Calabrian Italian Sausage Tacos in the Crockpot for Easy Dinners
Upgrade your busy weeknight taco night with these flavorful Calabrian Italian sausage crockpot tacos. Sweet Italian sausage simmers low and slow with fire-roasted red peppers, garlic, and spicy Calabrian chili paste until remarkably tender and juicy. It is a completely hands-off meal that delivers maximum comfort with minimal prep, making it perfect for crowded family schedules or relaxed weekend dinners.
Prep: 15 minCook: 4 hrTotal: 4 hr 15 minServes: 6
Ingredients
- 1 1/2 lb ground sweet Italian sausage
- 1 cup diced roasted red bell peppers, drained
- 1/2 cup finely chopped yellow onion
- 1/4 cup crushed fire-roasted tomatoes
- 1 tbsp Calabrian chili paste
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
- 12 small corn tortillas, warmed
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
- 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil for garnish
Instructions
- Add the raw ground Italian sausage, diced roasted red peppers, chopped yellow onion, crushed fire-roasted tomatoes, Calabrian chili paste, minced garlic, dried oregano, salt, and black pepper directly to the crockpot insert.
- Break apart the sausage into small crumbles using a wooden spoon and stir gently to mix with the aromatics.
- Cover and cook on LOW for 4 hours (or HIGH for 2 hours) until the sausage is fully cooked through and reaches an internal temperature of at least 165 F.
- Uncover and break up any remaining meat crumbles with a spoon, stirring well so the sausage absorbs the warm chili pan juices.
- Spoon the hot Italian sausage mixture generously into warmed corn tortillas.
- Garnish each taco with shredded mozzarella cheese and fresh chopped basil right before serving.
Tips
- For a creamier filling, stir 2 tbsp of cream cheese into the crockpot during the last 15 minutes of cooking.
- Store cooled sausage taco filling in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.
- If serving guests who prefer mild spice, reduce the Calabrian chili paste to 1 tsp or replace it with sweet tomato paste.