Description
Whipping up one pan cajun chicken sausage rice brings pure comfort straight from the kitchen, packed with zesty spices that’ll make your taste buds dance. Hearty, satisfying, and ready in under 30 minutes, this simple meal delivers bold Louisiana-style flavor without complicated prep work.
Ingredients
Scale
Proteins:
- 4 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
- 12 oz andouille sausage
Vegetables and Aromatics:
- 1 small onion
- 1 bell pepper
- 2 cloves garlic
Base and Liquid:
- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon smoked paprika
- Salt
- Pepper
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Your goal is to create a golden-brown exterior on the protein.
- Add 4 chicken thighs (cut into bite-sized pieces) and 12 oz sliced andouille sausage to the hot pan. Cook for 5-7 minutes until chicken develops a rich, caramelized color.
- Transfer the browned meat to a clean plate, keeping those delicious cooking juices in the pan.
- Drop diced onion and bell pepper into the same skillet. Sauté for 3-4 minutes until vegetables soften and become translucent.
- Sprinkle 2 minced garlic cloves into the pan. Stir quickly to prevent burning, cooking for 30-60 seconds until fragrant.
- Add 1 ½ cups rinsed long-grain white rice to the skillet. Coat the grains thoroughly with 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning and ½ teaspoon smoked paprika.
- Pour 3 cups chicken broth into the skillet. Gently stir to combine all ingredients.
- Carefully return chicken and sausage to the pan. Nestle the proteins into the rice mixture.
- Reduce heat to low. Cover the skillet and simmer for 18-20 minutes until rice absorbs all liquid and becomes tender.
- Remove lid and fluff rice with a fork. Scatter fresh parsley on top for a bright finish if desired.
Notes
- Choose a cast iron skillet or heavy-bottomed pan for the best heat distribution and flavor development.
- Rinse the rice thoroughly to remove excess starch and prevent the dish from becoming sticky or gummy.
- When browning chicken and sausage, resist the urge to stir too often, allowing a nice golden crust to form for deeper flavor.
- For a gluten-free version, ensure your Cajun seasoning and chicken broth are certified gluten-free and substitute with cauliflower rice if needed.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 26-32 minutes
- Category: Chicken
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 480 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 920 mg
- Fat: 22 g
- Saturated Fat: 6 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 14 g
- Trans Fat: 0 g
- Carbohydrates: 40 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 30 g
- Cholesterol: 100 mg