4.86 from 94 votes

One-Pot Smoked Sausage And Rice

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Easy one-pot smoked sausage and rice is a quick and easy meal that’s great for any weeknight. Full of savory smoked sausage, tender diced pepper in a flavorful tomato rice, this quick and easy meal will satisfy the whole family including picky eaters!

Sausage and red rice in a skillet being scooped with a wooden spoon.


 

Why We Love Smoked Sausage And Rice

  • Easy And Quick Meal – I love one pot meals for getting dinner on the table fast. This rice skillet is perfect for busy weeknights and only one pan to clean is the best part!
  • Budget-Friendly Simple Ingredients – When my budget is stretched a little thinner, this dish is a great recipe to serve without breaking the bank. The simple ingredients in this easy sausage and rice recipe are items I often already have in the refrigerator.
  • Similar to Jambalaya – I am not Cajun, don’t have roots in New Orleans, and this recipe is not authentic. However it is a filling and inexpensive meal that my whole family loves and yours will too. Check out this jambalaya recipe if you are looking for a more authentic version. This version satisfies my picky eater and can be a great jumping off point for trying more complex flavors.

Ingredients For Smoked Sausage And Rice

Ingredients for smoked sausage and rice in bowls on a counter from overhead with title text overlays.

Find the full printable recipe with specific measurements and directions below in the recipe card.

  • smoked sausage – like polish kielbasa – sliced into rounds. You can use smoked Italian sausage, polish sausage, a spicy sausage like andouille sausage, or any beef or pork smoked sausage. Chicken and turkey smoked sausage is also delicious. Any size 12-14 ounces will work whether it’s Hillshiere Farms, Aidelle or whatever your favorite brand is.
  • onion diced, about 1/2 medium onion for 1/2 cup
  • red bell pepper diced
  • olive oil
  • paprika smoked paprika will give more flavor if you have it. I useeither a smoked paprika or a sweet paprika, a hot paprika can make it much spicier.
  • oregano
  • garlic powder
  • salt
  • black pepper
  • 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
  • 1 cup white rice long grain. This is regular long grain white rice, you can not use instant rice or Minute rice in this recipe as the liquid will be off and the rice will be too wet.
  • tomato paste

This cheesy smoked sausage pasta is another great easy one-pot dinner the family will ;ove. Try more easy one-pot dinner recipes with this one-pot unstuffed pepper skillet, one-pot cheeseburger pasta or easy one-pot ground turkey spaghetti.

How To Make Smoked Sausage And Rice

  1. Slice the kielbasa into small rounds that are about ¼ inch thick. Dice the onion and bell pepper into small pieces between ¼ and ½ inch. In a small bowl mix together the paprika, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper, then set to the side.
  2. In a large sautee pan or 12 inch skillet with a lid, add a tablespoons of olive oil and turn a burner on to medium high heat. Add the sliced kielbasa to the pan. Cook the sausage for 5-6 minutes until browned on each side, stirring occasionally. Add onions and sauté until the onion begins to brown and soften, another 3-4 minutes.
A skillet filled with cooked sausage pieces and onions, with a bowl of rice and a measuring cup of broth on the table nearby.
  1. To the pan add the chicken broth, rice, tomato paste, bell pepper, and the spices mixed together, the paprika, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir well until fully mixed. Bring the liquid in the pan to a boil.
  1. Once boiling, cover the pan with a lid and turn the heat down to medium low to keep the liquid simmering. Cook covered for 20-23 minutes until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is gone. A little liquid still in the pan is ok as long as the rice is tender but it shouldn’t be runny. Top with a light sprinkle of fresh parsley or chopped green onions, then enjoy!
Cooked sausage and red tomato rice in a skillet from above.

Variation Ideas

This dish is similar to jambalaya. While I don’t have cajun or creole roots, I can take some of the same ideas used in jambalaya and add it to the pot for a delicious dinner and you can too. This dish is flexible, you can add extra items you may already have in the refrigerator.

  • Add Some Heat – I have kept this recipe fairly mild because it tends to be what my child will eat. However if you like a little heat you can kick this up a few notches. Try adding 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper, a few dashes of hot sauce or 1/2 teaspoon of a cajun seasoning blend before you cook the rice for a little extra kick. Feel free to adjust any of these spices to your own taste preferences.
  • Spice It Up At The Table – Hot sauce or red pepper flakes can be used to give this dish more kick at the table without having to make the entire one – pot meal spicy.
  • Mix Up The Vegetables – This is a really easy recipe to use up some of the leftover vegetables in the fridge as long as you dice them small. A large carrot, a zucchini, a stalk or two of celery, or even mushrooms can all be easily thrown into this one pot dish easily.
  • Add More Proteins – Both chicken and shrimp go well in this dish. You can add precooked pieces of most proteins you may have on hand, it’s a great way to use up a little leftover chicken or even steak. If the protein you have is not cooked, you can sautee it with a little extra oil until cooked after the onions but before adding the sausage.
  • Try Beans- A 16 ounce can of drained red beans like kidney beans or black beans can also be added to round out this dish or make it stretch a little further.

Is Smoked Sausage Already Cooked?

Yes, smoked sausage has been cooked during the smoking process. It is still important to brown this sausage though because it adds a lot of flavor to the dish and the texture of the sausage will be more delicious.

You can also use the mini little smoke sausages like is used in this BBQ little smokies appetizer or pigs in a blanket.

Can I Use Raw Sausage In This Recipe?

You can use raw sausages like Italian sausages or brats in this dish if that’s what you have but you must cook the sausage all the way through before adding the rice, broth and other ingredients.

If using raw sausages bake or boil the sausages before slicing them, or you can even cook sausages in the instant pot pretty fast (even from frozen!) Raw sausages when sliced will fall apart into ground meat, which won’t give you the the big juicy pieces of meat in this dish.

Using a raw sausage will change the overall flavor of the dish. The smoking process adds a lot of smoky flavor to the finished recipe.

A bowl of rice and sausage with a spoon scooping with a family sized bowl full of more of the dish in the background.

Can I Use Smoked Turkey Sausage or Smoke Chicken Sausage?

Yes, you can find many really delicious smoked turkey sausage and chicken sausage options in the grocery store. I have found almost all go well with this dish.

Why Is My Sausage And Rice Mushy?

Once the lid has covered the pot, you don’t want to stir it a lot. This allows the rice to steam and soak up all of that delicious broth.

Overcooking the rice can also sometimes cause it to be mushy. You want a little bit of liquid still left in the pan once finished cooking so the rice steams well.

Adding extra ingredients with a lot of water in them straight to the dish can lead to a mush rice. Dicing and cooking vegetables with the onions can help remove that water so the rice doesn’t end up mushy.

What To Serve With Smoked Sausage And Rice

Smoked Sausage and rice can be a complete meal on it’s own, however an extra side on the table can help stretch your meal even further. Here are a few ideas to add to your meal.

Apple Cranberry Salad or any side salad

Quick Cornbread Muffins

Pull Apart Cheesy Garlic Bread (with store-bought biscuit dough)

Steamed Green Beans

Sauteed Broccoli

How Long Will Smoked Sausage And Rice Last?

Expect this dish will last for about 3-4 days in the refrigerator if stored in a covered airtight container.

Leftovers of this recipe reheat easily the next day in the microwave and are great for meal prep. I will sometimes sprinkle a little water or broth lightly onto the rice if it is close to the end to help keep the rice from drying out further in the microwave.

Sausage and rice in a pan with a wooden spoon.
Recipe

One Pot Smoked Sausage And Rice


Course Dinners
Cuisine American
Prep Time 12 minutes
Cook Time 28 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings 6 Servings
Smoked sausage and rice is an easy dinner that is made fast with your favorite sausage, peppers, rice, and seasonings! This quick and easy weeknight meal is perfect for the whole family.

Ingredients  

  • 14 ounces smoked sausage like kielbasa – sliced into rounds
  • 1/2 cup onion diced, about 1/2 medium onion for 1/2 cup
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil
  • 1/2 teaspoon paprika smoked paprika will give more flavor if you have it
  • 1 teaspoon oregano
  • 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 cups chicken broth low sodium
  • 1 cup white rice long grain
  • 3 tablespoons tomato paste

Instructions

  • Slice the kielbasa into small rounds that are about ¼ inch thick. Dice the onion and bell pepper into small pieces between ¼ and ½ inch. In a small bowl mix together the paprika, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper, then set to the side.
  • In a large sautee pan or 12 inch skillet with a lid, add a tablespoons of olive oil and turn a burner on to medium high heat. Add the sliced kielbasa to the pan. Cook the sausage for 5-6 minutes until browned on each side, stirring occasionally. Add onions and sauté until the onion begins to brown and soften, another 3-4 minutes.
  • To the pan add the chicken broth, rice, tomato paste, bell pepper, and the spices mixed together, the paprika, oregano, garlic powder, salt and pepper. Stir well until fully mixed. Bring the liquid in the pan to a boil.
  • Once boiling, cover the pan with a lid and turn the heat down to medium low to keep the liquid simmering. Cook covered for 20-23 minutes until the rice is tender and most of the liquid is gone. A little liquid still in the pan is ok as long as the rice is tender but it shouldn’t be runny. Top with a light sprinkle of fresh parsley or chopped green onions, then enjoy!

Video

Notes

This recipe uses regular long grain white rice. You can not use instant rice or Minute rice in this recipe as the liquid will be off and the rice will be too wet.

Nutrition

Calories: 376kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 11g | Fat: 23g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2g | Monounsaturated Fat: 12g | Cholesterol: 49mg | Sodium: 1112mg | Potassium: 325mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 3g | Vitamin A: 764IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 1mg
Keyword one pot, pork, rice, sausage

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Recipe Rating




52 Comments

  1. Wanda VanSingel says:

    5 stars
    This was really good! I added a can of pinto beans and some frozen peas just for color. Definitely use the smoked paprika. I did have to add more liquid as it cooked. Wish I could post a picture!

  2. LaDonna Curtis says:

    5 stars
    Followed recipe exactly as written. Absolutely delicious and very easy. This is a winner!

  3. 5 stars
    I made it with tri-color quinoa instead of rice, same liquid amounts and it was perfect! I did add more garlic powder (x4) for my flavor likings.

  4. Can I use a Dutch oven to make this or would you recommend a different kind of pot?

    1. You should be able to use a dutch oven for this recipe without issue. I assume you mean cast iron or enambled cast iron dutch oven. You may want to nudge he heat down a little when you are browning the sausage just because cast iron dutch ovens tend to hold the heat really well. If the heat is too high at first it may not drop easily and as quickly when you go to lower the heat, and may scorch the rice. So just keep the temps a little lower, and it should be a ok. ๐Ÿ™‚ Hope you enjoy!

  5. C Sheelar says:

    5 stars
    Made this for Sunday lunch today. It is a great, quick recipe. I did use Minute Rice for the convenienceโ€”just reduced the amount of broth to amount of rice.
    I added mushrooms, and jalapeรฑosโ€” vegetables that were on their way past prime.

  6. Very good, I used mild Italian sausage , fried it up then cut it into medallions

  7. 5 stars
    I can’t reply to your comment, but I previously mentioned how it was spicy for my toddler. You were correct, I did use regular paprika. I made it again & less heat but still didn’t gage because usually when I cook with paprika, I don’t get that much heat. I just flipped through the comments for tips and saw your reply. Thank you! Funny thing is I was at the store the other day and saw Sweet Paprika. I almost bought it but didn’t know the difference. Now I do! And will use it here because I love the ease and simplicity of this dinner.

    1. Oh good Sonja, I am so glad that is the paprika because now you know! Phew!

      Sweet paprika is usually 100% dried bell pepper, usually the sweeter colors like red, yellow and orange. My understanding is on the spicier version it’s a blend of dried peppers that are all in the same family as bell pepper but add the extra spice.

      Smoked paprika has a little grill smokiness going on, like you charred the bell pepper on the grill before drying it. It usually isn’t spicy but does have a little more flavor that your kid may or may not like.

      Sometimes they just call it “paprika” and they usually means sweet paprika and not spicy, but it can depend on the company as to the blend of peppers they use. So glad you love the recipe, and now you can make the best choice for your family too!

  8. 5 stars
    Love this easy and great tasting dish. I used some hot peppers to give it a little spice.

  9. 5 stars
    Everyone loves this, even my picky eaters!! So easy to throw together and comes out great every single time!

  10. Christine says:

    This is so good! But I’m way over the time to cook snd the white rice is still a bit crunchy. What am I doing wrong?

  11. 5 stars
    Really good, super easy! I used turkey sausage and it was still amazing.

  12. Charisse G says:

    5 stars
    Wanting to make this tonight but curious if you think green bell peppers would be ok to use? Thanks!

    1. You can totally use green peppers. I often cook with red, yellow or orange bell pepper because they don’t have as much bite as green peppers do and my child accepts that easier. Hope that helps!

  13. Paula Johnston says:

    5 stars
    Confession: I’ve not made this yet, but it is the plan for our meal tonight. One question, please – Have you ever added a small can of tomatoes, drained?

    This is a wonderful recipe and it’s so obvious how hard you work to get these done and shared. At 72 years of age, I’ll continue enjoying all you’ve created and say Thank You So Much!

    For the record – you have such a sweet smile. Keep that up.

  14. 5 stars
    This was so good! We donโ€™t love smoked sausage but the flavors in the dish were amazing. My son even asked what seasoning I used and said itโ€™s the best dinner ever!

  15. Sarah Reasoner says:

    5 stars
    Delicious, quick, and easy. Loved it! I followed the recipe exactly as isโ€ฆ

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