You'll love the flavor of this easy Kielbasa and Rice skillet dinner. The dish is served with a zesty, melty cheddar cheese sauce.
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When I plan ahead I don't mind spending some extra time on dinner, to make dishes like Slow Cooker Guinness Pot Roast or Chicken Pot Pies. However, there's always that one night that, despite my best intentions, I find I'm short of time to get dinner ready.
The tell-tale sign that I'm in trouble is when I catch my husband or one of the kids hanging out in front of the pantry—that's when I realize I have to get cooking!
Kielbasa and Rice topped with cheddar cheese sauce is one of our family favorites, and it's a favorite of mine because it comes together so quickly.
What to expect from Cheesy Kielbasa and Rice
- Precooked smoked kielbasa sausage cooked in a skillet until hot and crisp
- Quick-cooking jasmine rice as the tender base for this recipe
- A creamy, spiced cheddar sauce with flavors of smoked paprika and garlic
- A sausage and rice recipe that comes together in just a little more than 30 minutes
Why you'll love this recipe
Kielbasa (or smoked sausage) and rice with cheese is a great meal idea to have in your back pocket for busy nights, and the ingredients are easy to keep on hand. For example, I always keep jasmine rice in my pantry; it cooks up fluffy and tender in only fifteen minutes. Not only do we enjoy it in this Cheesy Sausage and Rice recipe, but it's perfect for Mexican Chicken with Peppers & Rice and Caprese Rice Salad with Bacon.
Kielbasa is my go-to sausage for this recipe as its flavor pairs beautifully with the paprika-spiced cheddar cheese sauce. However, smoked sausage, andouille, and sausages made with turkey or beef would also work great in this skillet dinner. Sausages like these can often be found on sale, so pick up extra and freeze them for future dinners.
Lastly, you'll love the cheddar and sausage skillet recipe because it's really tasty! A savory, kid-friendly, easy budget meal that the whole family will dig into.
on the side!
Scallion Biscuits
Buttery, flaky, and savory!
How do you cook kielbasa?
Because kielbasa is a precooked and smoked sausage, cooking kielbasa is a breeze: just slice it up and cook it in a skillet for about ten minutes. I slice the meat on a diagonal to create large pieces with lots of surface area for browning.
Other precooked sausages will work just as easily.
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🔪 How to make this Kielbasa and Rice Recipe
Ingredients:
- Jasmine Rice: My favorite type of rice because it cooks in only 15 minutes and tastes delicious.
- Polska Kielbasa: Look for this precooked sausage in the meat section; smoked sausage also works well in this recipe.
- Cheddar Cheese: I like to use Cabot's Vermont Sharp which is a milder cheddar.
- Butter: Use unsalted butter in the roux for the cheese sauce.
- Milk: Simmered with the roux, milk helps make a rich cheese sauce.
- All-Purpose Flour: An ingredient in the roux, it helps thicken the cheese sauce.
- Smoked Paprika: If you want the flavor to be less smoky, use regular paprika instead.
- Garlic Powder: It gives even more flavor to the sauce.
- Salt and Pepper: Just a pinch of each rounds out the flavor of this dish.
- Sour Cream: A finishing touch to smooth out and loosen the creamy sauce.
Cook the rice
Prepare the jasmine rice based on the package directions and hold the cooked rice aside. (This guide from The Kitchn has tips on how to cook rice three ways.)
Cook the kielbasa
Cook kielbasa slices over medium heat in a skillet until they're browned around the edges and hot.
Make the cheddar sauce
Stir flour into hot, melted butter and seasonings to make an easy roux. Add in milk to make a thickened base before adding shredded cheddar cheese. It should melt to make a smooth sauce.
Serve!
Place a serving of the kielbasa and rice on each plate and spoon cheddar sauce over the tops.
FAQs
Yes, any precooked sausage can be subbed in for the kielbasa—just remember that the sauce has a savory, smoky flavor when choosing your sausage.
This dinner is hearty and filling, so any side dishes can be on the light side. Try a fresh, green salad, buttered corn, or some fluffy Scallion Biscuits with butter.
Let any leftovers cool completely, then put them into a resealable container. Keep them in the fridge for up to four days. They can easily be reheated in the microwave or on the stovetop with a little splash of milk to loosen up the sauce.
Tips:
- I use jasmine rice because it's ready in just 15 minutes. If you use a different type of rice, follow the package directions and factor in the time difference.
This is one tasty, cheesy sausage and rice dinner—a savory and satisfying meal that the family will really enjoy!
The recipe for Cheesy Rice and Kielbasa is below. And here are even more savory recipes to try:
💬 Did you make and devour this recipe? Leave a comment below.
📖 Recipe
Kielbasa and Rice, with Cheddar
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Ingredients
- 1½ cups jasmine rice
- 16 ounces polska kielbasa (or smoked sausage)
For the sauce:
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour, unbleached
- 2 teaspoons smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- ¼ teaspoon salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 1¼ cup 2% milk
- 1 cup shredded Vermont sharp cheddar cheese
- 3 tablespoons sour cream
Instructions
Make the rice:
- Bring three cups of salted water to a boil in a large saucepan. Rinse the jasmine rice in a mesh strainer until the water runs clear.
- Once the water is boiling, add in the rinsed rice; stir the rice to distribute it through the water.
- Reduce the heat to low and cover the pan. Simmer the rice for 15 minutes until tender.
- (If you're making a different kind of rice, cook it according to the package directions.)
Prepare the kielbasa:
- Meanwhile, slice the kielbasa on the diagonal into thin, large slices.
- Heat the kielbasa slices in a large skillet over medium-high heat for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the slices are sizzling and browned at the edges.
- Transfer the cooked kielbasa slices to a plate and hold them aside.
Make the sauce:
- Have the butter, flour, seasonings, milk, and cheese ready by the stove before starting.
- Add the butter to the hot skillet, and heat it over medium heat until melted.
- Quickly whisk in the flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Stir this roux continuously over medium heat for about 30 seconds. Pour in the milk and whisk to combine it with the roux.
- Stir the mixture constantly as you bring it to a simmer over medium heat. As soon as the mixture begins to simmer and it just begins to thicken, remove the pan from the heat.
- Stir in the shredded cheese until it is melted. Then stir in the sour cream.
Serve:
- Place portions of the rice and kielbasa on dinner plates, then spoon the cheddar sauce over the top. Serve them while they're hot!
- Makes 6 servings.
Notes
- I use jasmine rice because it's ready in just 15 minutes. If you use a different kind, follow the package directions and factor in the time difference.
Nutrition
Kathy says
Easy. I made a 1/2 batch. Just me and hubby. He really liked it. He said I could make it again. So that's a 5 star for him.
Nancy Mock says
Thanks for trying my recipe Kathy, I'm so glad that you and your husband enjoyed it!
Carolyn Z says
I loved this recipe! I'll admit, I was pretty liberal with my sour cream. Three heaping tablespoons, and I even added a small dollop on top of the serving bowls.
Really easy and quick and I was told (not asked, LOL) to make it again...soon.
Nancy Mock says
You are 100% allowed to be liberal with your sour cream, lol! I like the idea of serving this dish with an extra dollop on top. Thank you so much for trying my recipe, Carolyn, and I'm so happy you like it!
Colette says
I will have to try this variation. I’ve just always thrown some jasmine rice in the rice cooker, sautéed some kielbasa and added some shredded Mexican cheese. So quick and simple for any meal of the day. My ex liked to add over easy eggs to his. Easy way to add extra protein.
Sherri Rowell says
I’m sorry I forgot to write sour cream in my question about lactose intolerance Everything else in the recipe has a lactose intolerance version except the sour cream. Thank You
Nancy Mock says
Hi Sherri! Thanks for this question. The sour cream is there to help make the sauce smooth and creamy just before it's served. If you'd like to omit it, you can just add an extra splash of milk (or dairy-free-milk) instead to help smooth the sauce. I see online that there are vegan versions of sour cream, made with soy, beans, or nuts depending on the brand, however I'm not sure if they're available in all areas. I hope this helps and I hope your family like it!
Sherri Rowell says
it looks really good but my kids are lactose intolerant so is there something else I can use instead or can I leave it out ?
Angie says
Just use lactose free milk. Its worth the money. I am extremely lactose intolerant and cook all my recipes with it.
Nancy Mock says
Thanks for this tip, Angie!
Zenzi says
Wow, this was really tasty. The cheddar sauce is an exceptional cheddar sauce, great balance of flavors. I topped ours with fresh sliced green onions. Plus this is super easy to make with two preschoolers underfoot. This is definitely going in our rotation, thanks so much for sharing!
Nancy Mock says
Thank you so much, Zenzi! I'm so happy to hear that you like it.
Sheryl says
I just made this for dinner tonight. I didn't have any Jasmine Rice so I used Minute Rice instead. It all came together very quickly and was easy to put together. It was very tasty. The only thing I may do differently next time I make this (yes, I will be making this again) is to add some canned peas to it.
Nancy Mock says
Hi Sheryl, I'm so happy that you enjoyed it and that you were able to make the dish with the rice you had on hand. That idea of adding canned peas to the mixture sounds good to me, yum! Thank you so much for trying my recipe.
Sherry says
Sheryl, try adding defrosted green peas instead because they hold up better & add a better texture level.
Kacie says
I don't have sour cream...is there an alternative I could use or just leave out?? Thank you and I look forward to making this!
Nancy Mock says
Hi Kacie, The sour cream helps make the cheese sauce a little smoother and creamier. You can certainly just leave it out if you wish; you could also try substituting plain yogurt, cream, or some milk in place of the sour cream. I hope you enjoy it!
CHRIS says
Just a quick question, is the rice in receipe cooked or raw?
Nancy Mock says
Hi Chris! It’s 1-1/2 cups of raw jasmine rice, and in Step 1 you cook the rice according to the package directions.
Anonymous says
I used regular white minute rice and thought it was good
Nancy Mock says
Chris, I'm so happy to hear it. 🙂 Thanks for trying my recipe!
Sandy L Dibert says
Do ya think you could make this in a crock pot? Would it be okay to take skin off if possible?
Nancy Mock says
Hi Sandy, you can definitely remove the skin from your kielbasa if that's your preference. As for making this recipe in a crock pot, I haven't tried it. I believe jasmine rice in a slow cooker would only need an hour or so to cook, and you could probably have the sliced kielbasa in there with the rice. I think you would still need to make the cheese sauce separately on the stovetop. Another option that may work better would be to make the entire recipe as directed and then keep it warm in a crock pot until you're ready to serve it. Good luck, and let me know how it turns out!
Sherbe says
My stores carry a skinless smoked sausage that you might try finding. I usually buy the Eckrich Skinless Smoked Sausage, 14 oz at Walmart for $3.50.
Reese says
Was a little on the salty side had to dull it a bit.. other than that was great .. next time I will opt out of the 3 tsp ( triple recipe) salt due to the salt in the cheese
Nancy Mock says
Hi Reese, I appreciate this feedback and I have made an adjustment to this recipe based on your experience, and on hearing similar suggestions from other readers. I'm glad you liked the recipe overall, and I hope you'll come back to it often! Thank you!
Stacy says
I made this for dinner tonight. YUM! It was super easy and quick. My 6 year old even liked it. I steamed some broccoli and used brown rice instead of jasmine. It's definitely a keeper for my family!
Nancy Mock says
Hi Stacy! Well, if it won over a six year old then I know I did something right! 😄 I’m so happy to hear that you and your family liked this recipe. Thank you for trying it and sharing this with me!
Joyce commo says
I bet it would be good with andouille sausage too.
Nancy Mock says
Hi Joyce! Absolutely, if you like a spicy sausage like andouille you can definitely use that in this recipe. It will be tasty in combination with the smoky and Cheddary flavors. If you get to try this combination let me know what you think. Hope all's well with you and your family!
Camee says
Would this work with almond milk or coconut milk, do you think? That’s all I have on hand..,
Nancy Mock says
Hi Camee, I believe the sauce will still work with one of these non-dairy milks. It’s just the flavor of the milks you will need to consider. Of these two I think I would try the almond milk (assuming it has no vanilla flavoring) with these ingredients… but that’s your call. Let me know how it goes. -Nancy
Capri Davis says
This was such a great recipe! We had it for dinner! It is very filling!
Nancy Mock says
Capri, I am so happy to hear you liked it! It’s a favorite dinner of ours, too. Thank you so much for trying it. 😍
Sarah says
Love it! I found it to be just a touch too salty (and I like my food salty) so next time I make this I'll probably reduce the salt by 1/4 or 1/2. The cheese and sausage add a lot of saltiness so for me the sauce doesn't need to be as salty.
Nancy Mock says
Hi Sarah, thank you for the rating and I'm glad to hear you like this recipe! Thanks too for your feedback on the saltiness, that's great for me to know. Have a wonderful day!
N. ONeill says
Kids loved this! I added chopped bell pepper. Easy and quick.
Nancy Mock says
I'm so happy to hear that you and your family enjoyed this dish! Great call adding the green pepper, that sounds like a delicious variation. Thanks for your comment - it made my day!