Description
Hearty sausage and rice casserole delivers comfort on chilly evenings with rich, savory flavors. Home cooks appreciate this simple, satisfying meal that brings families together around the dinner table.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Protein:
- 1 pound (1 lb) sausage (sliced)
Grains and Base:
- 1 cup rice (uncooked)
- 2 cups chicken broth
Vegetables and Seasonings:
- 1 onion (chopped)
- 2 cloves garlic (minced)
- 1 tablespoon (1 tbsp) olive oil
- Salt (to taste)
- Pepper (to taste)
- 1 teaspoon (1 tsp) paprika (optional)
- Fresh parsley for garnish (optional)
Instructions
- Warm the olive oil in a spacious skillet over medium-high heat, allowing the sausage to sizzle and caramelize until rich golden-brown edges develop.
- Introduce diced onions and minced garlic into the pan, gently sautéing until translucent and fragrant, approximately 3-4 minutes.
- Tumble raw rice into the pan, carefully stirring to ensure each grain becomes coated with the flavorful rendered sausage juices and aromatic oil.
- Stream chicken broth into the skillet, creating an even liquid base, then elevate heat to trigger a vigorous boil before immediately reducing to a gentle simmer.
- Cover the pan with a tight-fitting lid, allowing the rice to steam and absorb liquid for 18 minutes at low heat, ensuring grains become perfectly tender and fluffy.
- Taste and calibrate seasoning with salt, cracked black pepper, and a sprinkle of smoky paprika to enhance the overall depth of flavor.
- Remove from heat, let rest for 2-3 minutes, then garnish with freshly chopped parsley for a vibrant, herbaceous finish before serving.
Notes
- Choose high-quality sausage with robust flavor to elevate the overall dish taste profile.
- Use long-grain rice like basmati or jasmine for better texture and fluffy consistency.
- Consider removing sausage casing before cooking for more even browning and integrated flavor distribution.
- Swap chicken broth with vegetable broth for a lighter alternative or to accommodate vegetarian preferences.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 23 minutes
- Category: Lunch, Dinner
- Method: Simmering
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 450 kcal
- Sugar: 1 g
- Sodium: 700 mg
- Fat: 25 g
- Saturated Fat: 8 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0.2 g
- Carbohydrates: 30 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 20 g
- Cholesterol: 60 mg