This is a super tasty and easy to make one-pot meal the whole family will love. Perfect for those busy nights when you don’t feel like doing a lot of dishes, this casserole is made in only one pot and is made with sausage, bell peppers, mushrooms, and rice cooked in a tomato sauce, then topped with cheese. This casserole also re-heats really well, so it’s great for a make-ahead meal or to make and take for work lunches.
If you’re looking for the perfect dish for a cool fall day, look no further. This casserole is such a cozy meal, it fills the house with the smell of sizzling onions and garlic…it reminds me of my mom cooking and always brings a smile to my face.
This one pot sausage and rice casserole is a family favorite. Paprika was the first spice I learned how to cook with, so any dish containing paprika (like this casserole) brings up happy memories of being in the kitchen and learning to cook.
You can buy hot paprika or mild paprika. Depending on who you’re feeding (adults/kids) you can adjust the heat level accordingly.
When I was originally testing this recipe, I had made it and had some in the fridge in Tupperware containers. Nick took some for lunch and texted me in the middle of the day asking what the deliciousness he had just eaten was!
My husband, Nick is definitely the best indicator for me for if a recipe is successful and good enough to post on the blog and share with the world. If he doesn’t say much or have anything to say when I ask him about what he’s just tried, I know I’m in trouble.
And yes, there have definitely been times when he tries a recipe of mine and just doesn’t say much. When he doesn’t say much, I know it’s because he doesn’t love it and he just doesn’t want to be mean 🙂 Luckily, he had plenty to say about this dish and everything was positive – he LOVED it and requested it again!
This one pot sausage and rice casserole is made with Pick ‘n Save ingredients. You know how much I love Pick ‘n Save from my pressure cooker chicken spaghetti casserole I recently shared.
Pick ‘n Save is the perfect place to get all of the ingredients for family meals. They keep their prices low, even on organic products, which is one of the many reasons I love shopping there. I can make a complete grocery list for the week and not break the bank buying everything for a whole lot of healthy meals!
To get this dish from ingredients to warm comforting meal in no time, you just need to follow a few easy steps:
- Saute onions and peppers
- Add garlic and paprika
- Stir mushrooms and Italian sausage
- Stir in dry rice, tomato juice salt and pepper
- Cover and boil
- Cook for 35-45 minutes
- Remove lid, sprinkle cheese on top and enjoy warm!
Enjoy your meal, put the kids to bed and then enjoy a glass of wine since you didn’t spend all night doing dishes!
Other recipes you might enjoy:
- Pressure Cooker Chicken Spaghetti Casserole
- Freezer Meal: Chicken Enchilada Casserole
- Instant Pot Sausage Sweet Potato Soup Recipe

One Pot Sausage and Rice Casserole
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons Simple Truth Extra Virgin olive oil
- 1 small onion diced
- 1 green bell pepper diced
- 1 garlic clove finely chopped
- 1 teaspoon Simple Truth paprika
- 1 8 oz. package Simple Truth mushrooms (white or Baby Bella mushrooms), washed and sliced
- 1 pound 16 oz. uncooked Italian sausage from the Pick ‘n Save meat department (can use links, cut into slices or ground sausage)
- 2 cups Kroger dry long grain white rice
- 4 2/3 cups tomato juice or vegetable juice
- 1 cup Roundy’s cheddar cheese shredded
- Salt and freshly ground pepper
Instructions
- In a large pot with a lid, heat olive oil over medium-high heat. Saute onion and bell pepper for 2 minutes.
- Add in garlic clove and paprika and cook for 30 seconds.
- Stir in mushrooms and Italian sausage and cook for 5 minutes, until almost no more pink is visible in the sausage and the sausage is almost cooked through (it will finish cooking with the rice and sauce).
- Stir in the dry rice, tomato juice, salt and freshly ground pepper to taste (I usually add in about ½ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper).
- Cover the pot and bring to a boil, stir, then return the lid to the pot and reduce heat to low.
- Cook for 35-45 minutes, until the rice has absorbed most of the liquid and is cooked through. Remove lid stir, and sprinkle cheese on top. Serve warm and enjoy.
Notes
Nutrition
This post is brought to you by my partnership with Pick ‘n Save, as always, all opinions are mine alone. Thank you for supporting the brands that make the SweetPhi blog possible. For more inspiration from Pick ‘n Save, be sure to follow their Facebook, Twitter and Pinterest accounts.
Jenny Catrine says
When fall arrives, this means it’s time to watch our Green Bay Packers and make a batch of Italian Touchdown Chili. It’s my favorite chili recipe from the Johnsonville website!
Sweetphi says
Thank you so much for commenting Jenny, Touchdown Chili sounds delicious!
Rebecca S. says
One of my favorite fall recipes is split pea soup. Yum!
Sweetphi says
Oh how unique, I haven’t had split pea soup in ages, definitely need a bowl sometime soon!
Elizabeth says
My favorite fall meal to make is soup – there are a number of vegetable-loaded recipes I love. I tried the Vegetable Lentil soup recipe last week and it will definitely be added to the fall rotation.
Alyssa says
Oh wow this looks devine! My go-to fall favorite is literally any soup with a good warm chunk of homemade bread!
Cassie says
I love a good chili or anything with butternut squash!
Kelly Heslip says
Definitely love making the soups – chicken noodle, potato and a simple version of gumbo. My husband’s family was Cajun and he’s got this really complicated recipe for Gumbo, and I just can’t! I love dumping stuff in the Instant Pot!
Judy says
I made the one pot sausage and rice casserole and my husband couldn’t stop eating it. He took left overs for lunch the next day and had more at dinner on day 2. I skipped the mushrooms because I didn’t have them on hand, and it was still very yummy – and easy!!
Sweetphi says
So happy to hear this, thank you so much for coming back and commenting after you made it, really appreciate that!!
Jana says
I’m not sure it gets any better than chili for fall. It goes so well with watching football games! I have my mom’s standby chili recipe but my husband and I also like to experiment with different versions. For winter, there’s a chicken and wild rice hotdish recipe from Amy Thielen that I love. It’s so filling, comforting and homey when it’s really cold outside! Your casserole recipe is definitely one we’re going to have to put on the list to try though – looks delish!
Sweetphi says
Chili is so good – I completely agree! I’m going to have to check out that recipe you mention. Also, I think you’ll love this casserole 🙂
Diana Markel says
Layered skillet sausage and ricotta lasagna. It’s so much easier than regular lasagna and it’s all in one pan stove to oven! Pair this with an arugula salad and you’re all set. I love the rich flavors and scents in my home this time of year. Pop open a nice merlot and you have date night at home. Fall is for romantics.
Sweetphi says
Oh that sounds so good!! I’m going to have to try that!
Linda Bick says
I love to bake pumpkin bread!
Sweetphi says
Such a fall favorite!!
Wendy says
I love to make and eat homemade chicken pot pie! if you drop the crust on top in spoonfuls, the bottom won’t get soggy!
Sweetphi says
Oh that’s such a neat tip, thanks for sharing
Annette says
That looks so good! This is my favorite time of year to cook. I love making soup, chili, and stew. I also enjoy roasting seasonal veggies.
Sweetphi says
I love roasting veggies in the fall and cooking/baking too, thanks for commenting!
MerSea says
I love roasted veggies in the fall, when the oven warmth is a special bonus.
Sweetphi says
Completely agree – I have vegetables roasting right now!
Jackie Conroy says
Looks Yummy! My favorite fall recipe is my Pumpkin Bars! They are do delish and moist!
Sweetphi says
I agree-I love a good pumpkin bread in the fall!
Nathalie says
There is nothing better in the Fall season than my mother’s home made cheesy beef casserole. It hits the spot – every time. Mother’s always have that effect, don’t they? 🙂
Sweetphi says
I agree!! Sounds like your mother’s home made cheesy beef casserole is sheer perfection!
Y says
My favorite fall dish is a kielbasa casserole, easy potatoes , onions, kielbasa in the oven and topped with crisp diced apple before serving.
Sweetphi says
Oh yum – what a delicious recipe, thanks for sharing!!
Rachel Zimmerman says
My favorite one pot fall dish is beef stew. Yum!
Sweetphi says
I love a good beef stew, so hearty!
Lisa Burkhart says
My favorite fall dish is Chili. I always make a big pot and freeze the leftovers for quick dinners
Sweetphi says
Yum! And I love that you freeze some!
Amy Cooley says
I’m all about soups and chilis during the fall season. I haven’t settled on a favorite because I’ve been trying a lot of new recipes lately!
Sweetphi says
I love trying new recipes in the fall too – and I’m the same way, bring on all the soups and chilis!
Jeffrey says
My favorite one pot dish is oatmeal. It is so good in the fall, especially with apples or pumpkin!
Sweetphi says
Oh yum – what a great fall favorite!
Sue says
This looks really good! I would like to make it with less rice and wondered if the volume of tomato juice should also be cut. for instance if I used 1 cup of rice, should the amount of tomato juice be 2 and a third?