Description
Whip up an easy flavorful dinner with this skillet sausage and veggie recipe. Quick, hearty, and packed with flavor, it’s a weeknight lifesaver.
Ingredients
Scale
- Main Players:
- 1 lb Italian sausage (hot or mild, casings removed)
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 2 bell peppers (any color), diced
- 1 medium zucchini, diced
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, slightly drained
- Flavor Boosters:
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Italian seasoning
- 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes (or to taste)
- 2 tbsp olive oil
- Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
- Finishing Touches:
- 1/4 cup fresh basil, torn
- 2 tbsp grated Parmesan cheese, for serving
Instructions
- Prep Your Veggies & Sausage:: First things first, get all your chopping out of the way. Dice those bell peppers, onion, and zucchini into bite-sized pieces. Break up your Italian sausage from its casings if it’s links. This is where I usually put on some music and get into a rhythm. The kitchen starts to smell like anticipation, you know? Sometimes I accidentally chop the onion a little too fine, and then the tears start flowing, but it’s all part of the process, right?
- Brown the Sausage:: Heat a glug of olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sausage and break it up with a spoon as it cooks. You want it nicely browned all over – that’s where all the flavor lives, honestly. Don’t rush this step! I’ve made the mistake of under-browning, and the dish just lacks that depth. Drain any excess fat, but leave a little for flavor; we’re making an easy flavorful dinner here, not a diet meal!
- Sauté the Aromatics:: Toss in your diced onion and bell peppers. Sauté them for about 5-7 minutes, until they start to soften and get a little color. Oh, the smell at this point! It’s so sweet and savory. I always add a pinch of salt here, I didn’t expect that it makes a difference, but it really does. Sometimes I’m impatient and turn the heat too high, and they get too soft too fast, so keep an eye on them!
- Add Garlic & Seasonings:: Now, stir in the minced garlic, Italian seasoning, and red pepper flakes. Cook for just another minute until fragrant. Seriously, don’t let the garlic burn; it goes from amazing to bitter in seconds, I’ve learned that the hard way! This step is crucial for building the foundational taste of your easy flavorful dinner.
- Bring in the Zucchini & Tomatoes:: Next, add the diced zucchini and drained diced tomatoes to the skillet. Give everything a good stir, making sure all those lovely flavors are mingling. Bring it to a gentle simmer, then reduce the heat to low, cover, and let it cook for about 10-15 minutes. The veggies will soften, and the flavors will meld beautifully. I sometimes forget to stir and find a little sticking, but a quick scrape usually fixes it!
- Finish & Serve Your Easy Flavorful Dinner:: Once the veggies are tender and the sauce has thickened slightly, remove from heat. Stir in the fresh basil. Taste and adjust seasonings – maybe a little more salt, a crack of black pepper. The final result should be a vibrant, aromatic, and truly satisfying easy flavorful dinner. Serve hot with a sprinkle of Parmesan. It looks so inviting, honestly, even my picky eater can’t resist!