Get ready for a meal so incredibly satisfying, you’ll wonder how something so simple can taste so amazing! This is your ultimate guide to crafting an effortlessly delicious one skillet cheddar broccoli rice with kielbasa – a complete meal that brings comfort and flavor to your dinner table with minimal fuss. Perfect for busy weeknights, this recipe promises to become a family favorite, proving that wholesome, hearty food doesn’t have to be complicated.
Discovering Kielbasa: A Savory Polish Delight
For those new to this wonderfully versatile sausage, kielbasa is a type of highly seasoned Polish sausage, traditionally crafted from a blend of pork or beef, often smoked, and always bursting with savory flavor, typically accented with garlic. Its name simply means “sausage” in Polish, but its culinary impact is far-reaching. Available in various forms, from fresh to smoked, and often pre-cooked, kielbasa offers a quick and flavorful protein source for countless dishes. Its rich, smoky profile makes it an ideal companion for hearty grains and vegetables, like the cheddar broccoli rice in our one-skillet creation. Whether you choose a traditional smoked kielbasa or a leaner turkey version, its robust taste is guaranteed to elevate your meal.
This recipe is made in partnership with Knorr, but all opinions are our own.
Planning dinner often feels like a balancing act, and for me, the biggest challenge has always been the vegetables. It’s perplexing how daunting it can be to consistently conjure up a fresh, exciting side dish for every meal. Especially when preparing cuisines like Mexican or Italian, I often find myself falling back on the same old salad. You wouldn’t typically pair Honey Roasted Carrots with a burrito, or Loaded Sweet Potatoes with ravioli, right? This quest for effortless, complementary vegetable dishes is precisely why I’ve embraced the simplicity and versatility of one-skillet meals.
Why Broccoli is a Superfood for Your Family’s Health
Broccoli is not just any vegetable; it’s a nutritional powerhouse, making it an excellent addition to any diet. This vibrant green cruciferous vegetable is an outstanding source of essential vitamins and minerals, crucial for maintaining overall health. It’s particularly rich in **Vitamin K**, vital for blood clotting and bone health, and **Vitamin C**, a powerful antioxidant that supports your immune system, helps build collagen for healthy skin and tissues, and aids in the healing of cuts and wounds. Beyond these, broccoli also provides a good source of **folate** (folic acid), important for cell growth and function, along with beneficial amounts of **potassium** for blood pressure regulation, and **dietary fiber**, which supports digestive health and can help manage blood sugar levels. Incorporating broccoli into your meals is a simple yet effective way to boost your daily nutrient intake and protect your body from damaging free radicals.
This impressive nutritional profile is precisely why I’m such a fan of integrating Knorr Selects into our meal planning. This particular Knorr Selects variety already includes delicious broccoli, making it incredibly easy to create a balanced, flavorful one-pot or one-skillet dinner without having to prepare a separate vegetable side. It streamlines the entire cooking process, allowing me to focus less on complex pairings and more on enjoying time with my family.
Beyond the plate, this recipe also brings to mind one of my favorite times of the year: fall and the harvest season. Growing up on my parents’ farm instilled in me a deep appreciation for the dedication and hard work that goes into bringing food to our tables. Did you know there’s a National Farmers Day? It’s a day I truly cherish, and I couldn’t let another autumn pass without acknowledging the invaluable contribution of farmers. Their tireless efforts are the foundation of our food system, and I believe it’s essential to recognize and support them.
Our recent visit to the Rexburg, Idaho farmers market (which, by the way, is also where I discovered one of the best corndogs ever!) rekindled my inspiration. Seeing the vibrant array of fresh, locally grown produce sparked countless dinner ideas. I wanted something quick, easy, and, importantly, gluten-free for a friend joining us. Naturally, my trusted Knorr Selects came to the rescue, offering both convenience and incredible flavor.
To begin this delightful dish, start by frying some chopped bacon (or turkey bacon, if you prefer a lighter option) in your skillet. Chopping the bacon before cooking significantly reduces the cooking time, ensuring crispy bits in a fraction of the time. This step not only adds incredible flavor to the entire dish but also provides a delicious texture contrast that everyone will love.
Once the bacon has rendered beautifully and turned crispy, use a slotted spoon to transfer it to a plate lined with paper towels, allowing any excess grease to drain. This ensures your bacon stays perfectly crunchy. Next, carefully pour off most of the bacon grease from the skillet, leaving just a tablespoon or two behind. This remaining flavorful fat is the secret ingredient for sautéing our Brussels sprouts. Instead of adding butter or additional oil, we’ll use the rich bacon fat to infuse the sprouts with an irresistible savory depth – you’re welcome!
Many people believe they dislike Brussels sprouts, but I’m here to change minds! I confess, I wasn’t always their biggest fan either. As a picky eater in my younger years, I quickly learned that my aversion stemmed from how they were prepared – boiled or steamed Brussels sprouts just don’t have the same appeal. The magic happens when they’re roasted or sautéed in a pan until golden, slightly caramelized, and wonderfully crispy. This cooking method brings out their natural sweetness and transforms them into a truly enjoyable vegetable. You might just surprise yourself and discover a new favorite!
Now, with your skillet still on medium-high heat, add the halved Brussels sprouts first, allowing them a couple of minutes to develop a beautiful brown crust. Then, add the sliced kielbasa. This staggered cooking ensures that both the vegetables and the sausage get a chance to caramelize and develop their best flavors and textures, making every bite of your one skillet cheddar broccoli rice with kielbasa absolutely perfect.
Once the Brussels sprouts are tender-crisp and the kielbasa is beautifully browned, remove them from the pan and set aside with the crispy bacon. Now, it’s time for the star of our dish: the Knorr Selects White Cheddar Broccoli Rice. Add the rice blend, along with the specified amounts of water and milk, to the pan according to the package instructions. Cook the rice until it’s perfectly tender and creamy. This Knorr Selects base brings a rich, cheesy flavor and the goodness of broccoli directly into the dish, significantly cutting down on prep time and the need for additional spices or seasonings. The beauty of Knorr Selects is that it provides all the complex flavors you crave, without any complicated measuring or guesswork.
Finally, once the rice is cooked, gently stir in the reserved bacon, Brussels sprouts, and kielbasa. Give everything a final mix to combine all the delicious elements, and serve immediately. From chopping to plate, this entire one skillet cheddar broccoli rice with kielbasa recipe took us just over 25 minutes, making it an ideal solution for those evenings when you need a quick, flavorful, and satisfying meal for the whole family.
Knorr offers six additional unique Knorr Selects flavors, providing endless possibilities for your culinary adventures. We’ve previously used varieties like Four Cheese Risotto and Roasted Garlic and Alfredo Rice in our Freezer Meal Porcupine Meatball Recipe and our Cheesy Chicken and Rice Casserole. While these other flavors are fantastic for exploring different combinations, the rich, creamy White Cheddar Broccoli perfectly complements the savory kielbasa in this dish. It’s truly a match made in culinary heaven, making it hard to imagine wanting to change a single thing about this winning combination.
What makes Knorr Selects even more appealing is their commitment to quality ingredients. These blends contain no artificial flavors or preservatives, offering a convenient kitchen solution you can feel good about serving to your loved ones. With real ingredients and thoughtfully crafted flavor combinations, Knorr Selects quickly become family favorites that seamlessly fit into any meal planning strategy, helping you create wholesome and delicious dishes even on the busiest days.
Moreover, it’s inspiring to learn about Knorr’s ongoing sustainability journey. They actively partner with farmers to responsibly grow their crops, ensuring that genuine flavors and high-quality ingredients are not only delivered to your table but also produced with environmental stewardship in mind. This commitment resonates deeply with me. For example, Knorr sources rice from Arkansas farms, dairy products from the Midwest, and garlic from California farmers. As part of their broader dedication to sustainability, 13 of their top vegetables and herbs are sourced through sustainable farming practices. Knorr’s ambitious goal is to sustainably source all vegetables, herbs, and cereals by 2020, and to source all chicken, pork, and beef from farms with higher animal welfare standards. This dedication goes far beyond just the products they create.
I understand you might have initially come here simply for the recipe, but isn’t it wonderful to see a brand like Knorr moving forward with such integrity and a bigger story to tell? Farmers are truly the heart of America, providing the foundational elements of our sustenance, and I wholeheartedly support a brand that recognizes and champions their essential role.
Now, let’s get back to our incredible one skillet cheddar broccoli rice with kielbasa! If you make this recipe, be sure to share your culinary creation with us in our VIP Facebook group. We’d love to see how it turned out for you!
Is Rice Gluten-Free? Understanding the Grain
A common question for those with dietary restrictions is whether rice is gluten-free. The good news is, in its natural, unprocessed form, **all rice is inherently gluten-free**. This includes popular varieties such as brown rice, white rice, and wild rice. It’s important to clarify that when you hear terms like “glutinous rice,” it refers to the sticky, chewy texture of the rice when cooked, not to the presence of gluten protein. The gluten protein that people with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity need to avoid is primarily found in wheat, barley, and rye. Therefore, rice remains one of the most popular and safest gluten-free grains for individuals managing celiac disease or navigating a gluten-free lifestyle, offering a versatile and nutritious carbohydrate option for countless meals.
One Skillet Cheddar Broccoli Rice with Kielbasa: The Recipe
One Skillet Cheddar Broccoli Rice with Kielbasa
Sweet Basil
5
20
25
4 -6
Ingredients
- 3 Thin Slices of Bacon, chopped
- 1-2 Cups Halved Brussels Sprouts
- 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt or 1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt
- 1 Link Kielbasa
- 1 [Knorr Selects White Cheddar Broccoli]
- Black Pepper and Parsley for Garnish
Instructions
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Heat a cast iron skillet over medium heat.
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Add the bacon and cook, stirring occasionally until everything is crisp.3 Thin Slices of Bacon
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Remove to a paper towel lined plate and drain most of the grease from the pan.
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Heat the pan to medium-high heat and add the Brussels sprouts and a dash of salt over the veggies.1-2 Cups Halved Brussels Sprouts, 1 teaspoon Kosher Salt or 1/2 Teaspoon Sea Salt
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Cook for 2 minutes or until the sprouts start to brown, then add the kielbasa.1 Link Kielbasa
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Turn the heat to medium and continue to cook until the kielbasa is browned.
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Remove everything to a plate with the bacon.
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Add the Knorr Selects White Cheddar Broccoli Rice, water, and milk to the pan according to package instructions.1 [Knorr Selects White Cheddar Broccoli]
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Cook per package directions, then give everything a final stir and top with bacon, Brussels sprouts, and kielbasa.
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Serve immediately or cool completely, store in the fridge, and eat within one day.Black Pepper and Parsley for Garnish
Recipe Notes
Store leftovers in the refrigerator for 4-7 days.
Nutrition
Calories: 80kcal,
Carbohydrates: 2g,
Protein: 3g,
Fat: 7g,
Saturated Fat: 2g,
Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g,
Monounsaturated Fat: 3g,
Trans Fat: 1g,
Cholesterol: 11mg,
Sodium: 698mg,
Potassium: 119mg,
Fiber: 1g,
Sugar: 1g,
Vitamin A: 172IU,
Vitamin C: 19mg,
Calcium: 11mg,
Iron: 1mg
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
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Related Recipe: Candied Pecan Brussels Sprouts
If this recipe has convinced you of the wonders of perfectly cooked Brussels sprouts, you simply must try our Candied Pecan Brussels Sprouts. It’s the recipe that genuinely turned me into a lifelong fan, combining the delightful crunch of candied pecans with savory bacon and perfectly roasted sprouts. It’s a game-changer!
