Name: Easy One-Pot Sausage with Rice – Big Pot Recipe for Dinner
Prep time: 12 min
Cook time: 28 min
Total time: 40 min
Yield: 6
Cuisine: American
Ingredients: 14 oz smoked sausage, sliced; 1/2 cup chopped onion; 1 red bell pepper, diced; 2 tbsp olive oil; 1/2 tsp smoked paprika; 1 tsp oregano; 1/4 tsp garlic powder; 1/2 tsp salt; 1/4 tsp black pepper; 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth; 1 cup long-grain white rice; 3 tbsp tomato paste

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Let’s talk about weeknights. You’re hungry, tired, and the last thing you want to do is juggle five different pans while dinner turns into a full-blown kitchen disaster. Enter this hero of the hour: One-Pot Smoked Sausage and Rice. It's everything you love—bold flavor, hearty bites, easy cleanup—served in one glorious skillet. Yep, it’s one of those big pot recipes you’ll want on repeat.

So what makes this dish the answer to your “What’s for dinner?” dilemma?

First off, this is true one-pot magic. You toss in your smoked sausage, rice, veggies, seasonings, and boom—everything cooks together. No separate pan for the meat. No second pot for the rice. Just one trusty skillet doing all the heavy lifting while you sip your drink or wrangle the kids. Sound dreamy? It is.

Flavor Bomb Alert 🚨

This isn’t your basic sausage with rice situation. We’re talking deeply browned kielbasa, sautéed until the edges get crispy and golden. That’s where the flavor lives—don’t skip the browning. Add in a spoonful of tomato paste, smoky paprika, and a splash of chicken broth, and suddenly, you’ve built a savory, smoky, almost stew-like vibe that tastes like it’s been simmering for hours. (Spoiler: it hasn’t.)

FYI: This dish is on the table in 40 minutes flat. That’s less time than it takes to find a movie everyone agrees on.

Why You’ll Be Obsessed

Besides tasting like comfort food heaven? It’s endlessly adaptable. You’ve got picky eaters? Swap the kielbasa for hotlinks dinner style heat or mild chicken sausage. Want to sneak in some extra veg? Go wild—peppers, peas, zucchini—whatever’s lurking in the fridge. This dish doesn’t judge.

Even better, it’s got big “meal prep energy.” Make a batch and you’ve got leftovers that reheat like a dream. It’s the kind of recipe smoked sausage fans will make once, then crave every week.

Pro Tips to Nail It Every Time

Use regular long-grain white rice. Don’t get fancy. Instant rice = mush. We’re building texture and flavor here.

Crank up the browning. Let that sausage sit undisturbed in the skillet until it sizzles into golden perfection. That’s where your flavor jackpot is hiding.

Keep the lid on. I get it—you want to peek. But resist. The trapped steam is doing magical things to your rice. Don’t mess with it.

Broth is your BFF. Use low-sodium chicken broth so you’re in control of the salt. Want to boost the richness? Add a splash more broth at the end and stir for a silky finish.

Let’s Talk Leftovers

This dish reheats like a charm. Honestly, it might even taste better the next day after all those smoky, savory flavors have had time to party together in the fridge. Bonus: it makes an awesome addition to your list of recipes for dinner rice lovers will devour.

Cooking for one? This one-pot wonder is way better than your average 1 person crockpot meals. It’s just as easy but way faster—and you can still portion and freeze extras for later.

Smoked Sausage = Your Secret Weapon

If you’re on the hunt for things to make with smoked sausage, this dish is top-tier. It’s cozy, filling, and just fancy enough that you’ll feel like a pro—but without the stress. Whether you’re feeding a family or just want to avoid washing dishes, this smoked sausage bake delivers.

It’s the kind of meal that brings people to the table and makes them stay a while. You know—dinners with smoked sausage just hit different.

So go ahead. Grab that skillet. You’re 40 minutes away from dinner bliss.