15-Minute Cheesy Sausage Broccoli Skillet

This post is sponsored by Eckrich Smoked Sausage; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Why does it feel like summer just started and already I’m seeing bathing suits replaced with denim and brightly hued school supplies?

Whether you want to spend more time with your family during the last few days of summer break or need speedy school night dinner recipes, Cheesy Sausage Broccoli Skillet is your answer! 

Sharp cheddar cheese tossed with rice, broccoli florets, roasted red pepper and tender Eckrich Smoked Sausage. Dinner is ready in just 15 minutes!

What takes only 15 minutes to make, has loads of flavor and will soon be your favorite family go-to dinner? Cheesy Sausage Broccoli Skillet!

What do you stock your refrigerator and pantry with for busy weeknight meals? Especially around back-to-school?

For me, it’s meals with ingredients that are easy to store and are also customizable. Eckrich Smoked Sausage is one of those items.

Coming in so many flavors and forms, Eckrich Smoked Sausage is naturally hardwood smoked and a proprietary blend of spices for a rich, savory taste. It’s so simple to cook these up, I always keep them in stock for the busy summer days.

Not to mention it’s easy to find in the Deli section of your local grocery store.

Whether you have Lil’ Smokies Beef Cocktail Smoked Sausage, Smoked Sausage Links or traditional Smoked Sausage Ropes, they are the perfect go-to ingredient to make a quick, easy and delicious meal for you and your family.

Cheesy Sausage Broccoli Skillet only takes 15 minutes and has four simple steps.

1. Brown the sausage. This brings out the flavor that will help season the rice.
2. While instant rice is usually soooo boring, toasting it with the sausage gives it an earthy, nutty flavor. Cooking it in chicken broth instead of water further amplifies the flavor.
3. Frozen broccoli and jarred roasted red peppers are two ingredients I always have on hand, but you can substitute, omit or add a handful of other tasty vegetables. Keep reading for some of my fabulous ideas!
4. Any extra liquid from the rice or vegetables helps make the cheesy sauce that coats your rice. I do suggest using freshly shredded cheese. While pre-shredded saves time, it is tossed in flour and sometimes doesn’t melt as well, resulting in a grainy texture.

In my house, this skillet feeds four, but we are hungry, hungry hippos. If you have small eaters, it will feed 6.

And if you need to make it stretch, you can always double the sausage or rice, just add 1 additional cup of instant rice and 1 cup chicken broth. But this means you might also want to throw in a little extra cheese.

You can also modify this Sausage Skillet with other pantry and fridge essentials. Try throwing in frozen peas, canned corn, lime beans or fresh tomatoes.

Cheddar cheese can be swapped out for any other type of cheese. See recipe notes for even more ideas!

Add pepper jack cheese and a few tablespoons of salsa for a spicy, Mexican inspired cheesy skillet.

Pair your Cheesy Broccoli Sausage Skillet with one of these leafy green salads:

• Kale Salad
• Shaved Zucchini Salad
• Almond Cranberry Salad

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Tomato Salad with Mustard Bacon Dressing is the ultimate summer side dish using lush tomatoes, avocado mozzarella basil. Make it ahead for any party or BBQ.

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Before you get started, make sure you know how to properly season your cast iron and how to clean your cast iron! 

Cheesy Sausage Broccoli Skillet

4.82 from 11 votes

This Cheesy Sausage Broccoli Skillet is so easy to make with rice, sliced sausage veggies and of course, CHEESE! Ready in 15 minutes! 

Prep Time: 5 minutes mins

Cook Time: 10 minutes mins

Total Time: 15 minutes mins

Servings: 4

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Equipment

• Heat Resistant Rubber Spatula

Ingredients

• 2 links Eckrich Smoked Sausage , cut into medallions
• 2 teaspoons vegetable oil
• 2 cups instant rice
• 1 ¾ cup chicken broth
• ½ teaspoon fine sea salt
• ½ teaspoon black pepper
• 8 ounces frozen broccoli florets
• 12 ounces roasted red peppers , drained and chopped
• 1 ½ cups cheddar cheese , shredded

Instructions

• Heat vegetable oil in a large cast iron pan or skillet over medium-high heat.
• Brown sausage medallions, flipping until uniformly seared, approximately 5 minutes.
• Add rice, tossing with sausage to brown and coat.
• Add chicken broth, sea salt and black pepper. Using a spatula, stir and make it even.
• Reduce heat to low and cover for 5 minutes. *
• Remove lid and stir in frozen broccoli and chopped, drained roasted red pepper. Cook for 2-3 minutes, or until broccoli is heated through.
• Toss with shredded cheddar cheese.
• Serve immediately.
• If you’ve tried this recipe, make sure to come back and let us know how it was! 

Notes

*Use a sheet of aluminum foil for a quick, disposable lid that doesn’t require any cleaning! Variations: Chopped onion or garlic, onion or garlic powder, scallions, fresh bell pepper, canned tomatoes, drained, hot sauce, crushed red pepper flakes, frozen peas or frozen corn.

Nutrition

Calories: 542 kcal, Carbohydrates: 43 g, Protein: 16 g, Fat: 30 g, Saturated Fat: 10 g, Cholesterol: 44 mg, Sodium: 2121 mg, Potassium: 438 mg, Fiber: 3 g, Sugar: 1 g, Vitamin A: 1220 IU, Vitamin C: 97.4 mg, Calcium: 383 mg, Iron: 4.3 mg

Author: Jessica Formicola

Calories: 542

Course: Main Course, Main Dish

Cuisine: American

Keyword: skillet meals

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Visit eckrich.com for even more fabulous recipes!

This post is sponsored by Eckrich Smoked Sausage; however, all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.