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When weeknights get hectic, this Smoked Sausage and Rice One-Skillet Dinner is the ultimate lifesaver. Sliced smoked sausage (or kielbasa) is browned to caramelized perfection, then simmered with tender long-grain white rice, sweet bell peppers, and savory broth—all in a single pan! Ready from start to finish in just 30 minutes, it delivers maximum flavor with almost zero cleanup.
Why This Recipe Works
Combining sliced smoked sausage, tender white rice, sweet bell peppers, onions, and savory chicken broth, this complete dinner cooks in one skillet in just 30 minutes. With only 10 minutes of hands-on prep and minimal cleanup, it delivers a hearty, balanced family meal using affordable pantry staples.
More Easy Weeknight Dinners: Need more quick, family-friendly meals? Check out our reader-favorite John Wayne Casserole, Crockpot Chicken and Noodles, or browse our full collection of Easy 30-Minute Weeknight Dinners and One-Pot Meals.
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
- Why This Recipe Works
- Why you’ll love this one-skillet meal!
- Ingredients for Smoked Sausage and Rice Skillet
- Kasey’s Kitchen Testing Notes
- Variations
- How To Make This Smoked Sausage Recipe With Rice and Broccoli
- Storage and Reheating
- Frequently Asked Questions
- More Delicious Sausage Recipes
- Smoked Sausage and Rice (One Skillet Meal) Recipe
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!
Kasey’s Kitchen Testing Notes
- Sear the Sausage First for Maximum Flavor: In my experience, skipping the initial browning step led to a bland dish. Searing the sausage slices in a hot skillet for 4–5 minutes renders out flavorful fats and creates caramelized browned bits on the bottom of the pan that season the rice as it simmers.
- Rice Type Matters: I tested this recipe with long-grain white rice, jasmine rice, and instant (minute) rice. Standard long-grain white, brown or jasmine rice yields the best fluffy texture without turning mushy. Avoid instant rice here if you can—it absorbs liquid too quickly and turns gummy over a 20-minute simmer.
- Resist the Urge to Peek: Once you cover the skillet and reduce the heat to low, keep the lid tightly closed for the full 15–20 minutes. Lifting the lid releases trapped steam, which causes the rice to cook unevenly and leaves hard, crunchy grains in the center.
- Sausage Swaps: I’ve tested this with standard smoked beef sausage, turkey kielbasa, and spicy andouille. Turkey kielbasa is a great lean option that holds its shape nicely, while andouille adds an extra kick if your family loves Cajun flavors!
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
Yes, but brown rice requires more liquid and cooking time. Increase the chicken broth by 1/2 cup and increase the covered simmer time from 15–20 minutes to 40–45 minutes, or until the brown rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
Rice stays hard if steam escaped during cooking or the heat was too high, evaporating the broth before the grains softened. Keep the lid tightly sealed on low heat during the full simmer time, and let the skillet rest off the heat for 5 minutes before removing the lid.
Yes! Allow the cooked meal to cool completely, transfer to an airtight freezer-safe container or zip-top freezer bag, and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator and reheat in a skillet with a splash of chicken broth or water over medium-low heat.
More Delicious Sausage Recipes
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Smoked Sausage and Rice (One Skillet Meal)
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 1 pound Smoked Sausage sliced ¼-inch thick
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 ½ cups cooked brown rice
- 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.
i only have frozen broccoli would that be okay?
Sure! Just thaw it first and drain any excess water.
Could I substitute brown rice for jasmine or white long grain?
My mom forgot broccoli so I’m doing carrots and green beans instead but can’t wait to try
Made tonight with what I had on hand. Small amount of smoked sausage and a small amount of ground and browned sausage to equal the amount called for. No broccoli so I used 1/2 bag of chopped spinach. Added an onion, a couple of carrots for color, instant brown rice. It was delicious! I baked some apples with raisins and brown sugar and it didn’t seem like a quick and easy dinner after all.
I always love hearing how people adapt the recipes – so glad it turned out 🙂
The formula you share is quite meticulous and easy to understand. I will learn to make this dish based on your recipe. Thanks for sharing.
fnaf world
I am so thrilled you found it easy to understand – I always want to make sure my recipes are accessible! Thank you for sharing!
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!!