Smoked Sausage and Rice (Print Format)

Smoked sausage, rice, peppers, and Cajun seasonings come together for a comforting, flavorful meal.

# Ingredients:

01 - 14 oz. Andouille sausage, sliced
02 - 2 tablespoons olive oil, divided
03 - 1 medium yellow onion, diced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
05 - 1 yellow bell pepper, diced
06 - 4 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice, uncooked
08 - 2 1/2 cups chicken broth
09 - 2 tablespoons tomato paste
10 - 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
11 - 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt
13 - 1/8 teaspoon pepper
14 - Fresh green onions or parsley, for garnish (optional)

# Steps:

01 - Over medium-high heat in a 12-inch skillet or Dutch oven, brown the sausage in 1 tablespoon of olive oil until golden and crisp around the edges. Remove and set aside.
02 - Add onions and bell pepper to the skillet and sauté in the remaining 1 tablespoon of olive oil until soft, about 5 minutes. Toss in garlic and sauté for another 30 seconds.
03 - Add uncooked rice, chicken broth, tomato paste, browned sausage, and seasonings (Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, salt, and pepper). Scrape up any browned bits stuck to the pan and stir to fully mix the tomato paste with the broth. Bring to a boil.
04 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
05 - Remove from heat and let the pot rest with the lid on for 5–10 minutes.
06 - Remove the lid and stir to mix the sausage evenly with the rice. Dish and serve warm topped with fresh green onions or parsley, if desired.

# Tips:

01 - Use any type of sausage such as kielbasa, Italian sausage, or chorizo as a substitute. Slice them into rounds to allow crisping at the edges.
02 - To add beans, stir in cooked kidney beans after the rice finishes cooking and simmer until heated through.
03 - Frozen peas can be added to enhance color and variety. Add them after the rice is cooked and let sit covered for 10 minutes.
04 - Resting the rice allows the starch to cool and grains to firm up, ensuring fluffy and well-cooked rice.