Recipes · Sausage & Peppers
What to Serve With Sausage and Peppers
Quick answer
Serve sausage and peppers in toasted hoagie rolls or with crusty Italian bread, over rigatoni or polenta, or next to roasted potatoes — and add a sharp arugula salad or garlicky greens. A Chianti or a cold lager finishes the plate.
Breads and rolls
Sausage and peppers throws off juice, so you want bread that can soak it up without falling apart.
- Toasted hoagie or Italian sub rolls — the street-fair classic
- Crusty Italian bread or a sliced baguette for mopping the pan
- Garlic bread or garlic knots
- Soft polenta as a bread-free bed
Pasta, potatoes and other starches
- Rigatoni, penne or ziti tossed with the pan juices or a quick marinara
- Creamy or baked polenta
- Roasted rosemary potatoes or crispy smashed potatoes
- Simple risotto or herbed rice
Vegetables and salads
The dish is rich, so something green and sharp balances the plate.
- Arugula salad with lemon, olive oil and shaved Parmesan
- Classic Italian chopped salad with red wine vinaigrette
- Garlicky sautéed broccoli rabe or spinach
- Caprese salad in summer
- Roasted zucchini or green beans
For a party or game-day spread
- Antipasto board with olives, provolone and salami
- Baked ziti or a tray of meatballs
- Stuffed mushrooms or arancini
- Pasta salad that can sit out
What to drink
- Medium-bodied red wine: Chianti, Montepulciano d'Abruzzo or Sangiovese
- Cold lager or a crisp pilsner
- Sparkling water with lemon or Italian soda
Common questions
What do you serve with sausage and peppers?
The classics are toasted hoagie rolls, crusty Italian bread, pasta like rigatoni or penne, polenta, and roasted potatoes, plus a sharp green salad or sautéed greens to balance the richness.
What side dish goes with sausage and peppers for dinner?
For a weeknight, serve it over pasta or polenta with an arugula salad. Roasted rosemary potatoes or garlicky broccoli rabe also make it a full meal.
What bread is best for sausage and pepper sandwiches?
A sturdy Italian sub or hoagie roll, split and toasted, holds up to the juices best. Add provolone and melt it under the broiler.
What wine goes with sausage and peppers?
A medium-bodied Italian red like Chianti, Sangiovese or Montepulciano d'Abruzzo stands up to the fennel and peppers without overwhelming them.
Is sausage and peppers a full meal on its own?
With onions and plenty of peppers it can be, especially served on a roll. Adding pasta, bread or potatoes and a salad turns it into a crowd-sized dinner.