This post has been sponsored by Farmer John®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
This easy Sausage Bowl with Quinoa and Peppers is a family favorite. The Farmer John® Polksa Smoked Sausage gives this dish such great flavor! Add in the quinoa and arugula, and you've got a balanced meal that comes together in about 30 minutes.
Each member of my family has very different tastes. My favorite recipes are ones where each person can add what they want. And I've come to realize that if my kids have a little say in what they are eating, they eat more of it.
My goal, as a busy mom, is to try to make my dinners in about 30 minutes. And I've learned that making meals in bowls is a great simple idea that we can get creative with. (Be sure to try my Mediterranean Bowls too!)
Why this recipe works
Using a quick-cooking protein (the sausage) and pairing it with good for you foods like quinoa, arugula and bell peppers, ensures your family is getting a healthy meal without you having to spend hours in the kitchen.
Just a little bit of sauteeing and a microwave is all you need in the way of cooking a Sausage Bowl.
Sausage with peppers and onions is a classic dinner recipe. Turning it into a bowl gives each family member control over how they want to eat it.
Quinoa is rich in protein and fiber, so it's a great base for building your meal on. Arugula has lots of calcium, so it's another great ingredient to include in a quick dinner idea.
It's easily reheated if schedules don't align and leftovers are great for lunches the next day!
If you're a fan of sausage be sure to check out my easy Sausage Pizza with Brussels Sprouts. And for more arugula, you'll love this Burrata Salad with Peaches and this Beet and Goat Cheese Salad.
Ingredient notes
I purchased all my ingredients for this sausage bowl, including the Farmer John's Polska Smoked Sausage Rope, from Ralphs! It's my favorite neighborhood market and has the best staff! They are so supportive of our elementary school and always help me find the products I'm looking for. You can also find Farmer John Smoked Sausage at Food 4 Less.
Click on the button below to add all of my recipe's ingredients to your shopping cart.
I love using Farmer John Polska Smoked Sausage for quick meals. The flavor is delicious, it's super easy to cook, and my family always loves it.
Frozen quinoa is a must! It's perfect every time, and you just pop it in the microwave and ignore it. Of course, you can make your own on the stove, but I pretty much only use the frozen BECAUSE IT'S SO EASY!
You can also use farro if you like that better. My Roasted Vegetable Farro Salads are actually very similar to these Sausage Bowls!
Fresh basil and garlic, plus a flavorful olive oil are all you need to get tons of flavor! Red pepper flakes are optional but add a wonderful amount of heat!
How to Make a Sausage Bowl with Quinoa and Peppers
Chop the onion and bell peppers.
This can be done ahead of time if you like to do your prep ahead of time for the week. I try to do this on Sunday to keep our weeknight dinners as fast as possible.
Slice the dinner sausage into even sized coins.
In a large non-stick skillet, add olive oil and sauté onions until soft tender, about 6 minutes.
Add garlic and stir for about 30 seconds until nice and fragrant. Add the bell peppers and sauté until soft but not mushy, about 3 minutes.
Add the dinner sausage and heat through, mixing with peppers and onions as it heats.
In the meantime, make quinoa in microwave according to package directions.
If having your family build their own Sausage Bowls, set out the pan of sausage and peppers, a bowl of aurgula and a bowl of quinoa.
To build a Sausage Bowl, add arugula to a bowl.
Top with quinoa. Spoon a serving of sausage and peppers over the top of the quinoa.
Top with red paper flakes if desired and torn, fresh basil.
I love the little bit of spice that red pepper flakes give a dish like this but if you're not into it, just skip it. The warmth of the Farmer John dinner sausage and peppers makes the arugula wilt a little, which I love.
This dish is hearty and filling and perfect as the weather starts to cool down. And while the ingredients are on the healthier side, this Sausage Bowl is comfort food at its finest.
Top tips
- Look for pre-chopped onions and peppers (they sometimes have these in the produce section or in the freezer section). You can also buy crushed garlic in a tube and use a sprinkle of dried basil.
- Don't want to spend the time at the stove? You can bake the peppers and onion in the oven using this recipe.
- Feel free to add even more veggies to this dish! Just roast or sauté them and mix with the sausage!
- Since the quinoa has protein, the sausage can be left off for any vegetarian family members.
- If you prefer, you can substitute rice instead of quinoa. Brown will have some nutritional value, but white rice is always tasty.
Frequently asked questions
Yes! If you have spicy sausage that you love, you can substitute that. If you're worried about how much heat the finished dish will have, consider leaving off the red pepper flakes.
Kielbasa, when sold in the US, is always precooked. So when making this quinoa and sausage dish, you just need to warm through the sausage.
From my research, it looks like the traditional sausage and peppers idea originated in Italy. But polish sausage is just as good with peppers and onions and has been a staple around the world for centuries.
If you're looking for a quick and easy weeknight dinner idea, you need to try this Quinoa Bowl with Sausage and Peppers. Your whole family will love this delicious dish!
This Sausage Bowl dinner idea can easily be modified to make an endless number of options. Just take whatever meals your family loves, and serve them over quinoa with arugula.
Flavor Varieties for Your Next Sausage Bowl
- German | Dinner sausage, sauerkraut, sauteed apples
- Jambalaya | Dinner sausage, shrimp, onion, green bell pepper, jalapenos, okra
- BBQ | Shredded chicken, jack cheese, cilantro, and a drizzle of barbecue sauce
- Stir Fry | Ground turkey, sliced carrots, green onions, broccoli, teriyaki sauce
- Chicken Parm | Chicken tenders, red sauce, mozzarella
- Taco | Seasoned ground beef, cheddar cheese, sour cream, cilantro
Related recipes
Sausage Bowl with Quinoa and Peppers
Ingredients
- 1 Farmer John Polska Kielbasa sliced
- 1 Red Bell Pepper chopped
- 1 Orange Bell Pepper chopped
- 1 Yellow Bell Pepper chopped
- 1 Yellow Onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic crushed
- 1 bag frozen quinoa cooked
- 1 bag arugula
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- fresh basil for topping
- red pepper flakes optional
Instructions
- Chop the onion and bell peppers.
- Slice the sausage into even-sized coins.
- In a large non-stick skillet, add olive oil and saute onions until soft tender, about 6 minutes.
- Add crushed garlic and stir for about 30 seconds until nice and fragrant.
- Add peppers and sauté until soft but not mushy about 3 minutes. (They'll continue to cook in the next step).
- Add the sausage and heat through, mixing with peppers and onions as it heats.
- In the meantime, make quinoa in microwave according to package directions.
- To serve, add arugula in a bowl.
- Top with quinoa.
- Spoon a serving of sausage and peppers over the top of the quinoa.
- Tear basil and add to the bowl.
- Top with red paper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Nutrition information is off. Since there's not exact amount to use for arugula and "cooked" quinoa will vary in size, the nutrition calculator is doing it's best!
- Look for pre-chopped onions and peppers (they sometimes have these in the produce section or in the freezer section). You can also buy crushed garlic in a tube and use a sprinkle of dried basil.
- Don't want to spend the time at the stove? You can bake the peppers and onion in the oven using this recipe.
- Feel free to add even more veggies to this dish! Just roast or sauté them and mix with the sausage!
- Since the quinoa has protein, the sausage can be left off for any vegetarian family members.
- Can't find frozen quinoa? Just make it on the stove. Follow the instructions on the quinoa package.
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