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An Italian Sausage Sandwich is the kind of messy, cheesy, peppers-and-onions sandwich that feels like a fair-food treat at home, and it became our Sunday football staple after Jason fired up the grill one chilly afternoon. Juicy grilled sausages get piled into hoagie rolls with marinara, sweet roasted peppers, and melty mozzarella, then baked until bubbly, just like a handheld version of our homemade meatballs in sauce.
With grilled sausage, roasted peppers, and gooey cheese on a crusty roll, this is the ultimate game-day sandwich.
Italian Sausage Sandwich Quick Look
- 🕐 Prep Time: 20 minutes
- 🍴 Cook Time: 55 minutes
- ⏳ Total Time: 75 minutes
- 🍽 Serving: 5 sandwiches
- ⚡ Calories: 754kcal
- 🌶 Flavor Profile: Savory grilled sausage with sweet roasted peppers and melty mozzarella
- ✋ Difficulty: Easy, as fun to build as our Polish sausage sandwich
Quick Answer
Roast sliced bell peppers and onions with olive oil and seasonings at 375 degrees until tender, then grill Italian sausages until they reach 165 degrees. Place each sausage in a hoagie roll, top with warm marinara, the roasted peppers and onions, and shredded mozzarella, then bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese melts and the bread is crisp. Serve with extra marinara for dipping.
Jump to:
- Italian Sausage Sandwich Quick Look
- Quick Answer
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- Key Ingredients
- Variations and Substitutions
- How to Make Italian Sausage Sandwich
- Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Serving Ideas and Suggestions
- Italian Sausage Sandwich FAQs
- Other Recommended Sandwich Recipes
- Grilled Italian Sausage Sandwich Recipe
Why This Recipe Works
Click to see the technique science
- Grilling adds smoky flavor. Cooking the sausages on the grill gives them a charred, smoky bite that you just cannot get from a skillet.
- Roasting sweetens the peppers. Roasting the bell peppers and onions in the oven caramelizes their natural sugars, so they turn soft, sweet, and jammy.
- A final bake melts everything together. Baking the assembled sandwiches melts the mozzarella into the marinara and crisps the roll for the perfect bite.
- Hoagie rolls hold up to the fillings. Sturdy hoagie rolls soak up the marinara without falling apart, keeping every juicy bite contained.
- Marinara ties it together. A layer of warm marinara adds tangy, herby moisture that makes the sandwich taste like a sausage parm sub.
- It is easy to scale. Make five sandwiches or double the batch for a crowd; the sheet-pan peppers and grilled sausage prep the same either way.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
- It tastes like a fair-food sausage sandwich but comes together right in your own kitchen.
- Grilled sausage, sweet peppers, marinara, and melty cheese make it a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for game day.
- It is hearty and satisfying, perfect alongside our Italian beef sandwiches at a party.
Key Ingredients
- Italian Sausage: Sweet or hot Italian sausage links are the star; grilling gives them a smoky, seared flavor.
- Bell Peppers: A mix of red and green peppers turns sweet and tender when roasted, adding color and flavor.
- Sweet Onion: Sliced and roasted alongside the peppers for that classic sausage-and-peppers combo.
- Marinara Sauce: A layer of warm marinara adds tangy, herby moisture; use jarred or our homemade.
- Hoagie Rolls: Sturdy, crusty rolls hold all the fillings without getting soggy.
- Mozzarella Cheese: Shredded mozzarella melts over the top into gooey, bubbly perfection.
See recipe card for exact quantities.
Variations and Substitutions
- Use hot sausage: swap in hot Italian sausage or add red pepper flakes for a spicy kick.
- Change the cheese: provolone or a sprinkle of Parmesan work beautifully in place of mozzarella.
- Add giardiniera: a spoonful of pickled vegetables adds tang and crunch.
- Make it on the stovetop: pan-fry the sausages and saute the peppers if you do not want to grill.
- Try different rolls: use brioche buns or a soft sub roll like our Polish sausage sandwich.
How to Make Italian Sausage Sandwich
- Slice the bell peppers and onion, toss with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper, and roast at 375 degrees Fahrenheit for 40 to 45 minutes until tender.
- Grill the Italian sausages over medium heat for about 15 minutes until seared and cooked through to 165 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place each grilled sausage into a hoagie roll.
- Spoon warm marinara sauce over the sausage in each roll.
- Pile the roasted peppers and onions on top of the sausage and marinara.
- Sprinkle each sandwich with mozzarella and bake at 350 degrees for 10 to 15 minutes until the cheese melts and the bread is crisp.
Recipe Tips & Tricks
- Roast the peppers low and slow. Forty to forty-five minutes makes them sweet and tender; toss every 15 minutes so they do not burn.
- Use a thermometer on the sausage. Grill until the internal temperature hits 165 degrees Fahrenheit for juicy, safe sausages.
- Warm the marinara first. Heating the sauce before assembling keeps the sandwiches hot all the way through.
- Do not skip the final bake. A quick bake melts the cheese and crisps the roll for the best texture.
- Toast the rolls if you like. A light toast adds extra crunch and helps the bread hold up to the marinara.
- Make components ahead. Roast the peppers and grill the sausage earlier in the day, then assemble and bake when ready to serve.
- Serve with dipping sauce. Extra warm marinara on the side is perfect for dunking.
Serving Ideas and Suggestions
These hearty sandwiches are a meal on their own, but they are even better with a side of crispy fries or chips for dipping in extra marinara. Serve them for game day next to our beer brats and a platter of smoked kielbasa for the ultimate sausage spread.
For a casual dinner, pair the sandwiches with a simple green salad or a scoop of pasta salad to round out the plate. They also go great alongside our Italian beef sandwiches when you are feeding a hungry crowd.
Set out a tray of these with toothpicks cut into halves for an easy party appetizer, or keep them whole for a satisfying weeknight dinner. However you serve them, do not forget plenty of napkins because these get deliciously messy.
Italian Sausage Sandwich FAQs
Sweet or hot Italian sausage links are traditional for an Italian Sausage Sandwich. Sweet sausage is milder and family-friendly, while hot sausage adds a spicy kick, so use whichever you prefer.
Shredded mozzarella is the classic choice because it melts into gooey, bubbly perfection. Provolone or a sprinkle of Parmesan also taste great on an Italian Sausage Sandwich.
Yes. Pan-fry or broil the sausages instead of grilling, and saute the peppers and onions on the stovetop. The Italian Sausage Sandwich comes together the same way after that.
You can roast the peppers and grill the sausages earlier in the day, then refrigerate them. Assemble and bake the Italian Sausage Sandwiches just before serving so the bread stays crisp.
Fries, chips, pasta salad, or a green salad all pair well. Extra warm marinara for dipping makes the Italian Sausage Sandwich even better.
Use sturdy hoagie rolls and warm the marinara so it is not watery. Baking the assembled Italian Sausage Sandwich also crisps the bread so it holds up to the fillings.
Got extra Italian sausage? Turn it into a sausage tortellini bake tomorrow night.
Love Italian sausage dinners? Our sausage and peppers recipe with Marsala wine simmers everything in one pot of rich tomato sauce.
Grilled Italian Sausage Sandwich Recipe
Ingredients
For the roasted peppers:
- 2 green bell peppers
- 2 red bell peppers
- 1 medium sweet onion
- 3 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
For the sandwiches:
- 5 Italian sausages
- 24 ounces marinara sauce
- 5 hoagie rolls
- ¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 375°F.
- Cut the bell peppers into ½ inch strips and place them on a large baking sheet, discard the stem and seeds.2 green bell peppers, 2 red bell peppers
- Remove the skin and root of the onion and slice it into ¼ inch rounds or slices. Separate the different onion layers into rings. Place them onto the baking sheet with the peppers.1 medium sweet onion
- Drizzle the olive oil over the peppers and onions.3 tablespoons olive oil
- Add the garlic powder, onion powder, oregano, salt, and pepper. Toss everything together with your hands making sure to coat all the peppers and onions with the oil and spices.1 teaspoon garlic powder, 1 teaspoon onion powder, 1 teaspoon dried oregano, ½ teaspoon kosher salt, ½ teaspoon black pepper
- Bake for 40-45 minutes until they are tender and slightly browned. Toss them around with a spatula every 15 minutes so they don’t burn. Set aside.
- Lower the oven temperature to 350°F.
- Grill the sausages over medium heat until they are cooked through and nicely seared on the outside. About 15 minutes, or until an internal temperature reaches 165°F. Place them on a plate until you are ready to assemble the sandwiches.5 Italian sausages
- Warm the marinara sauce in the microwave or in a saucepan on the stove.24 ounces marinara sauce
- Place the sausages into the hoagie rolls.5 hoagie rolls
- Top with some marinara, to your taste.
- Add the peppers and onions to each sandwich.
- Lastly top them with the mozzarella cheese, a little over 2 tablespoons of cheese on each sandwich.¾ cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- Bake the sandwiches for 10-15 minutes until the cheese is melted and the bread is crispy. Serve immediately with more marinara for dipping.
Notes
- Hoagie buns are our favorite for these but use your favorite buns/rolls.
- Use your favorite flavor of Italian sausage.
- Other toppings can be added, see above for suggestions.
- This can be served with various different side dishes, especially grilling.
- Easily double this recipe for your family or cookouts.
- We do not recommend freezing these.
- Use your favorite marinara sauce or use homemade if desired.
Nutrition
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Serve these messy, cheesy sandwiches with a side of smoked kielbasa for the ultimate game-day sausage feast.
