This Italian Sausage and Pepper Cabbage Skillet is a quick, easy and flavorful dinner that's perfect for busy weeknights. Simmered in a classic garlic and tomato sauce, with tender shredded cabbage, it's a healthy and hearty twist on an Italian classic.

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• ❤️ Why You'll Love This Italian Sausage and Peppers Cabbage Skillet
• 🛒 Ingredients for Italian Sausage and Peppers
• 🔪 How to Make Sausage and Peppers Skillet
• 💡 Tips
• ☑️ Storage Instructions
• 🍴 What to Serve with Italian Sausage and Peppers
• 🔄 Substitutions and Additions
• What seasoning goes in sausage and peppers?
• What is the healthiest color bell pepper to eat?
• What type of sausage is used for sausage and peppers?
• What makes Italian sausage different from regular sausage?
• 🍽️ More Easy Skillet Dinners

❤️ Why You'll Love This Italian Sausage and Peppers Cabbage Skillet

• Classic Italian sausage and peppers
• Sautéed with tender fried cabbage
• Simmered in a flavorful tomato, basil and garlic sauce
• Quick and easy to make, perfect for busy weeknights
• Family friendly

If you're a fan of classic Italian food, with it's rich and satisfying flavors, you're going to love this easy dinner! It's packed with sweet Italian sausage, fresh colorful bell peppers, tender cabbage, onions, garlic and juicy tomatoes and simmered in a savory sauce that can be made in under 30 minutes.

This makes an ideal weeknight dinner that's perfect for when you're short on time, but still want to serve your family a wholesome, healthy low carb dinner and skip the temptation for takeout.

If you love this same combination of flavors, also be sure to try this Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers, or my Steak Pizziaola! Both are made quick and easy, great for last minute dinner ideas without a ton of prep work involved.

🛒 Ingredients for Italian Sausage and Peppers

• Sweet Italian sausage
• Cabbage
• Crushed tomatoes
• Chicken broth
• Bell peppers
• Onions
• Garlic
• Basil
• Olive oil
• Butter
• Salt
• Ground black pepper

*Exact measurements are listed in the recipe card below.

🥣 Recommended Tools

• Large skillet

🔪 How to Make Sausage and Peppers Skillet

Heat a large skillet to medium, add in the olive oil and sausage.

Fry for a few minutes on each side or until almost cooked through.  It will finish cooking later.

Remove the sausage and set it aside.  Add in the butter and once melted, add in the bell peppers, onion, half the salt and black pepper.

Sauté for a few minutes, then add in the garlic and continue sautéing for another 20 seconds.

Pour in the chicken broth to deglaze the pan, then stir in the crushed tomatoes, cabbage, basil and remaining salt.

Cover and simmer for 5-7 minutes or until the cabbage has softened.

Add the sausage back in and simmer until it’s cooked through.

💡 Tips

• Be sure to get a good sear on the sausage. This will serve as the flavor base for the entire dish and create those savory brown bits of flavor.
• Chop your bell peppers and onions the same size. This helps to ensure they cook evenly.
• Use fresh basil, the fresh vibrant flavor of the basil really makes a difference.
• Shred the cabbage yourself. I know it's tempting to pick up a bag of coleslaw mix, but that's really not what you want in this dish. The cabbage shouldn't be that finely shredded, as it won't hold up well to the other ingredients and could get mushy.
• If you can only find ground Italian sausage, rather than links, you can certainly use that instead.

☑️ Storage Instructions

Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for 3-4 days or freeze.

🍴 What to Serve with Italian Sausage and Peppers

While this dish is certainly a complete meal that really doesn't much of a sidekick, you can certainly add something on the side if you'd like. Some Cheesy Garlic Bread would be perfect for sopping up some of the leftover sauce on your plate. Or a simple Chopped Caprese Salad would serve as a nice finish to lighten things up a little. To make things a little more hearty and filling, you can add a side of Italian Cheesy Mashed Potatoes.

🔄 Substitutions and Additions

• This dish is pretty classic served with sweet Italian sausage, but you could substitute with hot or mild Italian sausage instead, if you prefer.
• I used a blend of red and green bell peppers in this dish, but you can use orange or yellow, or a combination of both.
• If you can't find fresh basil, though it's certainly worth looking for, you could use some dried basil instead if you need to. You can also add in some fresh chopped Italian parsley to add more freshness.
• If you need to avoid dairy, you can substitute the butter with more olive oil and the dish will still have great flavor.
• For more depth of flavor, you can deglaze the pan with a white wine, like Pinot Grigio, instead of chicken broth, for a richer flavor.
• You can also add in some dried oregano, though personally I don't include it in mine.
• If you like mushrooms, they would be a great addition to this dish! Simply add in some sliced baby bella mushrooms in along with the peppers and onions, sauté until they are slightly caramelized and they will add a nice touch of earthy flavor.
• Kick the heat up a notch by adding in a pinch or two of red pepper flakes.
• Shallots would also make a great substitution for the onions, if you prefer a milder flavor.

What seasoning goes in sausage and peppers?

Classic seasonings for Italian sausage and peppers includes garlic, fresh basil, salt, pepper and sometimes parsley.

What is the healthiest color bell pepper to eat?

Red bell peppers are said to have the most nutrients, including Vitamins A, C, beta-carotene and antioxidants.

What type of sausage is used for sausage and peppers?

Italian sausage is certainly the traditional choice, whether it be sweet, mild or hot.

What makes Italian sausage different from regular sausage?

The addition of fennel seeds and anise give it that classic flavor that really sets it apart from other varieties of sausage. The use of garlic, sage, parsley and red pepper flavors are also used.

🍽️ More Easy Skillet Dinners

• French Onion Smothered Pork Chops
• Fiesta Chicken Skillet
• Taco Skillet
• Cashew Chicken
• Monterey Chicken