One Pan Sausage and Rice with Sweet Peppers

Colorful and tasty, easy one pan sausage and rice makes a simple weeknight dinner that is satisfying and quick. Our family loves it and I’m sure yours will, too!

This is one of those dinners that should be in everyone’s recipe collection. One pan sausage and rice with peppers is so easy to make, with just a short list of ingredients. It’s super flavorful, and cooked in one pan, rice and all, making it a perfect weeknight dinner.

Does this ever happen to you? You find a recipe that everyone in the family is crazy about, you make it all the time for a year or so, and then somehow totally forget about it. A few years later, you happen upon that old recipe and remember how good it is, and you think, why has it been so long since I made this? You can hardly wait to revisit it and it always lives up to your expectations.

That’s what happened with this recipe. We always LOVED this sausage and rice and then somehow I just stopped making it. When I ran across the recipe again, I knew I had to make it again. It was just as we remembered: so good and so stinkin’ easy! Hmmm, maybe I could make it tonight!

Colorful peppers, rice, and meat — really all you need for a well-balanced meal and you can have it on the table in 40 minutes! Half of that time, dinner is cooking in the pan and you don’t have to do a thing. Just let it simmer while you take care of other things.

About this one pan sausage and rice

How do you make this tasty one pan meal? You’ll need a large skillet, a cutting board and knife, and a short list of ingredients.

Begin by browning the sausage in the skillet, breaking up the chunks.

Add the chopped veggies, salt and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are softened, five minutes or so.

Add a cup of rice and water, bring to a good simmer, and cover.

Turn the heat down, and cook fifteen minutes until the rice is cooked. Try to resist peeking often because the steam helps cook the rice. I usually give it just one stir during the cooking time.

Tada! Dinner is ready! Sprinkle each serving with parsley to brighten it up, or stir the parsley right in. Shredded cheese is totally acceptable, too. Everyone, dig in!

If you’d like to serve a side or two, try a simple green salad with homemade dressing or this bright and juicy citrus salad. If you’re craving a sweet finish, try these easy banana and chocolate pudding dessert bites or fruit salad parfaits with shortbread cookie crumble.

What’s in one pan sausage and rice?

The title of the recipe tells you two of the ingredients, so there’s no surprise there. Here’s the (short) list:

• Italian Sausage – Buy bulk sausage, whatever kind you like best. The tubes of sausage keep well in the fridge for at least a couple of weeks so it’s a very handy meat to have on hand, no thawing necessary if you forget to take anything out for dinner. I know it’s saved me more than once! You can use pork or turkey sausage in this recipe.
• Long Grain White Rice – Brown rice unfortunately will not work in this recipe because it has a much longer cooking time.
• Sweet Bell Peppers – Any color will work, but we love using an assortment for visual fun!
• Celery – Make sure to dice it nice and small so it doesn’t stay crunchy!
• Onion – Always, right?
• Fresh Parsley – This really brightens up the flavors at the end!

Make this sausage skillet dinner your own

Because it’s so simple, you can vary it easily. Here’s a few suggestions:

• Use a different kind of sausage, or even ground beef or ground turkey. 
• Sprinkle with cheese after cooking. Cheddar, Monterey Jack, or Mexican blend would all be tasty.
• Stir in chopped spinach leaves when the rice is done. Allow it to wilt for a couple of minutes before serving.
• Add garlic or other seasonings you like.
• Stir in a can of pinto or black beans, rinsed and drained well.

Storing and reheating

This tasty dinner is actually just as good the next day! If you happen to have any left over, store it in a covered container in the fridge for up to three days. Reheat it in the microwave. Although I haven’t tried it, I would think that it would freeze well, too. To be honest, we rarely have any left over!

Sausage and rice makes great lunches. Try wrapping it in a flour tortilla and add a dab of sour cream. Yum!

More easy one pan dinners

Looking for more of these easy but delicious recipes? Try:

• Easy Chicken Alfredo with Broccoli
• Easy Skillet Lasagna
• One Pan Cuban Chicken and Rice
• Sausage and Bean Skillet (one pan, 30 minute meal)
• Chicken Stir-Fry with Ginger and Basil
• Skillet Gnocchi with Chicken and Tomato Sauce
• Gnocchi with Kale & Sun-Dried Tomatoes
• Or try one of these One Pot Pasta Recipes — there are more than fifteen to choose from!