Description
This One-Pot Smoked Sausage and Rice is a flavorful, hearty meal that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Savory smoked sausage simmers with tender rice, colorful bell peppers, and aromatic spices—all cooked together in a single pan for easy preparation and cleanup. You’ll love how each spoonful bursts with smoky, savory goodness, and how quickly dinner comes together in under 40 minutes.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
For the Sausage and Vegetables
- 14 oz (400g) smoked sausage (kielbasa or andouille), sliced into rounds
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 medium yellow onion, diced
- 1 red bell pepper, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
For the Rice
- 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 (14.5 oz) can diced tomatoes, drained
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
To Finish
- 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
- Sauté the Sausage – Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add the sliced smoked sausage, and cook for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally, until browned and fragrant. Remove with a slotted spoon and set aside.
- Cook the Vegetables – In the same pan, add the diced onion, red bell pepper, and green bell pepper. Sauté until the vegetables begin to soften, about 4 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another 1 minute, stirring frequently.
- Add Rice and Spices – Stir in the rinsed rice, smoked paprika, dried thyme, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to combine the seasonings and allow the rice to toast lightly for about 1 minute.
- Simmer Everything Together – Pour in the chicken broth and drained diced tomatoes. Return the browned sausage to the pan, stir everything together, and bring to a gentle boil. Reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 18–20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is absorbed.
- Rest and Serve – Remove the pan from heat and let it stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork, garnish with chopped parsley if desired, and serve hot.
Notes
- You can substitute brown rice; increase simmering time and broth accordingly.
- Smoked turkey sausage or chicken sausage works as a lighter alternative.
- Add a pinch of cayenne pepper or hot sauce for extra heat.
- This dish reheats well and can be made ahead for meal prep.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1/4 of recipe
- Calories: 425
- Sugar: 5g
- Sodium: 910mg
- Fat: 22g
- Saturated Fat: 7g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 18g
- Cholesterol: 50mg
