The Ultimate 30-Minute Sausage and Rice Skillet Recipe for Dinner

Sausage and rice skillet offers a delightful symphony of flavors that reinvents ordinary ingredients into an extraordinary meal.

Home cooks appreciate this one-pan wonder for its simplicity and robust taste profile.

Hearty protein meets fluffy grains in a culinary dance that satisfies deep hunger pangs.

Busy families love how quickly this dish comes together without compromising on nutrition or taste.

Savory sausage provides rich, smoky undertones that complement the mild, comforting texture of perfectly cooked rice.

Each bite promises a harmonious blend of textures and seasonings that elevate weeknight dining from mundane to memorable.

Packed with protein and easily customizable, this skillet recipe welcomes creative twists based on your pantry staples.

One Skillet, Endless Comfort

• Savor Quick One-Pan Comfort: This sausage and rice skillet delivers maximum flavor with minimal cleanup, letting you enjoy a hearty meal without spending hours in the kitchen.
• Blast of Spicy Southern Warmth: The combination of sausage, paprika, and cayenne creates a bold, zesty profile that warms you from the inside out, perfect for chilly evenings or when craving something with a kick.
• Master Simple Skillet Magic: Using just one cast iron pan transforms basic ingredients into a restaurant-quality dish, making home cooking feel like a professional culinary experience without complicated techniques or equipment.
• Customize Your Dinner Adventure: Easily swap sausage types, adjust spice levels, or add different vegetables to make this recipe uniquely yours, ensuring no two meals are exactly the same while keeping preparation super straightforward.

What Goes Into This Savory Sausage and Rice Combo

• Sausage: Hearty protein that adds rich, savory flavor and provides main meaty texture to the dish.

• Peppers, Onion: Colorful vegetables that provide sweet, slightly sharp flavor and aromatic base for the skillet.
• Garlic: Pungent ingredient that adds deep, complex flavor and enhances overall taste profile.

• Chicken Broth: Flavorful liquid that adds moisture and depth to the rice and sauce.
• Tomato Paste: Concentrated tomato product that brings rich, tangy undertone and helps thicken sauce.
• Paprika: Warm spice that contributes subtle sweetness and rich red color.
• Cayenne: Spicy ingredient that provides gentle heat and adds depth to the dish.
• Salt, Pepper: Essential seasonings that balance and enhance overall flavor.

• Rice: Staple grain that serves as the hearty base of the skillet meal.
• Parsley: Fresh herb that adds bright color and light, clean garnish.
• Cooking Oil: Neutral fat used for sautéing and preventing ingredients from sticking.

How to Cook Everything Together in One Pan

Step 1: Prepare The Rice

Cook rice in a small saucepan following package instructions until fluffy and tender.

Step 2: Sear The Sausage

Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add oil and let it shimmer. Place sausage in the skillet and cook until golden brown on all sides, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer sausage to a separate plate.

Step 3: Sauté Vegetables

• Bell peppers
• Onions

Sauté for 4-5 minutes until vegetables soften. Stir in garlic, salt, and pepper. Cook until aromatic, about 1 minute. Remove vegetables and set aside with sausage.

Step 4: Create Flavor Base

Whisk tomato paste with chicken broth in the skillet. Let the mixture simmer for 1 minute. Sprinkle in paprika and cayenne for a subtle kick.

Step 5: Combine And Serve

• Cooked rice
• Seared sausage
• Sautéed vegetables
• Remaining chicken broth

Stir until all ingredients are well combined and heated through. Garnish with freshly chopped parsley. Serve hot directly from the skillet for a rustic, comforting meal.

Tips for Getting That Perfect Rice Texture

• Sear Sausage to Lock in Flavor: Brown sausage thoroughly to develop a rich, caramelized exterior that adds depth to the entire dish.
• Balance Spice Levels: Adjust cayenne and paprika quantities to match your heat preference without overwhelming the other ingredients.
• Choose the Right Rice: Use long-grain rice for optimal texture and prevent mushiness during the final cooking stage.
• Prep Ingredients Beforehand: Chop vegetables and measure spices in advance to ensure smooth, stress-free cooking process.
• Control Skillet Heat: Maintain medium-high temperature to achieve perfect sautéing without burning vegetables or sausage.

Best Storage for Leftovers That Still Taste Fresh

• Refrigeration: Store leftovers in an airtight container within 2 hours of cooking, keeping them fresh in the refrigerator for 3-4 days.
• Reheating Stovetop: Warm the skillet dish over medium heat, adding a splash of chicken broth to prevent dryness and restore moisture, stirring occasionally until heated through.
• Microwave Option: Place portions in a microwave-safe dish, cover with a damp paper towel, and heat in 30-second intervals, stirring between each interval to ensure even warming.

Pairing Ideas for a Complete Skillet Meal

• Spice Up with Red Wine: Choose a bold, peppery Zinfandel or Syrah that matches the skillet's spicy cayenne and paprika notes, cutting through the richness of the sausage.
• Fresh Herb Complement: Pair with a crisp arugula salad dressed in lemon vinaigrette to balance the dish's hearty flavors and provide a light, zesty contrast.
• Cool Down with Tzatziki: Serve alongside a tangy Greek yogurt tzatziki sauce to soothe the palate and add a creamy, refreshing element that complements the spicy sausage and rice.
• Crusty Bread Sidekick: Include some warm, crusty sourdough bread to soak up the flavorful sauce and add a delightful textural contrast to the skillet's soft rice and tender sausage.

Flavor Variations for Easy Sausage and Rice Skillet

• Spicy Chorizo Kick: Swap Italian sausage with spicy chorizo for a bold, zesty flavor profile that adds extra heat and complexity to the dish.
• Mediterranean Fusion: Replace chicken broth with vegetable broth and add crumbled feta cheese, kalamata olives, and fresh oregano for a Greek-inspired version of the skillet.
• Vegetarian Transformation: Substitute sausage with plant-based sausage or hearty mushrooms like portobello, keeping the same cooking technique and spice blend for a meat-free alternative.
• Cajun-Style Remix: Use andouille sausage, increase cayenne pepper, add diced celery, and incorporate Cajun seasoning to create a New Orleans-inspired one-pan meal with robust, smoky undertones.

Sausage and Rice Skillet Recipe

---

5 Stars 4 Stars 3 Stars 2 Stars 1 Star

4.5 from 26 reviews

• Total Time: 30 minutes
• Yield: 4 1x

Print Recipe

Description

Hearty sausage and rice skillet brings comfort straight from grandma’s kitchen to your dinner table. Savory sausage melds with perfectly seasoned rice, creating a one-pan wonder that promises satisfying flavors in every forkful you’ll enjoy.

---

Ingredients

Scale 1x2x3x

Protein:

• 12 ounces (340 grams) smoked sausage

Vegetables:

• ½ red bell pepper (sliced)
• ½ yellow bell pepper (sliced)
• 1 small white onion (quartered and sliced)
• 4 cloves garlic (minced)

Main Ingredients:

• 1 ¼ cups (250 grams) white rice (uncooked)
• 5 tablespoons tomato paste
• 1 ¼ cups (296 milliliters) low-sodium chicken broth

Seasonings and Herbs:

• ½ teaspoon kosher sea salt
• ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
• 1 ½ tablespoons parsley (chopped)

Cooking Fat:

• 2 teaspoons olive oil

Cook Mode Prevent your screen from going dark

---

Instructions

1. Prepare the rice according to package instructions in a small saucepan, ensuring fluffy and perfectly cooked grains.
2. Heat a large cast iron skillet over medium-high flame. Drizzle oil and wait until it shimmers with heat. Carefully place sausages and sear until golden brown and crispy on both sides, approximately 5 minutes. Transfer sausages to a separate plate.
3. In the same skillet, introduce diced peppers and onions. Sauté the vegetables until they become translucent and slightly caramelized, about 4-5 minutes. Incorporate minced garlic, then season with salt and pepper. Continue cooking until the garlic releases its aromatic essence.
4. Create a flavor base by whisking tomato paste with chicken broth, forming a rich, smooth sauce. Allow the mixture to gently simmer for one minute. Enhance the sauce with a sprinkle of paprika and a touch of cayenne for depth and subtle heat.
5. Reunite all components by folding the cooked rice, seared sausages, sautéed vegetables, and remaining chicken broth into the skillet. Stir gently to ensure even distribution of flavors and warmth. Finish the dish by scattering fresh chopped parsley across the top for a burst of color and freshness.

Notes

• Quick and versatile one-pan meal that combines hearty sausage with flavorful rice in under 30 minutes.
• Perfect for busy weeknights when you want a satisfying dinner without complicated preparation.
• Customize the heat level by adjusting cayenne pepper amount to suit your spice preference.
• Use smoked or spicy sausage varieties to add extra depth and personal twist to the recipe.
• Cast iron skillet provides excellent heat distribution and develops rich, caramelized flavors during cooking.
• Chopped fresh parsley adds bright, fresh garnish that elevates the dish’s overall presentation and taste.

• Prep Time: 10 minutes
• Cook Time: 20 minutes
• Category: Lunch, Dinner
• Method: Sautéing
• Cuisine: American

Nutrition

• Serving Size: 4
• Calories: 482
• Sugar: 3 g
• Sodium: 630 mg
• Fat: 21 g
• Saturated Fat: 6 g
• Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
• Trans Fat: 0 g
• Carbohydrates: 53 g
• Fiber: 2 g
• Protein: 17 g
• Cholesterol: 45 mg