Easy Quinoa and Sausage Bowl Recipe with Peppers

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This easy Quinoa and Sausage Bowl recipe with Peppers is a family favorite dinner. 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.

Overhead shot of a sausage bowl served over quinoa with peppers and onions in a serving bowl on a table. — Let’s make this quinoa and sausage bowl recipe.

This sausage quinoa bowl recipe has been sponsored by Farmer John®. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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.

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.

Related: Mediterranean Bowls

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

Labeled ingredients to make a Sausage and Quinoa bowl. — What you need to make a quinoa sausage bowl.

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.

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

A woman cutting an orange bell pepper on a cutting board.

Step 1

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.

A woman cutting a Kielbasa sausage on a cutting board.

Step 2

Slice the dinner sausage into even sized coins.

Woman cooking sausage and peppers on the stove.

Step 3

In a large non-stick skillet, add olive oil and sauté onions until soft tender, about 6 minutes.

Step 4

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.

Step 5

Add the dinner sausage and heat through, mixing with peppers and onions as it heats.

Step 6

In the meantime, make quinoa in microwave according to package directions.

How to Serve

A woman adding quinoa to a bowl with arugula.

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.

A woman adding fresh basil to a sausage bowl with quinoa to a bowl on the counter.

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

Can you make a Sausage Bowl with spicy sausage?

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.

Is Kielbasa already cooked?

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.

Where did sausage and peppers originate?

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.

A serving dish and bowl of Quinoa and Sausage with peppers on a table next to a bowl of arugula and a red bell pepper.

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