One Pot Italian Sausage and Rice Recipe - Easy Weeknight Dinner
Italian Sausage and Rice is a flavorful, one-pot dish that’s perfect for busy weeknights. Packed with juicy tomatoes, aromatic herbs, and tender sausage, this hearty meal is simple to prepare and delivers restaurant-quality taste in every bite. Customize it with your favorite ingredients or use leftovers creatively!
Ingredients
- 2 teaspoons olive oil
- 2 Italian sausage links sliced into rounds
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 small onion finely chopped
- 1 celery stalk finely chopped
- 1 cup cherry tomatoes roughly chopped
- 1/2 cup rice
- 1 1/2 cups hot or boiling stock
- 1/2 teaspoon dried parsley
- 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh parsley for garnish optional
Instructions
- Step 1: Brown the Sausage
- Start by heating olive oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Once it’s shimmering, toss in slices of Italian sausage. Let them sizzle until they’re golden brown and cooked through. Set them aside for now—they’ll come back later to steal the show.
- Step 2: Build the Base
- Lower the heat slightly and sauté some garlic, onion, and celery. These humble veggies might seem basic, but trust me, they’re the unsung heroes of this dish. Cook them until they’re soft and fragrant—your kitchen will smell incredible.
- Step 3: Add the Tomatoes and Herbs
- Next, stir in chopped tomatoes along with dried parsley, oregano, salt, and pepper. Cover the skillet for a few minutes to let the tomatoes release their juices. This step creates a rich, tomato-based sauce that coats every grain of rice beautifully.
- Step 4: Cook the Rice
- Add the rice to the skillet and give everything a good mix so the grains are evenly coated in the sauce. Pour in the hot stock, bring it to a boil, then reduce the heat and let it simmer. Keep an eye on it, stirring occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Step 5: Bring It All Together
- Once the rice is tender, taste and adjust the seasoning. Then, nestle those browned sausage slices back into the pot. Cover the skillet for another couple of minutes to let the flavors meld together.
- Finally, garnish with fresh parsley if you’re feeling extra, and voilà—you’ve got dinner!
Notes
- Remove excess oil from the skillet after cooking the sausage if needed.
- Finely chop all vegetables so they dissolve into the dish as the rice cooks.
- Taste and adjust seasoning while the rice is cooking, not at the end.
- Use canned chunky tomatoes instead of fresh ones if unavailable.
- Add chili flakes or other dried herbs for extra heat and flavor.
- Substitute chicken stock with vegetable or beef stock based on preference.