Description
A flavorful Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet recipe combining smoky Andouille sausage with aromatic spices, tender bell peppers, fire-roasted tomatoes, and fluffy white rice. Easy to prepare in one pan, this hearty dish is perfect for a comforting weeknight meal with bold Southern-inspired flavors.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Oil
- 14 oz. Andouille sausage, sliced into ¼-½ inch thick pieces
- 1 Tbsp cooking oil
Vegetables and Aromatics
- 1 bell pepper, diced
- 2 green onions, sliced
- 1 (15 oz.) can fire roasted diced tomatoes (with juices)
Spices
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp dried oregano
- 1/2 tsp dried thyme
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1/4 tsp onion powder
- 1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1/8 tsp freshly cracked black pepper
Grains and Liquids
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 1.5 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Brown the Sausage: Slice the Andouille sausage into ¼-½ inch thick pieces. Heat 1 tablespoon of cooking oil in a deep skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the sausage slices and sauté until well browned, allowing browned bits to form on the bottom of the skillet to build flavor.
- Add the Bell Pepper: While the sausage browns, dice the bell pepper. Once the sausage is browned, add the diced bell pepper to the skillet and sauté for about one minute until it starts to soften.
- Add Spices: Sprinkle smoked paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and freshly cracked black pepper into the skillet. Stir well and sauté for another minute to toast the spices and enhance their flavors.
- Add Rice, Tomatoes and Broth: Pour in the fire-roasted diced tomatoes with their juices, the long grain white rice, and chicken broth. Stir to combine, scraping up any browned bits from the bottom of the skillet to integrate deeper flavor into the mixture.
- Simmer the Skillet: Cover the skillet with a lid and increase the heat to medium-high to bring the mixture to a full boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low and simmer gently for 20 minutes, keeping the lid closed to ensure perfectly cooked rice.
- Rest and Finish: Remove the skillet from heat and let it rest, covered, for an additional 5 minutes. Remove the lid, gently fold the sausage and rice together to combine evenly, and top with sliced green onions before serving.
Notes
- Do not open the lid while simmering to ensure rice cooks evenly and retains moisture.
- Browning the sausage well is key for developing rich flavor.
- You can substitute chicken broth with vegetable broth to make it vegetarian-friendly when using plant-based sausage.
- Adjust cayenne pepper quantity to control spiciness according to preference.
- Leftovers can be refrigerated for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.
