Cajun Chicken Sausage & Rice

5 from 13 votes

Cajun Chicken Sausage & Rice

This Chicken Sausage and Rice is bold, buttery, and packed with flavor. Smoky andouille chicken sausage, sweet peppers, garlic, and Cajun spices simmer with fluffy rice in one pot. Finished with a parmesan rind and peas, it’s cozy, hearty, and perfect for an easy weeknight dinner the whole family will enjoy.

Prep Time15

Cook Time30

Total Time45

Course: Main

Cuisine: American

Servings:

Author: Brianna May

Ingredients

4 Tablespoons salted butter
20 ounces andouille chicken sausage
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
1 yellow onion, sliced
2 bell peppers, sliced
8 cloves garlic, minced
2 Tablespoons cajun seasoning
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
1 tablespoon hot sauce
2 1/3 cups chicken broth, divided
1 1/2 cups basmati rice, rinsed well
1 cup frozen peas
1 bay leaf
1 parmesan rind
grated parmesan, optional for serving

Instructions

Brown the Sausage: In a large skillet or Dutch oven, melt all 4 tablespoons of butter over medium-high heat. Add the sliced andouille sausage and cook until browned, about 3-4 minutes per side. Leave the sausage in the pan.
4 Tablespoons salted butter, 20 ounces andouille chicken sausage
Cook the Tomato Paste: Stir in the tomato paste and cook for 1-2 minutes, stirring frequently, until it deepens in color.
2 Tablespoons tomato paste
Sauté Vegetables & Spices and Deglaze: Add the sliced onion, bell peppers, garlic, Cajun seasoning, and smoked paprika all at once. Sauté for 2-3 minutes until the vegetables soften. Deglaze the pan with 1/3 cup chicken stock, scraping up any browned bits.
1 yellow onion, sliced, 2 bell peppers, sliced, 8 cloves garlic, minced, 2 Tablespoons cajun seasoning, 2 teaspoons smoked paprika, 2 1/3 cups chicken broth, divided
Add Rice, Remaining Stock, and Peas: Stir in the rinsed basmati rice, remaining 2 cups of chicken stock, hot sauce, frozen peas, bay leaf, and parmesan rind. Bring to a boil.
1 tablespoon hot sauce, 1 1/2 cups basmati rice, rinsed well, 1 cup frozen peas, 1 bay leaf, 1 parmesan rind
Simmer & Serve: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed. Remove from heat, discard the bay leaf and parmesan rind, and fluff with a fork. Serve warm with grated parmesan, if desired.
grated parmesan, optional for serving

Notes

Use a good-quality Cajun seasoning: Some blends can be overly salty or too spicy. Look for one with balanced flavor, or make your own if you prefer more control over the heat.
Deglaze the pan thoroughly: When you add the broth, scrape up all the browned bits from the bottom of the pan. That’s where the flavor lives!
Don’t lift the lid while the rice cooks: It’s tempting, but keeping the lid on ensures the rice steams properly and soaks up all the liquid.

Nutrition