I’m a huge fan of one pan meals and have developed dozens of recipes like this for my website and cookbooks. I want you to feel confident about putting dinner on the table! Not overwhelmed with cleanup afterward. My Cajun Sausage & Rice Skillet is a great example of this – easy, tasty, and quick!

Using pre-cooked sausage is such a time saver and provides a lot of flavor in this recipe! Combining the sausage, rice, and some easy veggies makes a well-rounded meal in one pan!

I like to use this recipe as a meal prep option, too! It stores and reheats well and turns out fabulous every single time.

Cajun Rice and Sausage Ingredients

One of the best things about this meal is that it’s relatively adaptable! Those vegetables aren’t set in stone.

Usually in Cajun inspired dishes bell peppers, would be the logical choice.

Not at my house, where 5/6 hate all cooked peppers. (Chili is the exception.) They’re a bunch of weirdos. (I’m the 1/6.)

However, my kids will eat carrots and spinach in almost ANY form, so I always choose them for stuff like this.

You could use add any other small, quick cooking vegetable like chopped zucchini, summer squash, broccoli, celery, green beans…. lots of options here.

Want to know a secret to making great rice dishes?

Sausage. Lots of sausage.

I’m joking. But seriously, they add a ton of flavor.

Best Sausage to Use in a Cajun Skillet

Any kind of pre-cooked smoked sausage would work here. You could use beef, pork, or chicken sausage, too.

I used some Kiolbassa brand grass-fed smoked beef sausage from Costco in this recipe. I LOVE their sausages and love the clean ingredient list and sourcing.

Aidell’s also has some great options for pre-cooked sausage! Their chicken-apple sausage is Whole30 friendly and my kids’ favorite.

How to Make Cajun Sausage and Rice

1. In a large, deep skillet, heat the butter/oil over medium high heat. Add the onion, carrots, garlic, and sausage. Cook for 1-2 minutes.
2. Add the rice and seasonings and cook for another 2-3 minutes until the rice turns opaque and becomes toasted and golden in spots, stirring frequently.
3. Stir in the can of tomatoes and broth and bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low and let it simmer, covered, for 12-15 minutes until the rice is cooked through and most of the moisture is gone from the bottom of the skillet.
4. Stir in the greens and cover the pot. Remove from the heat and let it sit for another 5 minutes to wilt the greens. Stir again and taste, adding more salt if needed.

Sausage and Rice Recipe Tips

1. Toast the rice — preferable in butter. Avocado oil or coconut oil would work, too. I use the same technique in my Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice and Instant Pot Lemon Herb Rice. It adds so much flavor!
2. Use broth instead of water. Any kind!
3. Season it well. Rice is a blank canvas and can hold a lot of seasoning, so don’t be shy with them!

Cajun Sausage and Rice Variations

Making a vegetarian Cajun Skillet

Sure! Just use avocado oil, vegetable broth, and replace the sausage with a drained can of your favorite beans or your favorite vegetarian protein source.

Here are a few of my other favorite rice recipes!

How to serve Sausage and Rice

Since this meal pretty much has everything in the pan already, I would serve it as is! Perhaps add a squeeze of lemon juice on top for fun!

More Tasty Rice Dishes

Chicken Rice & Mushroom Skillet is another FABULOUS one-pot dish!

Wild Rice Salad with Cucumber and Pesto is a great little side dish and it’s easy to add protein to make it a meal on its own!

Mango Cucumber Rice Salad is a cool mix of quinoa and rice tossed with sweet mangoes, diced cukes, crunchy sliced almonds, and a tangy lime vinaigrette!

Then there are my three favorite ways of making “just” rice — Cilantro Lime Rice, Lemon-Herb Rice, and Coconut Rice. All made with your Instant Pot!