Description
Hearty sausage and rice skillet promises a delightful one-pan dinner that blends savory sausage with perfectly seasoned rice. Home cooks will savor this simple, satisfying meal that brings comfort and flavor to the dinner table in just minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 1/2 pounds cooked Italian chicken sausage, 1/4 inch sliced
Vegetables:
- 1 red onion, thinly sliced
- 2 red bell peppers, thinly sliced
- 3 garlic cloves, thinly sliced
Pantry Ingredients:
- 1 tablespoon (15 milliliters) extra virgin olive oil
- 1 1/2 cups (270 grams) long grain white rice, rinsed and drained
- 3 cups (720 milliliters) chicken stock
- 1/4 cup (4 grams) thinly sliced fresh basil leaves, plus more for serving
- 1/2 cup (120 milliliters) pesto, store bought or homemade
- 1 teaspoon (5 grams) kosher salt
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) onion powder
- 1 teaspoon (2 grams) dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon (1 gram) freshly cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Prepare a skillet or braiser over medium-high heat and add olive oil, heating until it shimmers with a slight shimmer indicating readiness.
- Distribute sliced sausage pieces across the hot skillet, allowing them to develop a golden-brown exterior for 2-3 minutes per side. Transfer browned sausage to a separate plate.
- Introduce sliced red onion and bell peppers into the same skillet, sautéing until they soften and release their aromatic essence, approximately 4-5 minutes.
- Incorporate thinly sliced garlic and rinsed rice into the vegetable mixture, stirring to toast the grains and activate the garlic’s fragrance for about 2 minutes.
- Pour chicken stock over the rice, then sprinkle in fresh basil, kosher salt, garlic powder, onion powder, dried oregano, and black pepper. Mix thoroughly to distribute seasonings evenly.
- Reintroduce browned sausage and its collected juices to the skillet. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes until rice becomes tender and liquid absorbs completely.
- Plate the sausage and rice mixture, drizzling each serving with pesto and garnishing with additional fresh basil for a vibrant, herbaceous finish.
Notes
- Opt for low-sodium chicken stock to control salt intake and make the dish more heart-healthy.
- Choose spicy Italian sausage or mild version based on personal heat preference for customizable flavor profile.
- Rinse rice thoroughly before cooking to remove excess starch, ensuring fluffy and separated grains in the final dish.
- Consider gluten-free alternatives like cauliflower rice for those with dietary restrictions while maintaining similar cooking techniques.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner, Lunch
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 432
- Sugar: 4 g
- Sodium: 670 mg
- Fat: 16 g
- Saturated Fat: 3 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 53 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 65 mg