This air fryer Italian sausage and peppers recipe is one of those meals I keep coming back to. It’s quick, flavorful, and honestly just really satisfying.
Everything cooks together in the air fryer in under 20 minutes. The sausages come out juicy and the peppers and onions get perfectly tender with a little bit of char.
I use Italian chicken sausage here, which keeps things on the lighter side without losing any of that classic flavor.
It’s a great dinner on its own, but you can also serve it in hoagie rolls, over rice, or with a simple side salad. Really versatile.
If you’ve been looking for an easy weeknight meal that the whole family will enjoy, this one is a winner.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Perfectly Caramelized Veggies – The air fryer gives the peppers and onions those beautiful charred edges that taste amazing with the savory sausage.
Juicy Sausage Every Time – The air fryer locks in all the juices so each bite of chicken sausage is tender and bursting with flavor.
A Lighter Take on a Classic – Using Italian chicken sausage keeps all the bold flavor you love while being a lighter option than traditional pork sausage.
Ingredients
- 1.5 lb Italian Chicken Sausage Links
- 2 Bell Peppers (mixed colors), sliced
- 1 large Onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt and Pepper to taste
How To Make
Step 1
Prick sausage links several times with a fork to prevent bursting.
Step 2
In a bowl, toss sliced bell peppers and onion with olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
Step 3
Place sausages in air fryer basket and arrange peppers and onions around them.
Step 4
Air fry at 380°F for 15-18 minutes, shaking basket and turning sausages halfway through, until sausages reach internal temperature of 165°F and vegetables are tender.
Step 5
Let rest for 2 minutes, then slice sausages and serve with the peppers and onions.
Tips
Don’t Overcrowd the Basket
The sausages and veggies need space between them so the hot air can circulate properly. If everything is packed tight, the vegetables will steam instead of getting those nice caramelized edges.
If your air fryer is on the smaller side, cook the sausages and veggies in separate batches. Do the sausages first, then set them aside and cook the peppers and onions on their own at the same temperature for about 8-10 minutes.
You’ll get way better results with a little extra effort than trying to cram it all in at once.
Cut Your Peppers and Onions Thick
Slice your peppers and onions into strips that are about half an inch wide. If you cut them too thin, they’ll shrivel up and dry out in the air fryer before the sausages are even done.
Thicker slices hold up much better to the high heat and still have a nice bite to them when everything is finished cooking. They also won’t fall through the basket holes as easily.
Pricking the Sausages Actually Matters Here
In a regular pan you can sometimes skip this step, but in an air fryer the casing tightens up fast from the intense dry heat. If you don’t prick them, the casing can split open in random spots and the juices run out all at once.
Use a fork and poke each sausage about 4-5 times on different sides. This lets steam escape slowly so the casing stays intact and the sausage cooks more evenly from the inside out.
Related Recipes
- Air Fryer Italian Sausage
- Air Fryer Sausage & Pepper Breakfast Hash
- Air Fryer Cheesy Taco Stuffed Peppers
- Air Fryer Chicken Fajitas
- Air Fryer Sausage & Cheese Biscuit Bites
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I use pork sausage instead of chicken sausage in the air fryer?
Absolutely! Pork Italian sausage works great in this recipe. Just keep in mind that pork sausage has more fat, so you may notice more grease collecting in the bottom of your air fryer basket. Everything else stays the same – just make sure it still reaches an internal temperature of 165°F before serving.
If you go with pork sausage, you might want to check on it a minute or two earlier since the higher fat content can cause the outside to brown a bit faster.
Air Fryer Italian Sausage & Peppers
- 1.5 lb Italian Chicken Sausage Links
- 2 Bell Peppers (mixed colors), sliced
- 1 large Onion, sliced
- 2 tbsp Olive Oil
- 1 tsp Italian Seasoning
- 1/2 tsp Garlic Powder
- 1/4 tsp Red Pepper Flakes
- Salt and Pepper to taste
- Prick sausage links several times with a fork to prevent bursting.
- In a bowl, toss sliced bell peppers and onion with olive oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, red pepper flakes, salt, and pepper.
- Place sausages in air fryer basket and arrange peppers and onions around them.
- Air fry at 380°F for 15-18 minutes, shaking basket and turning sausages halfway through, until sausages reach internal temperature of 165°F and vegetables are tender.
- Let rest for 2 minutes, then slice sausages and serve with the peppers and onions.