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    Home » Recipes » Instant Pot Recipes

    Cajun Sausage and Rice {Instant Pot or Stovetop}

    Published: Jan 8, 2023 · Modified: Feb 17, 2023 by Tiffany Dahle · This post may contain affiliate links.

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    A photo collage shows the finished cajun sausage and rice next to pictures of the Instant Pot outside and the finished dish in the pot.

    Easy Cajun sausage and rice is a one pot Instant Pot or stovetop meal you can make on a busy weeknight in just minutes.

    A bowl of Instant Pot sausage and rice.

    One of my favorite spice blends in my pantry is the Cajun seasoning blend and I'm always looking for new ways to use it.

    This super easy Cajun sausage and rice can be made in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop for a quick and easy weeknight dinner.

    Savory sausage, tender rice, and sweet bell peppers and onions mixed with a Cajun seasoned tomato sauce is a comforting dinner that would also be fun to serve for a casual Mardi Gras dinner!

    Jump to:
    • Why This is the Best Recipe
    • Ingredients
    • Instant Pot Instructions
    • Serving Suggestions
    • Variations
    • Stovetop Instructions
    • More Cajun Recipes
    • 📖 Recipe
    • 💬 Comments

    Why This is the Best Recipe

    This Cajun sausage and rice is such a quick and easy recipe and one of my favorites to cook because:

    1. Budget-Friendly: I keep an eye on the sausages and when they go on sale I'll snag them and keep them in the freezer. This is a fantastic way to use whatever sausage is on sale.
    2. Flexible: I love the sausage but you could swap chicken or shrimp if you wanted to mix things up.
    3. Not Too Spicy: Cajun seasoning is not spicy hot, it is just a very flavorful spice blend. If you want extra heat, add a pinch of cayenne.
    4. Instant Pot or Stovetop: I definitely make ours in the Instant Pot because it is a hands-off dinner, but if you don't have one I've included stovetop instructions in the recipe, card, too.

    Ingredients

    The ingredients to make an easy Instant Pot sausage and rice are on the counter.

    This affordable family dinner includes a very short list of ingredients:

    • Sausage: I use an inexpensive turkey kielbasa, especially when I can grab them on sale. You could use andouille sausage, chorizo, or a regular beef kielbasa, too.
    • Rice
    • Chicken Stock: You could also use water and chicken bouillon if you prefer.
    • Bell Pepper
    • Onion
    • Minced Garlic
    • Tomato Paste
    • Olive Oil

    Instant Pot Instructions

    I love to use my Instant Pot for this Cajun sausage and rice because I can do everything right in the pot.

    Turn the Instant Pot on to the SAUTE function and add the olive oil to the pot.

    Add the diced onions and peppers and stir in the olive oil for 3 minutes or until the onions are translucent.

    Add the garlic and Cajun seasoning and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.

    Slice the sausage into "coins" and add them to the pot. Saute for a minute to brown them slightly.

    Add the tomato paste and stir until it is mixed in.

    Brown the sausage and make the sauce before adding the rice to the Instant Pot.

    Add the chicken stock and rice and stir to thoroughly combine everything.

    Turn off the SAUTE feature and place the lid on the Instant Pot.

    Set it to SEAL and cook on HIGH pressure for 3 minutes.

    A spicy sausage and rice inside the Instant Pot.

    You can quick release or natural release this meal and let it keep warm while you finish up any side dishes you want to make.

    Always fluff the rice with a fork or spoon before serving.

    Serving Suggestions

    This savory Cajun sausage and rice dish would pair really well with my air fryer green beans or a batch of roasted cherry tomatoes served on the side or mixed into the rice just before serving.

    I also think the roasted peppers and pineapples would be a nice touch. The sweet pineapple would taste wonderful with the Cajun seasoning in the mix.

    • A white plate has a pile of freshly roasted green beans hot from the air fryer basket.
      Air Fryer Green Beans
    • The roasted cherry tomatoes have been cooked on a large baking sheet.
      Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
    • A serving bowl of roasted pineapple and pepper chunks sits in front of a roasting pan with spatula.
      Roasted Peppers and Pineapple

    Variations

    If you wanted to mix things up, you could consider the following variations:

    1. Cajun Chicken and Rice: Substitute chopped chicken breasts for the sausage. You'll want them to be a similar size to the sausage chunks in order for the cooking time to be the same. Depending on your chicken size, you may consider increasing the time to 5 minutes.
    2. Cajun Vegetables and Rice: Skip the meat altogether and add carrots, summer squash, zucchini, or green beans to the rice mixture.
    3. Cajun Shrimp and Rice: You could toss defrosted shrimp in Cajun seasoning and stir them into the rice mixture.

    Stovetop Instructions

    If you don't have an Instant Pot and prefer to make this on your stovetop, just follow these easy directions:

    Add the olive oil to a medium pot with a lid.

    Cook the onion and peppers until softened. Add the garlic and Cajun seasoning and stir until fragrant.

    Add the sausage and saute for one minute. Add the tomato paste and stir until mixed in.

    Add the chicken broth and stir to combine. Add the rice and stir.

    Cover the pot with the lid and cook according to the time suggested on your rice package, usually 10 - 20 minutes.

    NOTE: If using shrimp instead of sausage on the stovetop, add the shrimp for 5 minutes at the end of the cooking time so they are not overdone.

    More Cajun Recipes

    Once you have Cajun seasoning in your kitchen, there are other delicious recipes it works well in.

    I love to sprinkle it over chicken before roasting but it is also delicious in my slowcooker jambalaya with rice or this spicy shrimp stew.

    Cajun seasoning is the surprise ingredient in my baked cheese tortellini skillet, it just gives it a flavor boost.

    And Cajun seasoning works really great with grilled tilapia and other delicate white fishes.

    • The cooked sausage and peppers and celery in a slow cooker.
      Slowcooker Jambalaya with Rice
    • A blue bowl of spicy shrimp stew shows tons of corn, red peppers, spicy sausage, and big shrimp.
      Spicy Shrimp Stew
    • A bowl of baked tortellini with a slice of garlic bread on the side.
      Baked Cheese Tortellini Skillet
    • The grilled tilapia is on a dinner plate with a dollop of dill aoli, red rice, and a cob of corn.
      Seasoned Grilled Tilapia

    📖 Recipe

    A spicy sausage and rice inside the Instant Pot.

    Cajun Sausage and Rice

    5 from 1 vote
    Savory cajun sausage and rice is made easy in the Instant Pot or on the stovetop. This not-too-spicy dinner is kid-friendly and a great way to use a turkey kielbasa sausage for an easy dinner.
    TOTAL TIME 18 minutes minutes
    PREP TIME 15 minutes minutes
    COOK TIME 3 minutes minutes
    YIELD 4 servings
    PIN RECIPE FOR LATER PRINT RECIPE NOW

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 tablespoons olive oil
    • 1 onion diced
    • 1 red bell pepper diced
    • 1 teaspoon minced garlic
    • 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
    • 1 (13 oz.) turkey kielbasa sausage sliced into thin discs
    • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
    • 2 cups chicken broth
    • 2 cups jasmine rice

    Instructions

    • Turn the Instant Pot onto SAUTE and add the olive oil to the pot. Give the oil one minute to heat up and then add the diced onion and peppers to the pot. Stir and saute until the onions are translucent, about 3 minutes.
    • Add the garlic and Cajun seasoning and stir until fragrant, about 30 seconds.
    • Add the sausage and saute for a minute. Add the tomato paste and stir until it is thoroughly mixed in. Pour the chicken broth in and stir to combine. Add the rice and stir to combine.
    • Turn the Instant Pot off and place the lid on top. Set it to SEALING and cook the mixture on HIGH Pressure for 3 minutes.
    • Fluff the rice before serving.

    Recipe Notes

    Stovetop Instructions

    No Instant Pot? You can make this dish on the stovetop.
    Add the olive oil to a medium pot with a lid. Cook the onion and peppers until softened. Add the garlic and Cajun seasoning and stir until fragrant.
    Add the sausage and saute for one minute. Add the tomato paste and stir until mixed in.
    Add the chicken broth and stir to combine. Add the rice and stir.
    Cover the pot with the lid and cook according to the time suggested on your rice package, usually 10 - 20 minutes.

    A Note on Spice Level

    Cajun seasoning blends are flavorful but not too spicy-hot. If you prefer more heat, add cayenne pepper or a couple dashes of hot sauce at the same time as the Cajun blend.
    COURSEDinner
    CUISINECajun
    AUTHORTiffany Dahle

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    A photo collage shows the finished cajun sausage and rice next to pictures of the Instant Pot outside and the finished dish in the pot.

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    Hi, I'm Tiffany!
    I believe a great family recipe is one that makes everyone at the table happy, not just the kids. I'm the author of two bestselling cookbooks for kids that are chock full of recipes everyone in your family will love. I'm also the hostess of the best online book club for moms.

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