Need a no-fuss dinner that doesn't require a lot of cleanup? This easy sausage and rice meal is perfect for busy nights when you don't feel much like cooking or cleaning dishes. It's a comforting, simple meal full of meaty sausage nestled into soft rice with tomatoes and aromatic vegetables. The whole family will love it!
I make this often on busy weeknights when I don't feel much like cooking, and it's perfect in warmer months when I don't want to turn on the oven. We love rice bowls in our house, and after creating my fajita rice bowls I knew I needed another recipe like it.
Each serving of this meal has about 20 grams of protein, clean carbs, and vitamin-rich vegetables. I serve it with a simple garden side salad to add even more vegetables and fiber.
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Ingredients
We'll be using simple, easy-to-find ingredients in this recipe and preparation includes nothing more than chopping some onion and pepper. I like to use Italian-style chicken sausage to keep the fat content low, but traditional pork sausage works here too. My sausages are already fully cooked, which helps cut down on cooking time. If you're using raw sausage, you'll want to cook it in step 1 until it's cooked through.
Here's what you'll need:
- Italian sausage
- white rice
- green bell pepper
- onion
- Italian seasoning
- garlic powder
- canned fire-roasted tomatoes
- chicken stock
- olive oil
- parsley for garnish
How to Make This Sausage and Rice Meal
To make this meal we'll start by slicing the sausage into ¼ inch rounds and dice the vegetables. We'll cook those for a few minutes then add our rice, spices, tomatoes, and broth. That will simmer until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed. Garnish with parsley and enjoy!
- Sauté your sausages and vegetables.
- Add in your spices, rice, stock, and tomatoes.
- Simmer over low heat until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff gently with a fork and garnish with fresh parsley.
A note about salt: I recommend tasting for salt at the end of cooking, as sausages and stock vary in salt content. I use Kitchen Basics organic chicken stock with a fair amount of sodium and add a pinch of salt at the end. If you're trying to watch your sodium intake, use a low-sodium or no-sodium stock and season as you see fit.
Variations
I like this with sweet Italian sausage because it's mildly spiced and kid-friendly, but feel free to try it with your favorite choice.
- Make it spicy - if you like heat feel free to use hot Italian sausage
- Try bratwurst - brats will also work here, but make sure you cook them through before adding the rice.
- Mix up the peppers - I like green peppers best in this, but if you don't have green any color will work.
Use a large deep pan
We're cooking everything in one pan for this recipe so you'll want to use a large deep pan or skillet. You'll need a lid to cover, but if you don't have a lid you can use a sheet of aluminum foil.
I use my All-Clad 3 quart stainless steel pan which works perfectly for this. All-Clads are pricey, but after using mine for 15 years I can honestly say they're worth it. If you don't have a large pan like this or a deep skillet, you could also make this in a large pot. A pot with a large dimension will give you enough surface area to brown your sausages more evenly and cook the vegetables.
Storing leftovers
Leftovers can be covered and kept in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or a pan on the stove until heated through.
I do not recommend freezing leftovers, as the rice does not hold up well and the texture becomes mushy.
Tips For Making This Sausage and Rice Meal
This is an easy meal to make but here are some tips to ensure it comes out delicious:
- Make sure the rice doesn't burn. Stir it one or two times while it cooks and ensure it's not sticking to the bottom of the pan. If you use an electric stove and your rice sticks to the bottom of the pan, move the pan off the heat for a few seconds to help it cool down.
- Be sure to reduce your heat as mentioned in step 7. If the heat is too high the liquid will absorb too quickly and your rice won't be soft enough. If this happens, add another splash or two of stock.
- It's worth repeating: I recommend tasting for salt and adding it at the end of cooking this dish. It's much easier to add a little salt than to deal with a dish that came out too salty.
- I always try to buy organic bell peppers when I can, as they are known to contain some of the highest levels of pesticide residue.
FAQ
This is a one-pan meal and is great as-is. However, I occasionally serve this with a simple garden salad to add even more vegetables and fiber. Roasted or grilled vegetables like zucchini and summer squash will also be delicious to increase your veggie intake. The meal has a lot of Italian flavors, so a toasty piece of garlic bread is also a great side option.
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Easy Sausage and Rice Meal
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 oz fully cooked Italian chicken sausage Pork and uncooked sausage works, too.
- 2 green bell peppers diced
- 1 large onion diced
- 1 ½ teaspoon Italian seasoning
- ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon onion powder
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 15 oz canned fire roasted tomatoes
- 1 ½ cup chicken stock
- freshly chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Preheat a large deep skillet over medium heat.
- While your pan is heating, slice your sausages into ¼ inch slices.
- Drizzle your olive oil in the pan and let it heat, then add your sausages, pepper, and onion.
- Cook the sausages and vegetables for about 5 minutes, stirring once or twice, until your vegetables have softened. If you're using uncooked sausage, continue cooking until the sausages are cooked through.
- Once your vegetables have softened, stir in your spices and cook for about a minute until fragrant.
- Add your tomatoes, rice, and broth then stir until well combined. Scrape up anything that has accumulated at the bottom of the pan because that will add flavor to the dish.
- Bring the broth to a simmer and cover the skillet. Reduce the heat to low and continue cooking for about 30 minutes, until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed. Stir the rice once or twice during cooking and be sure the bottom doesn't burn. If the bottom starts sticking or burning, slide the pan off the heat for a few seconds.
- Once the rice is cooked, take the skillet off the heat and let it rest for five minutes. Taste it for salt and pepper and season to your taste. Fluff gently with a fork, garnish with freshly chopped parsley, and enjoy!
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