Description

This creamy one pot chicken sausage and rice recipe features savory chicken and apple sausage sautéed to golden perfection, tender butternut squash, and spinach all cooked together with basmati rice in a rich, creamy broth. The butternut squash is pureed to create a luscious sauce that brings warmth and comfort to this hearty, easy-to-make one pot meal perfect for a wholesome weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

Scale

Sausage

12 ounces chicken and apple sausage (such as Applegate brand)

Vegetables

4 cups cubed butternut squash
1 sweet onion, diced
2–4 cloves garlic, minced
3–4 cups baby spinach

Rice and Liquids

1 cup uncooked basmati rice
3 cups chicken broth

Seasonings and Oil

1 tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Instructions

Sauté the Sausage: Thinly slice the chicken and apple sausage. Heat olive oil in a large pan over medium heat and add the sausage slices. Sauté until golden brown on both sides, then remove the cooked sausage from the pan and set aside.
Cook the Vegetables: Add a little more olive oil to the same pan. Add the cubed butternut squash, diced onion, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper. Cover the pan and cook on medium heat, stirring every few minutes until the butternut squash becomes tender.
Create the Creamy Sauce: Once the butternut squash is tender, pour in the chicken broth. Use an immersion blender directly in the pan to puree the mixture into a creamy sauce. Alternatively, you can carefully transfer the mixture to a blender to blend until smooth, then return it to the pan.
Add Rice and Sausage: Stir in the uncooked basmati rice and the browned chicken sausage slices into the creamy sauce. Mix well to combine.
Simmer: Cover the pan and reduce the heat to low. Let the mixture simmer gently until the rice is cooked through and tender, approximately 15-20 minutes depending on the rice.
Finish with Spinach and Serve: Once the rice is cooked, fold in the baby spinach and cook for another 1-2 minutes until the spinach wilts. Serve hot and enjoy your creamy one pot meal.

Notes

You can adjust the number of garlic cloves according to your taste preference.
If you don’t have an immersion blender, a regular blender will also work; just be careful with hot liquids.
For a dairy-free version, avoid adding cheese or cream; the butternut squash sauce provides natural creaminess.
Make sure to stir the rice occasionally during simmering to prevent sticking.
Leftovers can be stored in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and reheated gently on the stovetop.

Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 35 minutes
Category: Main Course
Method: Stovetop
Cuisine: American

Keywords: one pot meal, chicken sausage recipe, creamy rice dish, butternut squash recipe, easy weeknight dinner, basmati rice recipe