Name: Carnival or Feast Sausage and Peppers
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 35 min
Total time: 45 min
Yield: 8
Cuisine: American, Italian
Ingredients: 8 hot Italian sausages or 8 Italian sweet sausages; 2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil; 1 large onion, halved and sliced (for me, these are optional); 6 large Italianelle sweet peppers, any kind you prefer (or long hot peppers, if you prefer heat); 2 garlic cloves, minced; salt and pepper, to taste; 1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional); 8 large hoagie rolls

Sausage and Pepper Hoagie is a popular food found at many Carnivals, which are festive seasons with music, parades, and elaborate displays in Central NY and many other countries.

If you’ve ever attended a Central NY church festival, Italian feast, or summer carnival, chances are you’ve smelled the irresistible aroma of sizzling sausages, onions, and peppers drifting through the air.

The classic Sausage and Peppers Sandwich is an Italian-American tradition loved by families for generations, not just in New York but at street fairs, backyard cookouts, and festivals around the world.

Juicy Italian sausage tucked inside a crusty roll with tender bell peppers and onions is comfort food at its best—and with a few twists, you can make it your own.

Why You Will Love This Sausage and Peppers Sandwich

Authentic flavor – This sandwich tastes just like the ones served at your favorite church feast or carnival food stand.
Customizable toppings – From melted provolone cheese to marinara sauce, the options are endless.
Easy to make at home – With just a handful of ingredients, you can recreate that nostalgic festival flavor in your own kitchen.
Versatile cooking methods – Grill, bake, roast, or sauté, no matter how you cook them, these sandwiches always come out delicious.
Perfect for crowds – Whether it’s game day, a party, or a simple family dinner, these hearty sandwiches are always a hit.

This sandwich is one of the must-haves at any Italian feast in Utica, New York. The smell of sausage and peppers cooking at the feast is mouth-watering.

Cooking the Sausage

Traditional frying method: Brown sausages in a skillet with a little olive oil until golden on all sides.
Grilling method: Place sausages on a hot grill for a smoky, charred flavor.
Baking method: Arrange sausages on a sheet pan and roast at 400°F for 25–30 minutes.
Slow Cooker: Combine sausages, peppers, onions, and sauce in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6–8 hours for a hands-off meal.

Topping Variation Suggestions

Classic Festival Style – Just sausage, peppers, and onions on a crusty roll.
Cheesy Style – Top with provolone or mozzarella and let it melt over the hot sausage.
Saucy Style – Add a ladle of marinara or tomato sauce for an Italian hoagie twist
Spicy Style – Include banana peppers, hot cherry peppers, or crushed red pepper flakes.
Gourmet Style – Spread roasted garlic aioli or pesto on the roll for a unique flavor.
Side Dish: Serve your Sausage and Peppers Sandwich with a side of roasted potatoes, French fries, or a simple green salad to balance the richness.

Why Make This Sandwich?

Bringing this Italian sandwich tradition into your kitchen means you can enjoy that nostalgic carnival flavor any time of year.

It’s budget-friendly, crowd-pleasing, and perfect for both weeknight dinners and party menus.

Plus, you control the quality of ingredients—using fresh peppers, lean sausages, and homemade bread if you’d like.

The sausage and peppers, pizza fritta, tomato pie, and roasted chickpeas are just a few of the fabulous feast treats! Located in Utica, NY. back in the 1970s.

Homemade sausage is the best.

But where I grew up, there were many places that made the best Italian sausage, which made these delicious sandwiches so popular.

We also love sausage and peppers with mozzarella melted over our submarine sandwich with Sunday Traditional Sauce.

This is homemade sausage grilled and fried peppers in a homemade hoagie roll

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Final Thoughts on Sausage and Peppers, Central N.Y. Style

The Sausage and Peppers Sandwich is more than just a meal—it’s a taste of tradition.

Whether you’ve grown up with church feast food in Central New York or are trying it for the first time, this sandwich is sure to win you over with its bold flavors and versatility.

Easy to prepare, endlessly customizable, and loved by all, this is one recipe that belongs in your collection.

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sausage recipes, carnival recipes, sausage and peppers, sausage hoagie

American, Italian

Yield: 8

Author: Claudia Lamascolo

Carnival Sausage and Peppers

Sausage and Pepper Hoagie is a popular food found at many Carnavals, which are festive seasons with music, parades, and elaborate displays in Central NY and many countries

Prep time: 10 MinCook time: 35 MinTotal time: 45 Min

Ingredients

8 hot Italian sausages or 8 Italian sweet sausages
2 tablespoons vegetable or olive oil
1 large onion, halved and sliced (for me, these are optional)
6 large Italianelle sweet peppers, any kind you prefer (or long hot peppers, if you prefer heat)
2 garlic cloves, minced
salt and pepper, to taste
1 pinch crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
8 large hoagie rolls

Instructions

Heat a few tablespoons of vegetable oil in a large pan over medium heat.
Note: this whole meal can be placed in a casserole dish and baked at 350 degrees for around 35 minutes.
Add the sausages and cook, turning frequently.
You want them browned all over, and this takes about 10 minutes.
Add the onions if using and stir up the browned bits on the bottom of the pan.
After another 2 minutes, add the peppers, garlic, salt, and pepper.
Lower the heat, cook for another 5-10 minutes until the peppers are tender and the sausages is cooked through.
Split open the sub roll, add your sausage, and top with peppers, garli,c or onions.
Additional Options: Top with homemade or store-bought marinara, mozzarella cheese, grated cheese, and broil until cheese is browned and bubbling.
Toast your sub roll with butter and garlic powder for a garlicky buttery roll.
Top with fried mushrooms in addition to your peppers, added while frying.
You can add whatever you like in spices, oregano, basil, and parsley for an herb-flavored sausage sandwich.

Notes

Cooking the Sausage

Traditional frying method: Brown sausages in a skillet with a little olive oil until golden on all sides.
Grilling method: Place sausages on a hot grill for a smoky, charred flavor.
Baking method: Arrange sausages on a sheet pan and roast at 400°F for 25–30 minutes.
Slow Cooker: Combine sausages, peppers, onions, and sauce in a slow cooker and cook on low for 6–8 hours for a hands-off meal.

Topping Variation Suggestions

Classic Festival Style – Just sausage, peppers, and onions on a crusty roll.
Cheesy Style – Top with provolone or mozzarella and let it melt over the hot sausage.
Saucy Style – Add a ladle of marinara or tomato sauce for an Italian hoagie twist
Spicy Style – Include banana peppers, hot cherry peppers, or crushed red pepper flakes.
Gourmet Style – Spread roasted garlic aioli or pesto on the roll for a unique flavor.
Side Dish: Serve your Sausage and Peppers Sandwich with a side of roasted potatoes, French fries, or a simple green salad to balance the richness.

Nutrition Facts

Calories

596

Fat (grams)

38 g

Sat. Fat (grams)

13 g

Carbs (grams)

41 g

Fiber (grams)

4 g

Net carbs

38 g

Sugar (grams)

8 g

Protein (grams)

23 g

Sodium (milligrams)

1142 mg

Cholesterol (grams)

85 mg

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