Cheesy Kielbasa Rice and Broccoli Skillet

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This cheesy kielbasa rice and broccoli skillet is the perfect meal for any time of day! Not only is it delicious, but this is one of those meals that is all made in one pot! Savory kielbasas are cooked until crispy on the outside but tender, then a savory rice and broccoli mixture is added to be topped with cheese just before serving. A true meal in one bowl! It's easy to make and delicious comfort food at its best.

rice sausage and broccoli in speckled black skillet

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Cheesy Kielbasa Rice Skillet
Ingredients
Handy Kitchen Tools
How to Make Kielbasa Rice with Broccoli
Frequently Asked Questions
More Easy Skillet and One-Pot Meals
Video Recipe
📖 Recipe

Cheesy Kielbasa Rice Skillet

If you've been looking for a tasty dish to add to your meal plan, then this is one of those recipes that take no time to prepare. I love using simple ingredients to build flavors, and this definitely does that. Plus, it only takes about 30 minutes to make and it’s packed with protein.

The best part of this easy skillet meal is that it is super kid-friendly and so creamy with cheese you won't be able to resist it. You can serve this sausage skillet with a side of potato bread or some fresh homemade crescent rolls. My family loves this with a side of these garlic cheesy bread bombs.

side of skillet of rice on table by tomatoes and lettuce

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound kielbasa or Polish sausage
1 small yellow onion
3 cloves garlic
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 ½ teaspoons ground mustard powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup uncooked white basmati rice
3 cups + 3 tablespoons chicken stock
4 cups broccoli florets
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

teal bowl with spoon of rice with broccoli and sausage

Handy Kitchen Tools

This is a great choice to make in a Dutch oven if you prefer using that over a skillet.

Amazon Basics Enamled Cast Iron 7.3 Quart Dutch Oven - personal favorte budget option
Lodge Enameled Dutch Oven 6 Quart - most popular budget option
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5-Quart - most versatile for indoor and outdoor use
Le Creuset Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven 5.5 Quart - most popular high end option
Uno Casa Enamled Cast Iron Dutch Oven Casserole 3.7 Quart - best smaller size option

skillet of rice and sausage on table with striped blue tablecloth

If you like Dutch oven recipes, then make sure you check out my Complete Dutch Oven Cookbook on Amazon. It's filled with easy-to-make meals from breakfasts to soups and stews and even a few desserts!

How to Make Kielbasa Rice with Broccoli

Slice the sausage at a diagonal and prepare the onions and garlic by dicing and mincing. Then heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.

To the skillet, add the sliced kielbasa and cook it for 2 minutes per side, until it is nicely browned and some of the fat has rendered.

black skillet of sausages being turned with pink tongs

Remove the sausage from the pan and set it aside.

Then into the same skillet, add 3 tablespoons of chicken broth.

Add in the onions and garlic. Cook these for 4 to 5 minutes, stirring regularly, until the onion is translucent.

glass bowl of onions being poured into skillet

Next, add the rice, salt, black pepper, and mustard powder. Stir the mixture well to combine.

white bowl of mustard powder over the top of rice in skillet with blue spoon

Add in the remaining 3 cups of chicken broth as well as the lemon juice.

hand holding glass bowl of lemon juice above skillet of rice

Turn the heat to high and bring the mixture to a boil.

Once the rice mixture is boiling, reduce the heat back to medium and cover with a lid. Set a timer for 15 minutes and let it simmer, covered.

Once it has cooked for 15 minutes, remove the lid and stir the rice to make sure nothing is sticking.

Now, pour the broccoli over the top of the rice, but do not stir it together. Instead, cover with the lid, and let it continue cooking for 5 minutes to steam the broccoli.

white bowl of broccoli hovering over black skillet of rice

Remove the lid after 5 minutes and stir in the sausage and ½ cup of the cheeses.

red tongs in skillet with broccoli and sausage

Now, sprinkle the top with the remaining cheese and cover again with the lid.

hand sprinkling cheese over rice in skillet

Let it sit for 2 to 3 minutes to melt before removing the lid to serve.

fork of rice above black plate with broccoli sausage rice

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I Use Different Sausages?

If you don’t like kielbasa, you can easily substitute it for another type of sausage. Chicken sausage, turkey sausage, and even chorizo would work well in this dish. There are spicy sausages if you want some heat in the dish. You can also use ground sausage for a different take on the meal.
Each type of sausage that you add will add different flavors and can make these taste like a new dish. I love to change things up and make it with whatever sausage I have on hand. The family will rave about how amazing it tastes.

Can I Use Different Vegetables?

If you want to add some more vegetables to this sausage rice skillet feel free to do so. I love adding veggies in recipes like this because of even the fussiest kids like vegetables with cheese.

In this version, there are onions, garlic, and broccoli. This works really well together. You can add cauliflower, spinach, peas, carrots, mushrooms, or even zucchini. Just remember to consider how long other vegetables would need to cook. You may need to steam them separately and add them to the mix just when you add the cheese in the last steps.

Should I Use Brown or White Rice for a Skillet Meal?

A basic short-grain white rice is my go-to for dishes like this. You can use different types of rice or even brown rice if you want to for texture or flavor.

White rice will cook faster than brown rice and may require additional liquid. If using brown rice, I recommend adding ¼ cup additional liquid and cooking for an additional 3 to 5 minutes. Test the texture and continue cooking if you feel it isn't softened enough at that point.

What Cheese Should I Put on My Kielbasa Rice?

I like using shredded cheddar and mozzarella cheese for this recipe. They are mild enough to not take away from the flavor of the sausage, but still, melt well and add enough flavor to be noticeable.

Other options include using things like American cheese, Colby Jack, Swiss, Fontina, Gouda, Havarti, or for more heat, a good pepper jack cheese. You can even use a cheese product like Velveeta for a creamier taste and texture.

If you like this easy recipe and want more beginner recipes to try you might also be interested in my latest cookbook release, The Complete Cookbook for Beginners. Tips, skills, and 101 recipes for the beginner cook to learn from!

teal plate with kilebasa rice and broccoli with red pepper on side of plate

More Easy Skillet and One-Pot Meals

If you like the idea of a one-pot meal or a skillet meal, we have you covered. This happens to be one of the easiest we have made, but the others are super easy as well and sure to please your taste buds. Make sure that you bookmark these recipes, print them out, or pin them to an easy meal recipe board on Pinterest.

Video Recipe

📖 Recipe

Yield: 4

Cheesy Kielbasa Rice and Broccoli Skillet

This easy skillet meal is a perfect weeknight meal! Cheesy kielbasa rice and broccoli skillet is easy to make and a perfect one-pot meal!

Prep Time 10 minutes

Cook Time 30 minutes

Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

2 teaspoons olive oil
1 pound kielbasa or Polish sausage, sliced
1 small yellow onion, diced
3 cloves garlic, minced
1 teaspoon lemon juice
1 ½ teaspoons ground mustard powder
1 teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon black pepper
1 cup uncooked white basmati rice
3 cups + 3 tablespoons chicken stock
4 cups broccoli florets, in bite sized pieces
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
½ cup shredded mozzarella cheese

Instructions

In a large skillet, heat olive oil over medium heat.
Add the sliced kielbasa and cook for 2 minutes, until the bottoms are browned.
Then turn the slices over and cook another 1 to 2 minutes until both sides of the sausage are browned. Remove the sausage from the skillet and set it aside.
Into the same skillet, add 3 tablespoons of chicken stock.
Then add in the diced onion and garlic.
Cook, stirring regularly, for 4 to 5 minutes, until the onion is turning translucent.
To the vegetables, add the rice, salt, black pepper, and mustard powder. Stir well to combine.
Add in the remaining chicken broth and lemon juice.
Turn heat to high and bring to a boil.
Once the mixture is boiling, reduce heat to medium, cover and continue cooking for 15 minutes.
Remove the lid, stir then add the broccoli over the top of the rice, and cover with the lid to cook for another 5 minutes. Do not stir in the broccoli.
Remove the lid, add the sausage and ½ cup of the cheeses then stir to combine.
Sprinkle the remaining cheese over the top and top with the lid for 2 to 3 minutes to melt the cheese.
Serve immediately.