Mains

Giambotta (Sausage & Peppers)

Author: Mary DiSomma

Two things have shaped so much of my life: family gatherings and Italian-American food. They go hand in hand! Some of my favorite memories have been made around a crowded table, filled with generous platters of food, people enjoying each other’s company, and everyone reaching for seconds. Whenever I'm feeding a crowd, I appreciate recipes that feel special but still give me time to socialize. That’s why this sheet pan peppers and sausages recipe is one of my favorites!

This is a recipe for Italian sausages and peppers—but a lot of people still call it by its Italian name: Giambotta, and sometimes “jambot” here in the U.S. Now, if you start researching giambotta, you'll quickly discover there are countless variations. This dish is most popular in Southern Italy, and depending on where you are, it’s spelled differently: Giambotta, ciambotta, ciamfotta, and others all refer to (almost) the same dish. Some recipes are more like a vegetable stew with tomatoes, broth, or wine. Others are vegetable-heavy, using whatever happens to be growing in the garden that week.

My homemade giambotta recipe used a simple combination of potatoes, peppers, onions, and Italian sausage. My family would roast them all together until they were caramelized and oh-so-flavorful. Whether you choose mild Italian sausage or hot Italian sausage depends entirely on your family's tastes. It wasn't fancy, and it didn't need to be! It was the kind of hearty comfort food that we all loved the most. Over the years, I've adapted this recipe into an easy sheet pan dinner that’s perfect for entertaining and busy nights. Everything cooks together on one sheet pan, so cleanup is really simple. Plus, the vegetables soak up all those flavors as they roast! Try it with a generous slice of crusty Italian bread and maybe an Italian Chopped Salad on the side.


Giambotta (Sausage & Peppers)

This hearty giambotta recipe brings together roasted potatoes, colorful peppers, onions, and Italian sausage for a classic comfort dish. Inspired by family traditions and simple home cooking, it's an easy one-pan dinner that's perfect for feeding a crowd.

Yield
6 servings
Prep Time
15 minutes 15 min
Cook Time
30 minutes 30 min
Total Time
45 minutes 45 min

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees.
  2. Using a sheet pan with a rim OR a large, shallow roasting pan, spread the vegetables out in a single layer, avoiding overcrowding.
  3. Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle with salt and black pepper to taste. Toss to evenly coat.
  4. Roast the vegetables for about 30 minutes, making sure to stir them several times.
  5. Pierce the tops of the sausages with a fork, then place them on the top of the roasted vegetables.
  6. Put the pan back into the oven and bake for an additional 25-30 minutes. The sausages should be nicely browned with an internal temperature of 160 degrees. There should be no pink inside and no juice leaking out.
  7. Serve with fresh Italian bread. No Italian dish is complete without a generous slice of good Italian bread!
Giambotta (Sausage & Peppers)

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Classic Italian-American Chopped Salad

This is perfect for dinner at home or for bringing to a party. Serve it with my Herby Parmesan Vinaigrette. Make it light and refreshing or hearty and filling—it’s all up to you! It’s crunchy and tangy, and the pepperoncini adds a little kick. It’s healthy, packed with flavor, and super colorful. Looks beautiful on any table. 

Yield
6 Servings
Prep Time
20 minutes 20 min
Cook Time
0 minutes0 min
Total Time
20 minutes 20 min

Ingredients

Instructions

  1. In a jar with a tight-fitting lid, combine all of the vinaigrette ingredients. Put the lid on and give the jar a good shake. Your vinaigrette can be prepared up to one week ahead—just make sure to refrigerate it if you’re not using it right away. Take the vinaigrette out of the fridge about 15 minutes before you dress your salad.
  2. In a large bowl, combine your prepared vegetables, provolone cheese, pepperoncini, and kalamata olives. Drizzle the salad with dressing, just enough to lightly coat everything. Toss gently to combine and sprinkle the top of the salad with the Parmesan cheese and serve.
Classic Italian-American Chopped Salad
Tips

My family takes sausage pretty seriously. Every year, my Uncle Ralph would gather the family together for sausage-making day. He’d cover the tables with gigantic cutting boards, sharpen all the knives, and pile mountains of fresh pork up for processing. Then we’d all get to work! My cousins and I would spend the whole day helping, laughing, and listening to Uncle Ralph's stories. He’d always fry up a few links before the batch was finished to make sure the seasoning was just right.

For this recipe, both mild and hot Italian sausage work beautifully. If you enjoy extra heat, choose hot sausage or add an extra spoonful of giardiniera when you serve it up! Make sure to check out my recipe for homemade giardiniera while you’re at it!

Italian sausage is definitely my first choice because of the way it’s seasoned. Whether you choose mild or hot Italian sausage is entirely up to you. That said, this recipe is pretty flexible. You could substitute chicken sausage, turkey sausage, or even a smoked sausage if that's what you prefer or have on hand. Just keep in mind that each variety will add its own unique flavor to the dish. If you're looking for that classic Italian sausage and peppers experience, traditional Italian sausage is the way to go.

Fresh vegetables will always give you the best texture and flavor in a sheet pan dinner like this one. Frozen peppers and onions contain more moisture, which will make it harder to achieve caramelized edges. If frozen vegetables are your only option, they'll work in a pinch. Just thaw and drain them thoroughly before roasting, and expect them to be softer than if you used fresh produce.

Aside from opting for fresh veggies, the secret is giving everything enough room on the pan. If the vegetables are too close together, they'll steam instead of roast. I like to spread all my ingredients out in a single layer. You can always use two sheet pans if necessary. Don't skip flipping the vegetables during cooking, either! A good stir helps everything brown evenly and develop that yummy roasted flavor. A hot oven and a little patience are all you need!

Yes, of course! This is a quick sheet pan meal that reheats beautifully. You can roast everything earlier in the day and rewarm before serving or make it a day ahead and refrigerate it overnight. To reheat, place the mixture on a sheet pan in a 350-degree oven until everything is warmed through. The flavors may even deepen a little while the dish rests—the leftovers are just as enjoyable as the original meal!

Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. When you're ready to enjoy them again, simply reheat them in the oven or in a skillet on the stovetop.

In my opinion, no Italian-inspired meal is complete without a big slice of good Italian bread. It’s perfect for soaking up all the flavorful juices on your plate! If you're serving this as part of a larger family dinner, a chopped Italian salad is a wonderful addition. You could also pair it with pasta or polenta for a more substantial spread. When I'm entertaining, I like to serve this dish buffet-style and let everyone build their own plate.

Extra Bits

Giambotta is a rustic Southern Italian meat and vegetable dish that varies from region to region and even from family to family. Traditionally, you'll find varying blends of potatoes, peppers, onions, eggplant, zucchini, tomatoes, and herbs. Many families add sausage, fish, or other proteins to make it a complete meal. You'll quickly discover there are countless variations. This dish is most popular in Southern Italy, and depending on where you are, it’s spelled differently: Giambotta, ciambotta, ciamfotta, and others all refer to (almost) the same dish. Here in the U.S. Giambotta it is sometimes “jambot.” Some recipes are more like a vegetable stew with tomatoes, broth, or wine. Others are vegetable-heavy, using whatever happens to be growing in the garden that week.

Looking for more sausage recipes? My Red Beans and Andouille Sausage recipe is packed with bold flavor and makes a hearty meal any time of year.

Mary’s Mardi Gras Red Beans and Andouille Sausage➝

If you happen to have leftover Italian sausage, put it to good use in my Stuffed Acorn Squash with Wild Rice and Sweet Italian Sausage recipe. It's one of my favorite ways to transform leftovers into something completely new.

Stuffed Acorn Squash with Wild Rice and Sweet Italian Sausage➝

To round out your meal, serve these sheet pan peppers and sausages with my Italian Chopped Salad and Homemade Vinaigrette. The fresh vegetables and bright dressing balance the richness of the sausage perfectly.

Mary’s Italian Chopped Salad with Homemade Vinaigrette➝

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