Sausage and Rice Casserole Side Dish

Name: Sausage and Rice Casserole Side Dish
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 1 h 15 min
Yield: 6 servings.
Ingredients: 1 pound sage-flavored pork sausage; 1 cup sliced celery; 1/2 cup chopped onion; 1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper; 1/4 cup chopped green pepper; 1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced; 1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained; 1 cup converted rice, uncooked; 2 cups chicken broth; 1/2 teaspoon salt; 1/8 teaspoon ground pepper

When company's coming or when I need a quick-and-easy dish to pass, this is my hands-down favorite. A neighbor introduced me to the delicious combination of fluffy rice and sage-seasoned sausage. One forkful was all it took to convince me that I'd found a winner. —Joyce Green, Bettendorf, Iowa

Ingredients

1 pound sage-flavored pork sausage
1 cup sliced celery
1/2 cup chopped onion
1/4 cup chopped sweet red pepper
1/4 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup fresh mushrooms, sliced
1 can (8 ounces) sliced water chestnuts, drained
1 cup converted rice, uncooked
2 cups chicken broth
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground pepper

Directions

Brown sausage in a heavy skillet over medium heat; transfer sausage to a 2-1/2-qt. greased casserole dish. In the sausage drippings, saute celery, onion, peppers and mushrooms until lightly browned; transfer to prepared dish. Add water chestnuts, rice, broth and seasonings; mix well. Cover tightly and bake at 350° for 1 to 1-1/2 hours or until rice is fluffy and tender.

Originally published as Sausage and Rice Casserole Side Dish in Country Woman March/April 1990