Air Fryer Sausage and Peppers (Boardwalk Style)

This air fryer sausage and peppers recipe started as a joke — my boyfriend ordered me the sandwich at the Jersey Shore, I laughed, and then one bite hooked me. We came home and tested it with both sweet and spicy Italian sausage until we got it right.

Juicy Italian sausage with sweet bell peppers and onions, all cooked together in the air fryer with barely any oil — 380°F for 15 to 20 minutes, with a quick shake every 5. I season the veggies the same way as my air fryer peppers and onions. Sweet or hot sausage both work — pile it into a hoagie roll or eat it as is.

Ingredients

Here’s what you’ll need to make air fryer sausage and peppers. See exact measurements in the recipe card below.

• Italian sausage: Sweet or hot — both work. Pork, chicken, or turkey Italian sausage all work.
• Bell peppers: A mix of red, yellow, and green. The red and yellow ones are sweeter and they make the dish gorgeous.
• Onion: One large yellow onion, sliced — it turns sweet and caramelized in the air fryer.
• Olive oil: Just enough to coat the veggies so they roast instead of steam.
• Garlic powder, salt, and pepper: Simple seasoning is all this needs.
• Hoagie rolls (optional): For the full Jersey Shore sandwich experience.

How to Make Sausage and Peppers in the Air Fryer

Here’s how to make sausage and peppers in the air fryer. See the recipe card below for the complete, print-friendly instructions.

1. Prep: Preheat the air fryer to 380°F. Cut the bell peppers into strips and slice the onion, then toss them in a bowl with the olive oil, garlic powder, salt, and pepper.
2. Load the basket: Spread the seasoned peppers and onions in the air fryer basket and lay the sausage links on top in a single layer.
3. Air fry: Cook at 380°F for 15 to 20 minutes, shaking the basket and turning the sausages every 5 minutes, until the sausage is browned and cooked through (160°F for pork sausage, 165°F for chicken or turkey) and the veggies are soft and caramelized.
4. Serve: Pile into toasted hoagie rolls or serve as is.

Recipe Tips

• Meal prep like I did: I cooked about 8 sausage links and a full tray of peppers and onions to keep in the fridge for the week. If your basket is too full, cook the vegetables and sausages separately. Refrigerate for 4–5 days.
• Don’t overcrowd: Keep everything in a single layer so the vegetables roast instead of steam; work in batches if needed.
• Check the temperature: Pork sausage is done at 160°F internally (165°F for chicken or turkey) — a quick-read thermometer takes the guesswork out.

Sweet vs. Hot: I Tested Both

Can’t decide which sausage to buy? I made this with both. Sweet Italian sausage is mild and a little sweet — the classic crowd-pleaser. Hot Italian sausage brings real heat that plays beautifully against the sweet peppers. My take: hot when it’s just us, sweet when I’m feeding a crowd.

How to Serve

Serve it as a complete meal on its own — or make it a sandwich: split and lightly toast hoagie rolls, pile in sliced sausage and a generous scoop of peppers and onions, top with provolone or mozzarella, and air fry at 370°F for 1–2 minutes until the cheese melts. That’s the full Jersey Shore experience.

If sandwiches are your thing, my air fryer tuna melt is another weeknight favorite.

Storage and Meal Prep

Refrigerate a cooked batch for 4–5 days. Reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes until warmed through.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I cook frozen sausage in the air fryer?

Yes. Add about 5–7 minutes to the cook time and always verify the sausage reaches 160°F inside.

Should I use sweet or hot Italian sausage?

Either works. Sweet is mild and classic; hot adds a nice kick. (See my taste-test notes above.)

Can I make this ahead of time?

Absolutely. Cook a batch, refrigerate for 4–5 days, and reheat in the air fryer at 350°F for a few minutes.

How do I know when the sausage is done?

It should be browned on the outside and read 160°F inside on a meat thermometer (165°F for chicken or turkey sausage).

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