Chicken Sausage Skillet with Veggies and Rice

At first glance this may seem like a jambalaya and although it is similar in many ways I did not choose to call it that. You could certainly change up a few ingredients to make it one, but in this case the recipe has a bit of Italian flavor thanks to the seasonings and sausage variety I made it with. So in that case I would not consider this a dish that someone from New Orleans would be accustomed to. If that is what you are looking for you will definitely need to alter a few things, but it was well liked by the family prepared this way. I was making it for a hungry brother stopping by the house after classes as well as parents who have been sorting through an array of holiday decorations. As I have mentioned before, I am not a fan of hot dogs and although chicken sausage is quite different from them flavor wise, I do not prefer them for some of the same reasons. If you don't either, feel free to slice up some lightly seasoned chicken breasts and saute them in the pan before adding the other ingredients.

This is actually a very versatile dish. For one thing, chicken sausage comes in a variety of flavors that range from mild Italian to spicy pepper. The seasonings can easily be altered and if you are seriously craving that Jambalaya, you may want to throw in some shrimp at the end. If you feel the need for some heat, crank it up with hot sauce or a spicy pepper.

Using chicken sausage and brown rice keeps it on the healthier side but pork sausages can be substituted. Actually, come to think of it, if rice is not in your pantry simply omit the water and toss the mixture with cooked pasta. See, creative aren't we?

Here is the recipe but to be honest I will probably rarely use the recipe itself (or at least verbatim) due to the versatility of it.  "A pinch of this" and "dash of that" is a good way of making this one and also depends on what you have on hand vegetable wise.

PS. If you can think of a better title than I have, go for it! This one is a bit boring but I don't want to disappoint anyone craving an authentic jambalaya or other Cajun style dishes. That can happen but changes will need to be made to the ingredients :) The title is lacking creativity, but at least it describes whats in it.   

Chicken Sausage Skillet with Veggies and Rice

4 Cooked mild Italian chicken sausages, sliced (they typically come in a pack of four)
1 TBSP canola oil
1 Medium green bell pepper, sliced
1 Medium yellow or other colored bell pepper, sliced
1 Small onion, sliced
1/2 tsp garlic powder (could use fresh I just didn't have any)
dash freshly ground black pepper
1 Cup uncooked instant brown rice
1 Can no salt added Italian diced tomatoes
1 Cup water or low sodium chicken broth (more if needed)

Parmesan cheese (optional)

In a medium pan with raised edges, brown the chicken sausages in oil. Remove and keep warm. In the same pan, cook the vegetables over medium heat until crisp tender, adding an extra teaspoon of oil if necessary. add the garlic powder or fresh minced garlic and black pepper. Stir in rice, diced tomatoes, and water; bring to a boil. Cover the pan, reduce heat, and let simmer for about 10 minutes or until rice is tender and most of the liquid has absorbed. Stir in the sausages and heat through. Cover and let sit for about 5 minutes before serving. Serves about 4.

Italian seasoning would be a nice addition as well. Its a fairly easy dish that you can switch up however you'd like.