Name: Easy Sausage, Peppers and Onions with Elbows
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 190 min
Total time: 215 min
Ingredients: 1 pound sweet Italian sausages; 1 pound hot Italian sausages; 2 green bell peppers, sliced; 1 red bell pepper, sliced; 1 large sweet onion (such as Vidalia®), sliced; 1 (24 ounce) jar pasta sauce; 1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni

Easy Sausage, Peppers and Onions with Elbows Recipe

Cook Time: 190 minutes

Servings: 8

Preparation time: 15 minutes

Cooking time: 6 to 8 hours (Low) / 3 to 4 hours (High)

Ingredients

1 pound sweet Italian sausages
1 pound hot Italian sausages
2 green bell peppers, sliced
1 red bell pepper, sliced
1 large sweet onion (such as Vidalia), sliced
1 (24 ounce) jar pasta sauce
1 (16 ounce) package elbow macaroni

Directions

Step 1: In a slow cooker, combine sweet and hot sausages, sliced green and red peppers, onion, and pasta sauce. Add about half a jar of water to the mix. Cover and cook on Low for 6 to 8 hours, or on High for 3 to 4 hours, until the sausages are cooked through and tender.

Step 2: While the sausages are cooking, bring a large pot of lightly salted water to a rolling boil over high heat.

Step 3: Once the water is boiling, stir in the macaroni and return to a boil. Cook the pasta uncovered, stirring occasionally, for about 8 minutes, or until the macaroni is cooked through but still firm. Drain well and set aside.

Step 4: When the sausages are done, remove them from the slow cooker and slice them into bite-sized pieces. Return the sliced sausages to the slow cooker and stir to combine with the peppers, onions, and sauce.

Step 5: Let the dish rest for about 10 minutes to allow the flavors to meld together. Serve the sausage and pepper mixture over the cooked macaroni.

Nutrition Facts (Per Serving)

Calories: 573
Total Fat: 24g (31% DV)
Saturated Fat: 8g (41% DV)
Cholesterol: 55mg (18% DV)
Sodium: 1181mg (51% DV)
Total Carbohydrates: 61g (22% DV)
Dietary Fiber: 6g (21% DV)
Total Sugars: 11g
Protein: 26g (51% DV)
Vitamin C: 47mg (52% DV)
Calcium: 54mg (4% DV)
Iron: 4mg (21% DV)
Potassium: 676mg (14% DV)

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.

Comments

Melissa Sanchez

10/10/2025 01:45:04 AM

I'm rating this recipe 4 stars because it inspired me to create a tasty dish using Italian sausage and macaroni. However, the recipe's reliance on store-bought sauce and a slow cooker could be improved. I found that cooking the sausage, onions, and peppers in the slow cooker was unnecessary. Instead, I opted to season the macaroni with olive oil, black pepper, Turkish oregano, a blend called Mural of Flavor, and fresh basil without using a sauce. If I were to follow the recipe more closely, I would recommend heating the sauce separately and either baking or grilling the sausage, peppers, and onions before combining everything at the end.

Julie Johnson

10/09/2025 10:57:12 PM

We had a great time with this dish. My husband was craving it with spaghetti. After reading some reviews, I decided to brown the sausage before tossing it in the slow cooker. I didn't encounter any issues with it being too greasy. I only poured in a quarter jar of water, but it ended up a bit too watery for my liking. Next time, I'll attempt it without any water. I was relieved to have a slow cooker meal on this hot, humid day and avoid heating up the kitchen.

Jason Cruz

10/11/2025 04:49:35 PM

I absolutely adore stumbling upon a fantastic recipe when I'm simply searching for an easy way to use up ingredients from the freezer. This particular gem caught my eye, and although I made a few tweaks, the end result was nothing short of perfection. Substituting hot sausage, removed from its casing and browned in a skillet, and opting for chopped veggies for a chunkier sauce, really elevated this dish. My husband's immediate declaration of "This is a five-star meal" perfectly echoed my sentiments. Needless to say, this recipe has earned a permanent spot in my cooking rotation.

Melissa Wilson

10/11/2025 10:35:46 PM

I tried following this recipe exactly as it was written, but I now realize I should have listened to other reviewers and omitted the water. The result was too runny. I used a big jar of Rao's marinara sauce and added my own Italian seasonings. The flavor was delicious, but I wish the sauce had been thicker. I would make it again, but this time I would skip adding the water.

Brenda Roberts

10/11/2025 04:01:47 AM

This dish was simply not enjoyable. After removing 6 cups of thin, watery, and greasy liquid from it, I had to add extra sauce to salvage it. Perhaps it was meant to be cooked in a pot and simmered for several hours? When using a crock pot with a lid, it's nearly impossible to reduce the excessive liquid produced from all the vegetables and 10 sausages cooked together.

Gary Wright

10/13/2025 03:44:30 AM

I made this dish with egg noodles the first time, and the next time I used spaghetti. It was quick, easy, and my husband definitely gave it the thumbs up for a repeat!