sure to monitor how the sausage is doing. You might have to alter the cooking times. Just know the internal temperature of the sausage should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Add more veggies – As if this recipe doesn’t have enough veggies already in it, I love to serve this meal on top of a bed of fresh spinach. I typically only do this for the adults since the kids don’t care for the fresh spinach. Since the baked sausage and peppers and potatoes are hot they instantly start to wilt the spinach. I also like to use a little bit of the oil and juices from the pan and drizzle over the sausage and potato bake!
- Cooking Times – As always, cooking times may vary depending on your oven. This recipe cooks for so long because of all the vegetables piled under the sausage. After the sausage bake is uncovered and cooking in the oven. You can check the vegetables at the 15 minutes point. The goal is for the potatoes to be soft and fork-tender. The Italian sausage will be cooked at this point.
- Herbs – Over the years I have used fresh thyme sprigs and as recently noted Italian Seasoning. You can get creative as to what spices you put in this recipe. Just know, as always your flavor profile will change if you change the spices suggested.
- Cheese – My kids love when I sprinkle freshly grated Parmesan or Pecorino Romano cheese on top of their sausage and potatoes. If you like Italian grated cheese you can add this on top once you serve!
- Recipe Substitutions – You can always substitute some of these ingredients for other vegetables. Of course the recipe will turn out a little different. Here is what I have used and others who have made this recipe have used.
- Mushrooms
- Green Beans
- Fennel
- Cauliflower
Nutrition
Disclosure: There are affiliate links present in this post. That means if you click on a link and purchase something. I will receive a small percentage of the sale at no additional cost to you. Thank you for your continuous support of Katie’s Cucina!
Do you think I can throw hot dogs in with the sausage for the littles?
Hi Chelsea, I never cook with hot dogs, so I honestly can’t tell you how it will turnout. Just be mindful of the spices–not sure how sensitive they are.
I’m not done cooking but I think it’s super delicious!
Thanks Isagani! Hope you enjoyed it.
I just made this recipe in my convection oven. Baked for an hour covered with foil, then took foil off and baked 30 more minutes. 2 hours total bake time sounded like a lot. Turned out great! Served it with cornbread. Very good meal.
Karen I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I know it seems like a long time to cook, but it works! 🙂
I made this for dinner tonight. The fresh thyme in this recipe filled my home with a wonderful fragrance. I used small red potatoes & one large red bell pepper along with the garlic & red onion & cherry tomatoes . I baked it for 90 minutes covered and finished it off in 15 minutes uncovered @ 400 degrees. It was delicious. My husband loved it. Will make this many more times.
Susan so glad to read you and your husband enjoyed this recipe! It’s a staple recipe in my home!
This turned out really well. I was off today while my wife worked so I thought I would cook. It was easy to make and she cleaned her plate. Thanks.
Dennis so glad you and your life enjoyed this recipe! I make this at least once a month in our home. It’s one of my husbands favorites!
would love to try this Italian sausage bake however the embedded link isn’t working and the recipe is not on the site either. Can you help and send me the recipe? I’m dealing with insulin intolerance and this recipe sounded perfect for what my whole family could eat and I could enjoy too.
Thanks!
Hi Jenn. The link is also on my page. Here is the link just in case you missed it! Hope you enjoy it as much as my family does!
Wonderful recipe!! My husband and I love it!
Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I’m glad you both enjoyed the recipe!
I made this last night and it was SOOOOOO good I can’t stop thinking about it! I had forgotten how wonderful the combo of potatoes and peppers is!
Jen I’m so glad you enjoyed this recipe. We love it in my home too!
Just took the foil off to brown the sausages. Smells so good in here, can’t wait for dinner. Pinned this for future reference.
Yay! Hope you guys enjoyed your dinner!
This is nothing new, we Italians have done this since the beginning of time. Lol
Hi Gina, thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. I’m just sharing a tried-and-true favorite recipe that I make my family. Not everyone knows how to make this recipe. That’s why I share a variety of recipes from easy to complicated for every level of cook.
Found this on Pinterest – in theory, awesome. In practice, not so much. Followed the recipe as close as possible. Vegetables we complete mush. Sausage was painfully dry.
A staged approach would have been much better – adding the peppers and tomatoes w about 30 remaining, and grilling/pan searing the sausage and tossing them in w about 15 min remaining.
Very disappointed – this looked/sounded SO good.
Hi Bex, I’m sorry that the recipe didn’t turn out for you. I make this recipe once a month for my family and always have great success with it.
I was wondering, for the last 20 to 30 minutes or so is the dish uncovered??
Looks so yummy.
Hi Barbara, Thanks for stopping by. Yes, you remove the tinfoil from the dish the last 30 minutes so that the sausage can really brown. Hope you enjoy it as much as my family does.
This is a really tasty and easy recipe. I’m not sure the 2 hour cooking time is necessary as the peppers were a little mushy. Next time I will just bake it until the potatoes are done and see how that tastes.
Glad you enjoyed the recipe Estee. I think the 2 hours varies on your oven.
Looks great. I would love to make this but I am uncertain at what temperature to bake it for 2 hours. Can you tell me?
Paula–I just embedded the recipe on the page. You just needed to click on the link to get you the full recipe. I’m a contributor on another site and that’s where the recipe has resided; however, they just got embedded printable recipe cards so I just added it to the post! Good luck–this is one of our favorite meals to make!
My mouth was watering looking at your picture.
Ha ha thanks Christine. Definitely give this a try of course do mild sausage for the kiddos! 😉
Oh wow, this looks divine and I love that it’s a simple one dish recipe!
This would definitely be a star dish in my house and heart!
I heart any meal that only requires me to wash a single pot! Nicely done Katie.
Thanks Erin!
That’s a one pot comforting meal 🙂
This looks great!!!!