This simple sausage stir fry is a perfect quick dinner, and you can change it up with different types of sausage and veggies. This is my go-to version which has a creole and cajun flavors.
I should make a list of my go-to dinners, the ones I make over and over and don’t even need to look at a recipe. This is one of our favorites. You can’t beat sausage for easy recipes since it already has the seasoning built right in!
Sausage Stir Fry with Rice – sausage a quick background
Sausages are made by mixing ground beef with spices, preservatives, and other ingredients, like flour or breadcrumbs, and then filling the mixture into wrappers. They are among the world’s earliest varieties of meat preservation and are considered a processed food. Around the world, various sausage varieties are made using various techniques. Sausage is thought to have been formed when a man found salt’s ability to preserve food. Your need for energy to start the day is its primary goal. Breakfast sausage, often produced from pork, is commonly used in America to describe sausage consumed during breakfast. breakfast sausage is mild, slightly sweeet and perfect to eat in the morning and pair with other breakfast foods like eggs and pancakes. But breakfast sausage can really be enjoyed anytime.
Easy Stir Fry with Fiery Andouille Sausage
This delicious stir fry with Andouille sausage bits combine to make the ideal flavors for a simple and quick supper. You may easily use your preferred brand of sausage along with any vegetables you have in your fridge or pantry, and this dish is quite flexible. The ideal rice to use with this recipe a is medium or long-grain rice. This results in fluffy, robust rice that holds together without becoming too soft. Jasmine rice works particularly well, but you can also use quinoa, farro or another grain of your choosing. And don’t forget, everything tastes better with smoked sausage, especially this stir fry dish which can be prepared in just one skillet.
It’s impossible to not enjoy the smoky flavor of the savory pork combined with the tender rice and the crisp and crunchy vegetables. Cajun seasonings can be sprinkled on the andouille sausage for additional flavor. Stir fry is one of the best uses for leftover vegetables and grains. Good for lunch boxes and dinner, you can easily prepare a great meal with just a few vegetables and pantry ingredients.
Sausage Stir Fry with Rice Tips and Tricks
This sausage stir fry is just a starting point because you can do so many things with it. Add in peppers, broccoli, asparagus, or whatever other veggies you like. Change the type of the sausage for a different taste entirely. Another good thing about sausage is that it keeps in the refrigerator for a while and freezes and thaws well too. I always have a couple of flavors of fully-cooked chicken sausage links on hand at any time so I can add them to a variety of recipes.
I typically like medium-grain white rice with stir-fries even though I know it’s not the healthiest choice. You can serve this up with brown rice, quinoa, or even with rice or egg noodles if you prefer. If you are low carb, you don’t need any rice at all and can eat it on its own, or you can enjoy it with cauliflower rice.
What are some of your favorite sausage flavors? I almost always stick to chicken sausage, and my favorites are those with cheese inside. My boys love chicken apple sausage, so I usually keep some of those on hand for their dinners. Hotlinks or hot Italian sausages on buns are always a favorite for grilling, and andouille sausage is perfect for Cajun recipes like gumbo or jambalaya. Whatever your favorite, I’m sure it will work perfectly in this easy sausage stir fry recipe!
How to Make this Easy Sausage Stir Fry Even Better?
This recipe is really easy and flexible but there are some additional substitions and enancements you can make it even better.
Sausage: I used fully cooked sausage in this recipe because it is quick and easy. You can use uncooked sausages for even more flavor. I recommend chorizo, andouille, or hot Italian sausage. Simply remove the sausage from the casing, break it into bits, and cook in a hot skillet until fully cooked, about 5 minutes. No matter what sausage you choose, you want to use about 12oz of cooked or 16oz of raw sausage.
Vegetables: Use whatever you have on hand. Onions, peppers, and tomatoes are a classic stir fry combination, but broccoli, zucchini, and okra are great additions or substitutions. You want to use a total of about 5-6 cups of chopped raw vegetables.
Seasonings: I use Cajun or Creole seasoning for mine as they pair so well with andouille, but you can use Italian sausage and add a little garlic, oregano, basil, and red pepper flakes. Or you can use chorizo sausage with ground cumin and chili powder for seasoning. Regardless of which seasoning you use, you want to use 1-2 teaspoons of seasoning and 1/2-1 teaspoon of salt if the seasonings do not contain salt.
As you can see this sausage stir fry recipe is very flexible and no matter what combination of ingredients you use it will be great.
12ouncesfully cooked sausageany flavor you like, cut in half lengthwise and sliced into bite-sized pieces. I like Andouille, chorizo or hot Italian for this recipe as they have lots of flavor and spice.
Cook rice according to package directions on stovetop or in rice cooker. (Don’t forget to salt the water!)
Meanwhile, heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Saute sausage until starting brown, about 5 minutes.
Add bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, and seasoning to the skillet, and stir fry until vegetables are tender, 5-7 minutes. Add the red or white wine vinegar at the end and scrape up any bits on the bottom of the pan.
Just before serving, turn off heat and gently stir halved tomatoes and baby spinach into the stir fry so that they just wilt but don’t overcook. Serve over rice.
Notes
Originally published 02/2013. Revised with new photos and text 06/2016.
Making this stir-fry with sausage only takes 20 minutes.
Fresh vegetables and hearty sausage are used to make this delicious food.
This stir fry is perfect for meal preparation because it reheats well.
Use any vegetables you happen to have on hand.
It is fully customizable.
This dish is sugar-free, gluten-free, dairy-free, and nut-free.
Storage Tips
Serve:
Serve rice, cauliflower rice, or any grain along with the sausage stir fry.
Store:
Leftovers may be kept in the fridge for up to 5 days.
Freeze:
Sausage can be frozen for a maximum of three months. Both cooked & uncooked sausages can be frozen. The stir fry can be frozen but I do not recommend it as the vegetables tend to get soft. The best option is to have extra frozen sausage and then just thaw it and put together this easy stir fry with whatever vegetables you have on hand.
Happy Cooking!
Finally, make sure to leave a comment letting me know how you like the sausage stir fry and rice recipe and how did you adjust it to your taste. You can also share a picture on Instagram and tag me with @wearychef. I love to see what you’re cooking and all your inspiring ideas!
Last but not least, if you would like more quick sausage recipes, these two are my favorites:
Andi Gleeson
Andi Gleeson is a passionate blogger and mom based in San Francisco who focuses on easy and delicious dinner recipes.
4 comments
amweeks
8 years ago
You have the BEST recipes! Not all frou-frou and too fancy for my family (read: kids) to want to eat. And simple enough that I’m not cooking all day long! Thank you so much! And yet delicious at the same time!
Andi - The Weary Chef
8 years ago
Oh thank you so much! This seriously made my week! It means so much to me that people really make and enjoy my recipes ??
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4 comments
You have the BEST recipes! Not all frou-frou and too fancy for my family (read: kids) to want to eat. And simple enough that I’m not cooking all day long! Thank you so much! And yet delicious at the same time!
Oh thank you so much! This seriously made my week! It means so much to me that people really make and enjoy my recipes ??
Thank you for the nice recipes.
Thank you for reading them, Liz :)