This Italian Sausage and Rice Casserole with peppers is a back-on-track, one-pan plan kind of meal. It’s healthy food you won’t be sad to eat, weeknight fast, and leaves you with only one dish to wash at the end.

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Lean protein? Check! Veggies? Yep! Whole grains? Uh huh. The gang’s all here.
On my totem pole of house chores, washing dishes is at the very bottom, above only snow shoveling (brrr) and vacuuming (I know it’s easy, but I despise it for some reason).
Hence, I’m always to add to my collection of healthy one pan recipes, meals that cram all the healthy food groups you need into a single pan. This sausage and rice casserole is a prime example.
All you need to make this Italian sausage recipe is a knife, a cutting board, a wooden spoon, and one sturdy skillet. That’s less time washing dishes, and more time enjoying your tasty dinner (and dessert!).

About this Italian Sausage and Rice Casserole Recipe
This recipe is an adaptation of my Cabbage and Sausage Skillet. The flavor profiles of the two dishes are completely different, but both offer the speed and convenience I’m seeking on a weeknight.
If you plan your recipe prep carefully, this sausage and rice casserole can be ready in just 30 minutes.
The Ingredients
- Italian Chicken Sausage. Italian sausage is made of herbs, spices, and whichever type of meat you select. It has oodles of flavor built in, making it an ideal ingredient for a quick casserole. To keep things speedy and healthy, I used sliced, pre-cooked chicken sausage, which is leaner than typical pork sausage.
- If you prefer, you can use uncooked sausage cut into bite-sized pieces or removed from its casing and broken up. Be sure to cook the sausage pieces all the way through and be aware that it will extend the recipe’s cook time.
- Bell Peppers. The pepper portion of this sausage and rice casserole. Bell peppers offer vitamin-C, vitamin-K1, vitamin-E, and vitamin-A, folate, and potassium.
- Spices. Dried basil and red pepper flakes are give Italian flavor and a touch of heat.
- Brown Rice. To keep things healthy, I used brown rice, which is higher in fiber and minerals than white rice. It cooks in the pan right along with the other ingredients, so no separate pan is required to prepare it.
- Chicken Broth. Cooking the rice in chicken broth makes it more flavorful than using water. Choose low sodium so your casserole doesn’t become too salty.
- Fire-Roasted Tomatoes. They add a touch of smokiness. The rice also absorbs some of their flavor as it cooks, and they are ultra convenient.
The Directions
- Brown the sausage slices in a large nonstick skillet, then remove to a plate. Sauté the peppers, onion, and spices.
- Add the rice, garlic, and red pepper flakes, stirring to coat. Cook until fragrant, then pour in the broth and tomatoes. Bring to a boil and stir, then cover and let simmer.
- Add the cooked sausage and remove from the heat. Let stand with the lid on for a few minutes, until the rice is tender (no oven needed!). Sprinkle with parsley and serve. ENJOY!

Recipe Adaptations
- Ground Italian Sausage. If you’re looking for ground Italian sausage recipes, you can easily swap the sliced Italian chicken sausage links I used in this recipe for ground sausage. Hot Italian sausage and mild both work well here, so feel free to choose whichever you or your family prefer.
- Italian Sausage and Potatoes. Italian sausage and potatoes (like red potatoes; Yukon gold potatoes may lose their shape when simmering here) is a great combo and what I used in this Italian Sausage Skillet.
- Vegetable Swaps. The vegetables in this dish are very flexible. Peppers are my favorite, but you can easily swap them for other veggies you have on hand. I think this recipe would be yummy with any mix of chopped broccoli, zucchini, asparagus, and/or mushroom too. (Or try squash like in this Skillet Lasagna with Italian Sausage!)
- Sausage Swaps. If you want to try this recipe with cajun, smoked, or Polish sausage, you can easily swap them in. I haven’t tried any of these modifications, but other readers have reported success with them all. I would not recommend ham in this recipe. (For cajun-style sausage, this Cajun Shrimp Boil Foil Packets is a great option.)
- To Make Keto. If you’re in the market for keto Italian sausage recipes, then I recommend trying this Sausage and Peppers sheet pan meal or Crock Pot Sausage and Peppers. They are both Italian sausage recipes without pasta or rice.
How to Store, Reheat, and Freeze
- To Store. Place leftover casserole in an airtight storage container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- To Reheat. Gently rewarm leftovers in a large skillet over medium-high heat until hot, adding a splash of broth as needed. You can also reheat this dish in the microwave until warmed through.
- To Freeze. Store leftovers in an airtight freezer-safe storage container in the freezer for up to 3 months. Let thaw overnight in the refrigerator before reheating.
What to Serve with Italian Sausage and Rice Casserole
- Salad. A simple, fresh salad always goes well with Italian sausage and peppers. I like this Anytime Arugula Salad or Caesar Shaved Brussels Sprouts with Crispy Chickpea Croutons.
- Vegetables. If you want to add even more veggies to your meal, try serving this casserole with a side of Crock Pot Honey Carrots or Easy Sautéed Zucchini with Parmesan.
- Margarita. Cool things off with this light and refreshing Italian Margarita.

More Healthy Italian Sausage Recipes
- Sausage Stuffed Acorn Squash
- Crockpot Tortellini Soup
- One Pan Italian Sausage Butternut Squash Gnocchi
- Slow Cooker Turkey Meatballs
- Mozzarella Meatball Casserole
Recommended Tools to Make Italian Sausage and Rice Casserole
- Cast-Iron Skillet. The perfect skillet for making this recipe. It’s an investment piece that you’ll keep for years.
- Non-Slip Cutting Board. I love that this cutting board doesn’t move around while you’re chopping ingredients.
You’ll love the time this Italian sausage and rice casserole saves, and your friends and family will love you for making it!
Sausage and Rice Casserole
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Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil divided
- 12 ounces cooked Italian chicken sausage links not breakfast sausage, cut into 1/4-inch slices*
- 1 red bell pepper cored and 1/2-inch diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 orange or yellow bell pepper cored and 1/2-inch diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 small or 1/2 large yellow onion 1/4-inch diced (about 1 cup)
- 1 teaspoon dried basil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1 cup instant brown rice*
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- Pinch red pepper flakes optional
- 1 cup low-sodium chicken broth
- 1 15-ounce can fire-roasted tomatoes in their juices
- Chopped fresh parsley optional for serving
Instructions
- Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil in a large nonstick skillet with a tight-fitting lid over medium-high heat. Add the sausage slices and cook for a few minutes on each side, until brown, about 5 to 8 minutes total. Remove to a plate, blot with paper towels to remove any excess oil, and set aside. (Tip: To finish this meal in 30 minutes, prep the peppers and onions while the sausage browns.)
- With a paper towel, carefully wipe the skillet until it is mostly clean. Heat the remaining tablespoon olive oil over medium high. Add the bell peppers, onion, basil, salt, and pepper and cook until the onion begins to soften and brown, about 3 minutes. Add the rice, garlic, and red pepper flakes, stirring to coat the rice. Cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the chicken broth and canned tomatoes in their juices, stirring well. Bring to a boil, stir again, then cover and simmer on low heat for 5 minutes.
- Stir in the reserved sausage slices until evenly distributed, then re-cover the skillet and remove from the heat. Let stand 5 minutes, until most of the remaining liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender. Sprinkle with parsley and serve warm.
Video
Notes
- If you prefer, you can use uncooked sausage cut into bite-sized pieces or removed from its casing and broken up. Be sure to cook the sausage pieces all the way through and be aware that it will extend the recipe’s cook time.
- *I have not tried this recipe with regular (not instant) rice or with white rice instead of brown. Because regular (non-instant) rice’s cooking time is much longer, if you want to experiment and use it instead of the instant, I would suggest sautéing the meat and vegetables in one skillet (you can drain the tomatoes first, then add them to the sausage and peppers at the end, heating until most of their liquid evaporates) and cooking the rice in its own pot. Then, combine the two at the end with a bit of extra chicken stock as needed if the mixture is too dry. Again, I haven’t tried the recipe this way, but that is my best suggestion.
- *If you use white instant rice (instead of brown) please note that the cooking times and liquid needs for the two do vary. I’d add a little less liquid, check the skillet early to make sure the rice does not overcook, and then add a little more liquid toward the end if it seems dry.
Nutrition
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If anyone wants to know, I used 1 cup regular basamati rice and 1 and 1/2 cups of broth and cooked it for 12 minutes instead of five and it turned out perfectly!
I used veggies I had on hand – 1/2 an orange bell pepper, 1/2 of a green one, a large celery rib, and a large portabello mushroom cap I had leftover from another meal. So don’t be afraid to experiment a bit. This is a very versatile recipe and quite yummy.
Thanks for the feedback Kelly!
I just made this with Impossible Sausage Links and it was so yummy. All I had to do with cook the links according to the package first, then followed the rest of the recipe.
To keep it vegetarian, you’ll want to use vegetable broth (I stayed with the chicken broth) and I’m sure it will be just as good.
Hi Kathy! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
I just wanted to say that I used regular brown rice, cooked it in a separate pot (1 C of rice + 1 C of water) while I cooked the sausage and veggies, and added it at the same step the instant rice was supposed to be added, and it turned out wonderfully! I started with raw sausage, so the timing actually worked out perfectly. I will say I didn’t actually measure the broth, though, I just added til it seemed right, but it was definitely less than a cup. (Probably a little over 1/2 C if I had to guess)
I definitely could see pretty much any type of rice working, and a variety of veggies would be tasty. I had some spinach I needed to use up before it went bad that went really well in this!
This was a delicious, fast, and easy meal!
Thanks for the feedback Katy! So glad you enjoyed it!
I haven’t tried the recipe yet but it looks amazing! Curious to know how one would make this in a Dutch oven?
Hi Aparna! I’m pretty sure you could just make it the same way. Enjoy!
Do you reheat this in a pan from the freezer or oven?
Hi Katie! I normally use the microwave but a pan would work too. Enjoy!
Great weeknight meal! Super easy, quick, basic staple ingredients and delicious. Will definitely keep in the dinner rotation.
Hi LeeAnn! So glad you enjoyed the recipe! Thank you for this kind review!
Very good, very easy weeknight dinner. I had some cooked ground sausage left as well as some cut up rotisserie chicken. Threw those in at the end – the last 5 minutes. Very tasty and super easy, super quick (with the precooked meat) to put together. The red pepper flakes added just the right amount of heat. The recipe is a keeper!
Thank you Carol!
I simplified the process even further, maybe. I browned the sausage and onions, then threw all the ingredients in the rice cooker. Love being able to push one button and walk away! This was a pretty good basic recipe you can dress up with whatever seasonings or veggies you have on hand
Glad you enjoyed it!
I made this with ground venison (leaner than pork). Was very good. Will definitely make again!
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Lori!
made recipe as instructed, turned out great, only minor additions were chopped cilantro instead of parsley and I did not have bell pepper so I subbed diced carrot and corn.
Thanks Carol!
This was really delicious! I didn’t have to buy any ingredients as they were all in my fridge. Will definitely make this again!
Yay! Thank you Karen!
My family all agreed that it would have been a lot better if it had used pasta instead of rice. They asked me not to make this again.
I’m sorry to hear you didn’t enjoy this recipe, Shannon. I know it’s disappointing to try a new recipe and not enjoy it. I (and many other readers) have enjoyed it, so I really wish they would’ve been a hit for you too!
The recipe looks amazing. You say a cast iron skillet is best for this recipe and you picture it made in cast iron, yet in the actual recipe you say to use a non stick skillet and show another picture with a non stick skillet??
Hi Rovena, any sturdy skillet will do. Enjoy!
I made this tonight and it’s delicious! I did do the regular rice version: made it separately per package instructions but cut cooking time short by 5 minutes; I didn’t drain my canned tomatoes and only used about a cup of chicken broth and added the cooked rice to the vegetables mixture along with the sausage and simmered until the rice was more tender. It came out perfectly! Thank you for this recipe, Erin!
Great to hear, thank you Erin!
it looks good
Thanks!
This was really good! I used white rice & didn’t need to adjust any fluids to accommodate. Super super tasty! I’ll definitely make this again.
Great to hear, thank you Lara!
Made this recipe and it is delicous, lots of color and flavor. I used brown basmati rice and regular mild Italian sausage. Most of all, I love one pot or one pan dishes. This one is a winner. Making another batch for a neighbor whose husband is in the hospital. This is true comfort food and I hope they enjoy it. I added a bit of extra broth and cooked it 20 minutes after the basmati rice was added as per the basmati rice recipe.
So glad to hear you enjoyed it, Karen! Thank you!
This is a wonderful easy dish. I used turkey kielbasa sausage (that’s what I had on hand) and it turned out great. I added fresh spinach at the end to add more color. Next time I will try using a chicken Italian sausage as the recipe calls for that. Love that it’s gf, full of veggies, and something my family loves. Thanks!
So happy to hear, Sofia! Thank you!