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Sausage, Peppers, and Onions Slow Cooker + Freezer Meal

This Crockpot Sausage and Peppers is an easy weeknight meal. This recipe can be frozen ahead and cooked in a slow-cooker.

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hefty® Ultra Strong™ trash bags.

crockpot sausage and peppers with rice on a white plate

There’s a running joke between firefighter wives that if something is going to go wrong, it will ALWAYS be the day your husband is on shift.  I can’t even count how many times this has proven to be true since my husband became a firefighter.

James works a 24/48, so he is on shift for 24 hours straight and then home for two days.  When you do the math, it equates to only about nine days a month.  You would think that would work in my favor, but it is comical how things always seem to go awry only on the days he is at work. 

Anything from air conditioners that suddenly stop working, surprise rodents in the house, to trips to the ER with a newborn.  I’ve definitely learned that I can stay strong and keep my cool when I need to step up to handle something on my own.

Most recently… our freezer went out.  Of course he was on shift. Of course I just went to the store! By the time I realized what had happened everything in our freezer had thawed.  It was awful. Gallons of ice cream, loads of frozen fruit, a huge package of salmon… all straight to the trash.  Enter: Hefty® Ultra Strong™ trash bags to the rescue.

It made me sick to have to throw all of that food in the trash. Thankfully I was able to save a small amount of the food still in the refrigerator by moving it to my TINY office fridge.  The important things like cheese, kombucha, and cookie dough. You know, the essentials.

hefty-trash-bags

I was glad I had a full box of Hefty® Ultra Strong™ trash bags when I needed them.  I trust Hefty® brand because of their 100% satisfaction guarantee. (Either Hefty® can handle all your trash bag needs or they will give you your money back.) 

Plus, I think the commercials with John Cena and Carol Cena, his real-life mom, are hilarious.  Carol proves that mom knows best when it comes to ultra-strength and ultra-savings.

A lot of what I had to toss was in boxes and oddly shaped so I really got a chance to test the puncture-resistance of the active tear resistant technology. I also put the ARM & HAMMER™ patented odor neutralizer to work, because, of course, it wasn’t trash day when this happened either.

There was one bag of frozen peppers and onions buried in the freezer that was still cold so I quickly threw it in the slow cooker with some Italian sausage (that I didn’t have room for in the mini-fridge).  

This easy Crockpot Sausage, Peppers, and Onions dish is spicy, filling, weeknight dinner perfection.  I’m a huge fan of slow cooker meals (especially when James is at the station) and you can even make this recipe ahead of time and freeze it until you’re ready to cook.  Just make sure your freezer is working properly 🙂

opening a trash bag

What’s Needed for Crockpot Sausage and Peppers? 

For this slow cooker sausage and peppers recipe, you’ll need the following simple ingredients: 

  • Italian sausage 
  • Green peppers
  • Onion
  • Diced tomatoes 
  • Onion powder
  • Garlic powder

How to Make Italian Sausage, Peppers, and Onions 

Simply place the ingredients into your slow cooker, then cook on low for 6 hours or on high for 4. So easy, right? 

How to Prep This as a Freezer Meal

To prepare this Crockpot sausage, peppers, and onions as a freezer meal, do the following: 

  1. Add the ingredients to a freezer bag. 
  2. Mix well. 
  3. Seal and freeze for up to 3 months. 
  4. When ready to cook, simply place the contents of the freezer bag into the slow cooker and cook as directed. (You can cook from frozen, no need to thaw). 
crockpot sausage and peppers with rice on a white plate

Tips for Making Slow Cooker Sausage and Peppers 

  • I made this Sausage, Peppers, and Onions recipe with Italian sausage because it’s what I had on hand, but you could use smoked sausage if you prefer.  
  • I love how green bell peppers taste alongside Italian sausage, but you can use any color pepper you like. 
  • We served our onion, sausage, and peppers over rice, but this would also be yummy inside hotdog buns!

More Easy Slow Cooker Dinners: 

sausage, onions, and peppers over rice

Sausage, Peppers, and Onions

3.67 from 9 votes
Print Pin Rate
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 6 hours
Total Time: 6 hours 10 minutes
Servings: 4
Calories: 438kcal
Author: Emily Grace

Ingredients

  • 1 lb Italian Sausage
  • 1 large green pepper , cut into strips
  • 1 medium onion , cut into strips
  • 2 cups diced tomatoes
  • 2 tsp onion powder
  • 2 tsp garlic powder

Instructions

  • Place all ingredients in a freezer bag, mix well, freeze until ready.
  • Cook on low for 6 hours or high for 4 hours.

Notes

Serve on warm hot dog buns or with rice.

Nutrition

Calories: 438kcal | Carbohydrates: 11g | Protein: 18g | Fat: 35g | Saturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 86mg | Sodium: 844mg | Potassium: 635mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 4g | Vitamin A: 250IU | Vitamin C: 39.7mg | Calcium: 71mg | Iron: 2.8mg
Did you make this recipe? Mention @GraceGoodEats or tag #graceandgoodeats!

This is a sponsored post written by me on behalf of Hefty® Ultra Strong™ trash bags. 

Recipe Rating




Maureen Wilksen

Monday 26th of March 2018

I would like to do your sausage, peppers and onions recipe. I need to make it for 18 people . Can you adjust the recipe for me so I will know how long to cook in microwave......or I could do 4 of these individual bags and then put in microwave. This will be part of of a buffet and I'll be having lasagna and chicken also. I'd like to sign up for your recipes but it's only me now. I'm an 83 year old widow.

Thanks for your help.

James

Tuesday 1st of August 2017

Let's have this again soon!

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