Pin A hearty and flavorful dish featuring juicy Italian sausage, sautéed bell peppers, onions, and aromatic rice—perfect for a comforting weeknight meal.
I first made this Italian sausage & peppers rice plate for my family on a busy Tuesday, and everyone loved how the savory sausage blends with the sweet bell peppers and fragrant rice.
Ingredients
- Italian sausage: 4 sausages (mild or spicy, about 400 g/14 oz)
- Red bell pepper: 1, sliced
- Yellow bell pepper: 1, sliced
- Green bell pepper: 1, sliced
- Onion: 1 medium, sliced
- Garlic: 2 cloves, minced
- Long-grain white rice: 1 cup (200 g)
- Chicken broth: 2 cups (480 ml) or water
- Olive oil: 2 tbsp
- Dried oregano: 1 tsp
- Dried basil: 1/2 tsp
- Crushed red pepper flakes: 1/4 tsp (optional)
- Salt & black pepper: to taste
- Fresh parsley: 2 tbsp, chopped (optional)
- Parmesan cheese: freshly grated (optional)
Instructions
- Brown sausages:
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the Italian sausages and brown on all sides, about 6–8 minutes. Remove sausages and set aside: slice into 1-inch pieces when cool enough to handle.
- Sauté onions and garlic:
- In the same skillet, add the remaining olive oil. Sauté the onion and garlic for 2–3 minutes until fragrant.
- Cook bell peppers:
- Add the bell peppers and cook for 5–6 minutes until slightly softened.
- Toast rice and add liquids:
- Stir in the rice and cook for 1 minute to toast lightly. Pour in the chicken broth, oregano, basil, red pepper flakes, salt, and black pepper. Bring to a boil.
- Simmer:
- Reduce heat to low. Nestle the sliced sausages into the rice and vegetable mixture. Cover and simmer for 18–20 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and liquid absorbed.
- Rest and fluff rice:
- Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff the rice with a fork.
- Garnish and serve:
- Garnish with parsley and Parmesan cheese, if desired. Serve hot.
Pin This has become a go-to meal for family gatherings—even picky eaters enjoy building their own colorful plates straight from the skillet.
Serving Suggestions
Pair with a crisp green salad and a chilled glass of white wine for a complete dinner experience.
Allergen & Nutrition Info
Contains meat, possible gluten (check sausage ingredients), dairy (if using Parmesan cheese). Nutritional value per serving: 480 calories, 25 g fat, 38 g carbohydrate, 20 g protein.
Variations
Swap in turkey sausage or plant-based links for healthier or vegetarian options. Change up the rice for brown or cauliflower rice if desired.
Pin Finish your rice plate with parsley and Parmesan for a fresh touch. Enjoy every hearty bite with your loved ones!
Recipe Q&A
- → Can I use spicy sausage for this dish?
Yes, substituting mild sausage with spicy varieties adds a nice kick without altering the overall method.
- → Is it possible to make this gluten-free?
Choosing gluten-free sausage and verifying broth labels ensures the dish remains gluten-free.
- → What is the best type of rice to use?
Long-grain white rice works well, providing a fluffy texture that absorbs flavors nicely.
- → Can I replace chicken broth with another liquid?
Vegetable broth or water can be used to lighten flavors while maintaining moisture in the rice.
- → How do I prevent the rice from sticking to the pan?
Using adequate olive oil and occasionally stirring during cooking helps prevent sticking and burning.
- → Are there vegetarian alternatives?
Plant-based sausage substitutes combined with vegetable broth offer a vegetarian-friendly version.