Baked Rice with Sausage

Total Time Prep: 30 min. Bake: 50 min. + standing

Yield 14 servings

Enjoy the savory delight of baked rice with sausage, an easy and comforting casserole ideally suited to family meals. This hearty dish blends flavorful sausage with tender rice and vegetables.

Ingredients

2 pounds bulk Italian sausage
4 celery ribs, thinly sliced
1 large onion, chopped
1 large green pepper, chopped
4-1/2 cups water
3/4 cup dry chicken noodle soup mix
1 can (10-3/4 ounces) condensed cream of chicken soup, undiluted
1 cup uncooked long grain rice
1/4 cup dry bread crumbs
2 tablespoons butter, melted

Directions

In a large skillet, cook the sausage, celery, onion and green pepper over medium heat until meat is no longer pink and vegetables are tender; drain. In a large saucepan, bring water to a boil; add dry soup mix. Reduce heat; simmer, uncovered, for 5 minutes or until the noodles are tender. Stir in canned soup, rice and sausage mixture; mix well.
Transfer to a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Cover and bake at 350° for 40 minutes. Toss bread crumbs and butter; sprinkle over rice mixture. Bake, uncovered, for 10-15 minutes or until rice is tender. Let stand for 10 minutes before serving.

Nutrition Facts

1 cup: 234 calories, 12g fat (5g saturated fat), 38mg cholesterol, 771mg sodium, 20g carbohydrate (2g sugars, 1g fiber), 10g protein.

This recipe is perfect for potlucks or church suppers since it produces a big batch and has flavors with broad appeal. Most folks can't guess that the secret ingredient is chicken noodle soup mix. -Naomi Flood, Emporia, Kansas

Recipe Creator