Description
Whip up this Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet for a quick, flavor-packed dinner that’ll have your taste buds dancing with Southern charm. Spicy sausage, tender rice, and zesty seasonings come together in one pan for a satisfying meal that brings New Orleans right to your kitchen.
Ingredients
Scale
Protein:
- 1 lb Cajun sausage
Grains:
- 1 cup long-grain rice
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 onion
- 1 bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
Seasonings:
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt
- Pepper
Liquid:
- 2 cups chicken broth
Garnish:
- Green onions
Instructions
- Pour 2 tablespoons olive oil into a 12-inch skillet, heating at medium temperature for 2 minutes until shimmering.
- Toss 1 chopped onion and 1 chopped bell pepper into the hot skillet, sautéing for exactly 5 minutes until edges start to soften.
- Drop 2 minced garlic cloves into the vegetable mixture, stirring constantly for 45-60 seconds to release their aromatic essence.
- Slice 1 pound Cajun sausage into ½-inch diagonal pieces, adding them to the skillet and cooking for 4-5 minutes until edges turn golden brown.
- Sprinkle 1 cup long-grain rice, 1 teaspoon paprika, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper over the sausage, mixing thoroughly to coat each grain.
- Pour 2 cups chicken broth into the skillet, stirring gently to distribute ingredients evenly and prevent rice from sticking.
- Increase heat to high, bringing liquid to a robust boil for 2-3 minutes.
- Reduce heat to low, cover skillet with a tight-fitting lid, and simmer for 18-20 minutes until rice absorbs all liquid.
- Remove from heat, let the skillet rest for 5 minutes without lifting the lid.
- Fluff rice with a fork, scatter chopped green onions across the top, and serve immediately while hot.
Notes
- Andouille sausage brings maximum flavor, but any smoked sausage works perfectly in this recipe.
- Adjust cayenne pepper for heat level – start with less and add more if your spice tolerance allows.
- Use long-grain white rice for the best texture and to prevent mushy results.
- When browning sausage, let it develop a nice golden crust for deeper flavor complexity.
- Prep Time: 6 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: One-Skillet
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 445 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 720 mg
- Fat: 28 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 18 g
- Trans Fat: 0.1 g
- Carbohydrates: 25 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 18 g
- Cholesterol: 50 mg