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Need a dinner recipe that is quick and easy? This is it! My Smoked Sausage & Rice One-Skillet Meal is one of my personal family favorite meals that is ready in 30 minutes! Juicy smoked sausage, tender rice, and colorful veggies all come together in one pan for a cozy, no-stress dinner.
You also need to try my other super easy one pot dinners like my Creamy Italian Sausage Pasta, One Skillet Pasta Primavera, or Baked Salmon and Asparagus for more easy weeknight ideas!
Why you’ll love this one-skillet meal!
I have a very busy, active family so we don’t always have the luxury of sitting down together for dinner, but when we do, this is one of everyone’s FAVORITE smoked sausage recipes! It is so simple to put together but is hearty, flavorful and feels special, even on a regular weeknight.
If you try my smoked sausage and rice skillet, I know you will fall in love with it and add it to your weekly dinner rotation. I think I’ll make it tonight, too!
- One skillet, minimal cleanup: Everything cooks in a single pan, which means fewer dishes and an easier evening.
- Family-friendly flavors: Smoky sausage, tender rice, and simple seasonings make this a hit with kids and adults.
- Quick and filling: This is a complete meal—protein, carbs, and veggies—all in one.
- Great for leftovers: Reheats beautifully for lunch the next day.
Table of Contents
Ingredients for Smoked Sausage and Rice Skillet
The perfect smoked sausage and rice is just 30 minutes away! Here is what you will need:
- Smoked sausage – If you have Hillshire Farms sausage at your local store, this is my favorite! You can also use Italian sausage or chicken sausage.
- Broccoli florets – Cut broccoli into small bite size pieces. They’ll also cook faster.
- Instant rice – Instant rice is the fastest option which I prefer for quick weekday meals. You can also make my Instant Pot Rice which turns out perfectly every time.
- Shredded cheddar cheese – This is optional, but it adds amazing flavor!
Variations
This smoked sausage recipe is highly versatile and can be customized to suit your tastes. Here are some variations and substitutions you can try:
- Use different types of smoked sausage, such as chicken sausage or turkey smoked sausage, to change up the flavor.
- Toss in frozen peas or corn for extra color and flavor.
- Substitute chicken broth with beef broth or vegetable broth for a different flavor profile.
- Add some heat to the dish with red pepper flakes or diced jalapenos.
- Swap rice for quinoa or cauliflower rice for a lighter version.
How To Make This Smoked Sausage Recipe With Rice and Broccoli
- Brown the sausage: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and olive oil until melted. Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook for about 5 minutes until sausage begins to brown.
- Steam the broccoli: Add the broccoli and cover. Reduce heat to low and cook about 5 minutes more – stirring occasionally.
- Add the remaining ingredients: Stir in the cooked rice, garlic powder and onion salt to the skillet.
- Serve: Enjoy this smoked sausage and rice skillet while warm!
Storage and Reheating
To enjoy your smoked sausage and rice for days to come, follow these storage and reheating tips:
- Refrigerating: Store the cooled dish in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Make sure to keep it away from strong-smelling foods, as it can absorb odors easily.
- Reheating: Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of chicken broth. You can also add some diced tomatoes or red pepper flakes to give it an extra boost of flavor and freshness.
- Freezing: Simply place the cooled smoked sausage and rice in a freezer-safe bag or container and store it in the freezer for up to 3 months. When you’re ready to enjoy it, thaw it in the refrigerator overnight and reheat as mentioned above.
Frequently Asked Questions
Bell peppers, onions, and peas are classics, but you can also add zucchini or spinach.
Smoked sausage can be made from ground pork, turkey, beef or a combination of meats and usually include a variety of seasonings. Polish kielbasa is made from ground pork or turkey.
Most smoked sausages are fully cooked, but it’s always best to check the package to be sure. If the label says “fully cooked” or “ready to eat,” you can simply heat it through. However, if it says “cook before eating” or “partially cooked,” you’ll need to cook it until it reaches an internal temperature of 160°F for food safety.
More Delicious Sausage Recipes
Main Dishes
One-Pan Smoked Sausage & Pepper Hoagies
Appetizers & Snacks
Crock Pot Sausage Cheese Dip
All Recipes
Crescent Roll Sausage Breakfast Casserole
Main Dishes
Stuffed Zucchini Boats With Sausage
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Smoked Sausage and Rice (One Skillet Meal)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 pound Hillshire Farms Smoked Sausage sliced ¼-inch thick
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 ½ cups cooked brown rice I use minute rice to save time!
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion salt
- ¼ teaspoon pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Instructions
- Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add butter and olive oil and let the butter melt.
- Add the sliced smoked sausage and cook for about 5 minutes until sausage begins to brown.
- Add the broccoli and cover. Reduce heat to low and cook about 5 minutes more, stirring occasionally.
- Add the cooked rice, garlic powder and onion salt to the skillet.
- Stir well.
- Add the shredded cheese, stirring well until the cheese is melted.
- Remove from the heat and serve warm.
Video
Notes
- Slice the sausage evenly: This ensures it will all cook at the same rate.
- Use a large skillet: You’ll be adding a lot to it and you’ll want room to stir without ingredients falling out of the pan!
- Swap in white rice if you’d like: Since the rice is already cooked, it won’t change the cooking time at all.
A very meaningful event, I hope everything will go well
This was delicious! The problem was that I didn’t make enough…lol! It was hit with my boys. I totally forgot to add the shredded cheese, but it was still very good.
I’m so glad you loved it! I often have the same problem 😛 lol!
I cooked receipt using my wok for a fried rice. Delicious 😋
Instead of rice I used a packet of Seeds Of Change Garlic Quinoa & Brown Rice (Sams’s Club). Heat it in the microwave as directed & add to other ingredients. I leave out the garlic powder & onion salt. I add thinly sliced fresh onion. I saute it in the butter & oil.
That sounds good!
Family loved it but we all agree there’s something missing. We feel like it needs something to give it an extra little kick. We’re open to suggestions on what we could add.
How about a pinch of red pepper flakes? I do that all the time!
Where would I find the Nutrition facts for this recipe?
Hey Gina I’ve got them right at the bottom of the recipe! 😉
Amazing recipe! I substituted the onion salt for onion powder and used 2 cups of rice. Boil in the bag rice and frozen broccoli! Super quick!
Oooo! Good ideas!!! THANKS for sharing!
This is probably one of the easiest meals I’ve ever made. Even on an I don’t feel like cooking but probably should mood. My family isnt a broccoli family so that cut down on time. I can never get rice right so I also took the minute made rice route. Super quick meal. Sausage took maybe a minute to cut up, 6-7 minutes of browning, pop in the rice, and a few extra seasonings(I added basil, oregano, salt and pepper), added the cheese, took off the stove and stirred and served. Maybe 10mins max for dinner. Easy to double or triple if you want leftovers. Gave us four servings with the recipe as it is. Whole family loved it. Definitely will be one of those meals I’ll make again. Cheap, fast, everyone is satisfied. Thank you!
OH good!!! I am so happy to hear that this recipe was a hit in your family! THANK YOU for sharing!!
Perfect camping trip recipe! Easy and yummy!
This recipe doesn’t mention any type of liquid. Just wondering before I burn my house down, if this requires water or some other type of liquid and at what point do you add it?
No extra liquid. The oil and butter provide all the liquid needed.
we used beef flavored rice-a-roni for a interesting twist. Mom and I barely got any as the kids fought us for it.
Ive made this a few times and it’s really good, especially for a quick meal and stovetop for those hot summer nights so no heating up the house with the oven. I was thinking that next time I make this, instead of using the water, I’m going to try to use chicken stock in the pan with the instant rice (I had to use white rice) and let it boil with the broccoli to make it truly a one pot meal.
Has anyone attempted to make this using quinoa? Just wondering if it might be good…or just ruin the dish…also super broke and have quinoa on hand. Any opinions would be greatly appreciated! !
I think that’s a GREAT idea! I love quinoa! Try it!
How many servings does this make?
4 servings.
Do you use raw broccoli? & is it cooked to a tenderness for kids in this amount of time?
My husband says yes. (I can’t stand broccoli, so I ate mine without.) You can always steam or roast the broccoli separately, then add it. I will probably steam the broccoli next time, so I don’t have to eat around it.
Got home late tonight and had no idea what to cook. All I had was the smoked sausage. So I quickly came to Pinterest for ideas and ran into this. Unfortunately I didn’t have broccoli and I was too lazy to drive to the store ? But even without the broccoli it was still a hit for hubby and I. Thank you!
this looks amazing – wanted to add that for about $6 you can stop by your local pick up sticks and purchase brown rice already cooked, makes it easier and fast.
Love this combo! I’m going to piggy back and modify it without the butter and cheese but totally looking forward to this great recipe. Thanks for sharing!
I did the same, replacing the butter with margarine and omitting the cheese. We used spicy chicken sausage, as well. This was fantastic, and healthful enough that we don’t feel guilty eating it.