Name: Air Fryer Italian Sausage and Peppers
Prep time: 5 min
Cook time: 20 min
Total time: 25 min
Ingredients: 4 Italian sausage links (mild or hot; uncooked); 2 bell peppers (any color); 1 medium yellow onion; 1 teaspoon avocado oil; 1/2 teaspoon Italian seasoning; 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder; 1/4 teaspoon salt; 1/4 teaspoon black pepper

Jump to Recipe

Want a simple dinner dish that includes meat and veggies and is so easy to whip together? Air fryer Italian sausage and peppers is the answer!

Ready in just 25 minutes without much prep, these air fryer sausage, peppers, and onions work together to be eaten on their own or on a nice, crusty bun!

cooked italian sausage on bed of roasted peppers and onions on white plate on wooden board. — Italian sausage and peppers in the air fryer is so easy and so good!

Tips & Substitutions

This is a pretty simple recipe to make but before you dive in, read through these few points:

Make sure to use uncooked Italian sausage. If you want to use already cooked Italian sausage, air fry the peppers and onions first and then add the Italian sausages for the last 5 minutes to heat them.
We left the Italian sausages whole – it’s just easier this way. You can, however, cut the sausages into pieces. It depends on the brand of Italian sausage and their casing – some cut easier than others when raw. If you cut them into pieces, you can mix them in with the peppers and onions before placing them into the air fryer. Keep in mind that cutting the sausage into smaller pieces will reduce cooking time noticeably!
You can use any color bell pepper you like. We usually stick to red, yellow or orange since we are not huge fans of the slightly bitter taste of green peppers but it’s up to you.
You can spice the veggies however you like. We like to keep things simple here with Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper because the sausage provides lots of flavor to the dish. You can definitely change things up if you prefer.
The cooked Italian sausage links should reach an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit. You can check this with a meat thermometer.

We use this air fryer for our recipes and it has been great.

Step-by-Step Instructions

To make these air fryer sausage and peppers, follow the recipe steps with photos in this section so you can see just how we made ours.

If you just want to get the instructions in a printable format without visuals, you can find the recipe card at the bottom of this post!

strips of yellow and red peppers cut on wooden cutting board with knife beside on counter. — Cut the bell peppers into slices.

First, wash the bell peppers and then cut them into halves or quarters. Remove the inside seeds and core, then cut the peppers into slices of roughly even thickness.

slices of white onion cut on wooden board sitting on white counter. — Cut the onion into rings.

Also peel the onion, and cut the onions into rings of even thickness.

At this time, also preheat your air fryer to 360 degrees Fahrenheit.

raw sliced onions and peppers covered in spices in white mixing bowl sitting on white counter. — The peppers and onion should be coated in oil and spices.

While you wait for the air fryer to preheat, add the bell peppers and onion rings to a mixing bowl.

To the bowl also add the oil, Italian seasoning, garlic powder, salt and pepper. You can change up the spices to suit your personal preferences but keep in mind that the Italian sausages already have quite a bit of flavor.

Mix until everything is evenly coated in oil and spices.

If you decided to cut the Italian sausage links into smaller pieces, you can also add them to the bowl and mix them in.

raw italian sausages sitting on raw peppers and onions in black air fryer tray on counter. — Place the veggies and Italian sausages into the preheated air fryer.

When the air fryer is hot, add the bell pepper and onion mixture into the basket. Gently shake the air fryer basket so that the veggies are in one even layer.

Then place the raw Italian sausages on top.

red tongs flipping cooked italian sausage sitting on peppers and onions in black air fryer tray. — Flip the sausages halfway through the cooking time.

Air fry the sausages, peppers, and onions for 18-22 minutes total until fully cooked and tender.

Gently shake the air fryer basket every 5 minutes and flip the Italian sausages over halfway through the cooking time (at the 10 minute mark). This will help with even cooking.

The exact cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the sausage, your air fryer and your personal preference.

The sausages should have an internal temperature of 160 degrees Fahrenheit.

four cooked italian sausage sitting on cooked peppers and onions in black air fryer tray on counter top. — The sausages should be fully cooked and the veggies should be soft.

When done, remove the Italian sausages, peppers and onions from the air fryer.

You can eat them as is or as sausage on a bun with the peppers and onions on top or underneath!

four Italian sausage on white plate with cooked peppers and onions sitting on wooden board on counter. — We ate our Italian sausage, peppers, and onions just like this!

Storage Tips

If you have any leftover Italian sausage and peppers from the air fryer, toss them together in a sealed container and place them in the fridge. You should eat them within 3 days.

To reheat, the microwave works well for a smaller amount – but you can also toss the sausage and peppers back in the air fryer for a quick reheat.

What to Serve Italian Sausage & Peppers With

These air fried sausage, peppers, and onions work really nicely as a part of dinner. You might consider making another staple – like rice, baby potatoes, or mashed potatoes – for a balanced plate.

A big salad would also be a great way to add some greens to the meal or you could opt for some tasty sauerkraut.

You can also just eat the sausage and peppers on their own – or enjoy them on a nice crusty bun with the onions and peppers on top or or under the sausage!

Related Recipes

If you liked this air fryer combination dinner, check out these other ideas that utilize different ingredients that pair together perfectly!