Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet (One Pan Dinner!)

Dinner tonight is our Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet! This easy one pan dinner comes together in a flash, but packs some serious flavor! A family-friendly dinner that’s easy enough to make any night of the week! (Gluten-Free, Dairy-Free)

This recipe was kind of an accident. Am I allowed to admit that?

Maybe I should call it more of a “happy surprise,” since it was a happy ending born out of desperation and a ticking clock. A few weeks ago, a recipe video got suddenly rescheduled, which meant our dinner plan was out the window. It was 4:30, everyone was hungry and grumpy, and I was staring at the contents of our refrigerator willing an idea to reveal itself. (Have you ever been there?)

I started pulling out any veggies that looked fresh, found a package of sausage, and remembered about a little rice in the freezer. About 30 minutes later, I’d cobbled together this Cajun Sausage and Rice Skillet. And it was so good, we almost finished the entire thing in one sitting and promptly made it again ASAP.

With flavorful sausage, colorful veggies, and seasoned rice that’ll keep you coming back for more, this sausage and rice skillet recipe became an instant keeper we’ve made a few times since. Sophie had seconds and thirds, and Michael and I just kept saying “this is SO GOOD” between bites.

Plus, it’s made in one big skillet in about 30-ish minutes, so…WIN!

Here’s what you’ll need to get started on this simple meal…

Start With Simple Ingredients

The best part of an easy weeknight dinner like this Cajun Sausage and Rice recipe is that it’s got minimal prep. You have a few veggies & some sausage to slice, but you get to use a few little shortcuts, too! Let’s take a look:

• KIELBASA SAUSAGE. Mild, flavorful kielbasa sausage starts the flavor base of our Cajun sausage and rice skillet. I love that it adds smoky flavor without a lot of heat, which makes it a great option for little ones. Feel free to use pork, beef, turkey, or chicken sausage. Whatever you like!
• BELL PEPPERS. Next comes some color with 2 bell peppers. I like using two different colors (red + green or red + yellow), to make things more colorful and bright. We eat with our eyes first, and pretty colors always pull me in!
• GREEN ONIONS + GARLIC. Green onion adds a layer of onion flavor with a more subtle texture. Along with the garlic, I love the flavor it adds to our sausage and rice skillet!
• SPINACH. If you’ve got it on hand, a few handfuls of spinach make a great addition to this recipe. I recommend chopping or tearing the spinach into small pieces. That way, it’ll wilt down to practically nothing and blend right in with the rice and other veggies.
• A QUICK SAUCE TO FLAVOR THE RICE. Our most impactful punch of flavor comes from a quick sauce we mix up in the pan to flavor the rice. You’ll use a combination of tomato paste, chicken or veggie broth, and Cajun seasoning. It adds a gorgeous color to the rice and adds flavor to every single bite. YUM!
• COOKED WHITE RICE. After cooking the sausage, veggies, and sauce, you’re ready to mix in cooked white rice. Feel free to make this in advance to save time later, or use frozen packets in a pinch! It’ll absorb all that lovely sauce and taste amazing.
• A FEW FINISHING TOUCHES. Right before serving, add a little cilantro or parsley for a pop of fresh color and flavor. I love doin this!

How To Make This Cajun Sausage & Rice Skillet, Step By Step

As always, you can find the full recipe, with ingredient amounts, detailed instructions, and tips in the recipe card below!

1. First, Cook The Sausage. Warm butter or oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add sliced sausage and cook 8-10 minutes, or until browned and caramelized to your desired preference. Remove sausage from pan and set aside on a large clean plate/bowl.
2. Cook Peppers. Add diced bell peppers to the same skillet and cook 4-5 minutes, or until crisp-tender. (Cook 1-2 minutes longer if you don’t want any bite at all.)
3. Add The Rest Of The Veggies. Add sliced green onions, minced garlic, and spinach to the peppers. Cook 1-2 minutes longer on medium heat, until spinach is wilted and the garlic is fragrant. Remove vegetables and set aside.
4. Build Flavor. Add tomato paste, broth, 1/2 tsp. Cajun seasoning and the salt to the pan and cook, whisking or stirring until the mixture is smooth. Cook the mixture 3-4 minutes, or until slightly thickened and smooth. Taste and add additional salt or Cajun seasoning, to taste. (You want it to be a bit strong-tasting, since the rice and veggies will dilute the flavor a bit.)
5. Assemble The Dish. Return cooked sausage and vegetables to the pan and add the cooked rice. Give it a good stir to coat with the sauce. Cook just 1-2 minutes longer to encourage the rice to absorb some of the liquid and allow the flavors to meld. Taste and add salt or pepper, to your liking. Garnish with cilantro or parsley.
6. Serve & Store. For best results, enjoy right away. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge 2-3 days. 

On The Side. Depending on your hunger levels & how many people you’re feeding, this cajun sausage skillet can be a complete meal on its own, but to stretch it further, we recommend pairing with a simple green salad (like our house salad!), and maybe some French bread or fresh fruit (grapes, apple slices, etc.).