Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers (Air Fryer Italian Sausage)

Can you air fry sausage and peppers? Yes! This air fryer sausage and peppers with onions recipe is a delicious meal that is low-carb, gluten-free, keto, and low-calorie. Add some marinara sauce and Parmesan cheese to your air fryer Italian sausage links, and you've got yourself a new family favorite. It’s great on hoagie rolls, over rice, zoodles, cauliflower rice, and more!

Today we’re making air fryer Italian sausage and peppers. I love me some easy weeknight dinner ideas, and this dish most definitely qualifies. It’s a time saver because you can make the air fryer sausage and veggies at the same time.

Jump to:

• ➕ What are sausage and peppers?
• 🔪 How to Make Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers
• ⏲ Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers Cook Time
• 🌭 Is it healthier to cook sausages in an air fryer?
• 🌡️ How to Reheat Sausage and Peppers in the Air Fryer
• 🥗 Sausage and Peppers in the Air Fryer Serving Suggestions
• FAQs
• 👩🏻‍🍳 Other Air Fryer Sausage Recipes
• 📖 Recipe
• 💭 Expert Tips from a Dietitian
• 💬 Comments

➕ What are sausage and peppers?

Sausage and peppers is a classic Italian American dish featuring sautéed or grilled sausage links and colorful bell peppers. Often served on a roll or with pasta, it combines savory, spiced sausages with the sweetness of bell peppers, creating a flavorful and hearty meal enjoyed for its simplicity and bold flavors.

🔪 How to Make Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers

Here's what you need to make Italian sausage, peppers, and onions in an air fryer:

• 4 links Italian sausage (12 ounces pre-cooked pork sausage, chicken sausage or turkey sausage)
• 1-2 bell peppers (Green bell peppers are least expensive, but red bell pepper, orange bell pepper, or yellow pepper looks lovely)
• 1 medium yellow onion
• 1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
• ½ tablespoon red wine vinegar
• Salt and pepper (to taste)
• ½ teaspoon dried basil
• ½ teaspoon dried oregano

Get a printable recipe card at the end of the post!

Make Ninja Foodi sausage and peppers, or use a Cosori, Pampered Chef Air Fryer, Actifry, Nuwave, Instant Vortex, Cuisinart, Philips, Power Air Fryer, etc. However, you might need to make some slight adjustments to this recipe. You may need to adjust the air frying time depending on the air fryer you use.

Here are step-by-step directions for how to air fry sausage and peppers:

1. Cut the peppers and onions into slices that are about 1-inch (2.54 cm) thick. Slice the sausage into 1-inch thick diagonal cuts.

2. Put the sausages, onions, and peppers in a large bowl. Stir in the olive oil, red wine vinegar, dried basil, dried oregano, salt, and pepper.

3. Place the air fryer sausage peppers and onions mixture in your air fryer basket or tray. Air fry for 15-18 minutes at 400F (200C), shaking the basket and stirring the food every 5-6 minutes. Add additional air frying time as needed.

This is the best air fryer Italian sausage with peppers and onions recipe I tested. It’s delicious and makes an easy veggie-packed dinner.

For a heartier meal, serve sausage and peppers in hoagie rolls with marinara sauce and Parm or over pasta. If you want keto sausage and peppers, use cooked spaghetti squash or zoodles instead.

⏲ Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers Cook Time

How long do you cook sausages in an air fryer? Air fry Italian sausages for 15-18 minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit (200C), shaking every 5-6 minutes. You do not need to preheat the air fryer.

Remember we are using precooked sausages in this recipe. Large sausages or raw sausages will take longer to cook.

🌭 Is it healthier to cook sausages in an air fryer?

It might be healthier to air fry sausages, depending on your needs. Air frying and oven roasting on a rack are two options for making fatty meats a little leaner. Cooking methods that allow fat to drip away from the sausage and that use little fat or oil are generally considered healthier.

That said, precooked sausages often release very little fat, so you’ll really see this benefit mostly with raw sausage. Some other good reasons to use an air fryer are that it’s faster, there’s minimal clean up, and you don’t need to heat the house with the oven.

Substitutions

You can use this recipe with your favorite precooked sausage. Make air fryer chicken sausage and peppers, air fryer kielbasa and peppers, air fryer brats and peppers, air fryer andouille sausage, or even vegan “sausage” and peppers. You may need to tweak the cooking time depending on the variety of sausages you use.

Another idea is to switch up the seasonings. For example, try Cajun seasoning or red pepper flakes on smoked sausage with peppers and onions instead of Italian seasoning.

For air fryer sausage and potatoes, I recommend steaming the potatoes first so everything is done at the same time. These directions for microwaving vegetables should help with that.

🌡️ How to Reheat Sausage and Peppers in the Air Fryer

Leftover cooked Italian sausage and peppers will last 3-4 days in the refrigerator in an airtight container. You can reheat sausage and peppers in the microwave, on the stovetop with a little oil, or in an air fryer at 400F (200C) for 3-4 minutes. Leftovers are super reheated and used to make an Italian sausage sandwich!

🥗 Sausage and Peppers in the Air Fryer Serving Suggestions

What goes with sausage and peppers? This recipe for air fryer sausage and peppers is an entrée that can fit into a variety of meals. Here are some sides for sausage and peppers:

• Air Fryer Garlic Bread
• Air Fryer Frozen Vegetables
• Spiralized zucchini noodles
• Rice or cauliflower rice
• Air Fryer Frozen French Fries (for air fryer sausage and chips or air fryer sausage and potatoes)
• Keto Onion Rings (Air Fryer)

FAQs

Can you cook raw sausages in an air fryer?

Yes, you can cook raw sausages in an air fryer. Cooking times may vary depending on the size and type of sausages, as well as the specific air fryer model you're using.

How long do you cook sausages in the air fryer?

As a general guideline, preheat the air fryer to 400F (200C), then cook raw sausages for about 15-20 minutes, flipping them halfway through the cooking time. Use a meat thermometer to ensure they reach an internal temperature of 160F (71C) for pork sausages and 165F (74C) for poultry sausages. (Follow the recipe instructions below for precooked sausages.)

👩🏻‍🍳 Other Air Fryer Sausage Recipes

Here are some more air fryer recipes with sausage:

• Sausage Patties in Air Fryer
• How to Cook Chicken Sausage
• Air Fryer Brats
• Kielbasa in Air Fryer
• Frozen Meatballs in Air Fryer (make air fryer Italian sausage balls from frozen with this recipe)

Don’t forget to check out the entire section on Air Fryer Recipes while you’re here! And if you’d really like to go the extra mile, try your hand at making your own homemade Italian fennel sausage.

📖 Recipe

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