Description
A hearty and flavorful one-pot sausage and rice casserole featuring tender sausage slices, sautéed vegetables, and a creamy cheese sauce for a comforting meal.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Vegetables
- 3 tablespoons olive oil, separated
- 11 oz. sausage, sliced into ½-inch thick slices
- ½ cup yellow onion, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 small red bell pepper, sliced
- 1 small green bell pepper, sliced
Rice and Liquid
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 ¼ cups white long grain rice, uncooked
Creamy Sauce
- 2 tablespoons butter
- 10.75 oz. cream of chicken soup
- ½ cup sour cream
- ¾ cup milk
- 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1 pinch red pepper flakes, optional
Instructions
- Cook Sausage: Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the sausage slices and cook according to package instructions until browned and cooked through. Remove sausage from the pot and set aside.
- Sauté Onions: Melt 2 tablespoons butter in the same pot. Add diced onions and cook until softened, about 5 minutes.
- Add Garlic: Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
- Deglaze and Add Broth: Add 1 tablespoon olive oil and chicken broth to the pot. Use a silicone spatula to scrape up browned bits from the bottom to enhance flavor. Bring the mixture to a boil.
- Add Rice and Simmer: Stir in the uncooked rice. Cover tightly and reduce heat to a simmer. Cook for 10 minutes.
- Add Bell Peppers: Add the sliced red and green bell peppers on top of the rice without stirring. Cover again and cook for 10 more minutes or until rice is tender (refer to rice package for exact cooking time).
- Rest the Rice: Turn off heat and keep the pot covered. Let the rice rest for 10 minutes to allow any remaining rice stuck to the bottom to release.
- Add Creamy Ingredients: Return the pot to low heat. Stir in the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, and shredded cheddar cheese until well combined and creamy.
- Combine Sausage and Season: Add the cooked sausage and red pepper flakes if desired. Stir everything together and cook until heated through.
- Serve: Remove from heat and serve warm for a delicious, comforting one-pot meal.
Notes
- Pre-cooked chicken sausage requires only about 3 minutes of searing time but any sausage type can be used.
- Use unsalted butter and reduced sodium chicken broth or soup for a lower salt option.
- Condensed cream of mushroom, cream of broccoli, cheddar cheese soup, or broccoli cheese soup are good substitutes for cream of chicken soup.
- Adjust rice liquid and cooking time if using other types of rice according to package instructions.
- Alternatives to sausage include chicken, steak, ground beef, or ham for variation.
