This quick Italian sausage skillet dinner is the perfect solution when you need a hearty, homemade meal without spending hours in the kitchen. Savory Italian sausage cooks alongside sweet bell peppers and onions, creating a flavorful base that pairs beautifully with tomatoes and vegetable juice for a rich, comforting sauce.
Everything comes together in a single skillet, making cleanup easy while delivering big, satisfying flavor. Instant rice absorbs the delicious tomato broth while melted mozzarella adds a creamy, cheesy finish that makes this simple one-pan dinner taste like a classic Italian comfort meal.
Ingredients
- 1 pound Italian sausage
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 (14.5 ounce) can diced tomatoes
- 2 cups vegetable juice from concentrate
- 1 1/2 cups instant rice
- 1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Directions
- Place a large skillet over medium heat and add the Italian sausage. Cook while breaking it apart until browned and no longer pink, about 4 to 6 minutes.
- Drain off any excess grease from the skillet.
- Add the chopped green bell pepper and onion to the skillet. Cook and stir for several minutes until the vegetables begin to soften but still have a slight crispness.
- Stir in the diced tomatoes along with the vegetable juice. Continue cooking and stirring until the mixture reaches a gentle boil.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and stir in the instant rice until evenly combined.
- Cover the skillet and allow it to sit for 5 to 8 minutes, or until the rice absorbs the liquid and becomes tender.
- Sprinkle the shredded mozzarella cheese evenly over the top of the sausage and rice mixture.
- Cover the skillet again and let it sit for a few minutes until the cheese is melted and gooey. Serve warm.
Tips
Instant rice and regular rice cook differently and produce different yields. One cup of uncooked regular rice typically yields about 3 cups of cooked rice, while 1 cup of instant rice yields about 2 cups once prepared.