One-Pan Italian Sausage with Peppers and Polenta

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-12 · Updated 2026-05-12

A hearty skillet meal featuring spicy Italian sausage cooked with colorful bell peppers and creamy polenta, ready in under 30 minutes. This Italian-inspired one-pot recipe, ready in about 30 minutes, pairs Italian sausage links, olive oil, red bell pepper for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 520 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 4 (about 16 oz) Italian sausage links
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 large, sliced into strips red bell pepper
• 1 large, sliced into strips yellow bell pepper
• 1 medium, thinly sliced onion
• 3 minced garlic cloves
• 4 cups water
• 1 cup polenta (cornmeal)
• 1/3 cup parmesan cheese grated
• 1 tsp, divided salt
• 1/2 tsp, divided black pepper
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add 4 Italian sausage links and cook, turning occasionally, for 8-10 minutes until browned and cooked through. Remove sausages and slice into 1/2-inch pieces.
2. Step 2: In the same skillet, add 1 sliced red bell pepper, 1 sliced yellow bell pepper, 1 thinly sliced onion, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté over medium heat for 5-6 minutes until vegetables are tender and fragrant.
3. Step 3: While vegetables cook, bring 4 cups water to a boil in a medium saucepan. Gradually whisk in 1 cup polenta, reduce heat to low, and cook, stirring frequently, for 5-7 minutes until thickened.
4. Step 4: Stir 1/3 cup grated parmesan cheese, 1/2 tsp salt, and 1/4 tsp black pepper into the polenta until creamy.
5. Step 5: Return sliced sausage to the skillet with peppers and onions, season with 1/2 tsp salt and 1/4 tsp black pepper, and heat through for 2 minutes.
6. Step 6: Spoon creamy polenta onto plates and top with sausage and pepper mixture. Garnish with 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil leaves before serving.