Sausage and Rice Casserole

Name: Sausage and Rice Casserole
Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 50 min
Total time: 70 min
Ingredients: 1 pound ground sausage; ½ cup onion, diced; ½ cup red bell pepper, diced; 1 stalk celery, diced; 8 ounce can water chestnuts, drained and diced; 4 cups chicken broth; 1 cup long grain rice; 1 packet dry Lipton Noodle Soup Mix

By Heather Seeley

Aug 03, 2026

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My sausage and rice casserole is inspired by a delicious recipe I discovered in the pages of an old community cookbook. It’s a simple, comforting casserole made with everyday ingredients like ground sausage, rice, and a pack of Lipton noodle soup mix. Perfect for an easy dinner and it makes great leftovers.

Wooden spoon with sausage and rice casserole.

One of my favorite things to do in the evening is to flip through my collection of vintage church and community cookbooks. They are filled with delicious recipes but also tell stories of families and communities who shared them.

This sausage and rice casserole immediately caught my attention because the previous owner had marked it with a star. I like to think those little notes are clues that are recipes worth making again.

After testing the recipe several times, I decided to give it a few updates while keeping everything in the original recipe that makes it special. The finished casserole is creamy, comforting, and has that nostalgic flavor that is sure to become a favorite.

If you are looking for another classic sausage casserole be sure to try this Biquick breakfast casserole.

Why You’ll Love This Recipe

Cozy casserole perfect for any night of the week. A vintage inspired recipe that makes an easy weeknight dinner.
Great texture. The combination of rice and pasta is delicious and satisfying.
Simple to customize to your taste. Add veggies or change up the protein for your preference.
Makes great leftovers. This warms up nicely for a great meal the next day.

Ingredients

The ingredient that sets this sausage and rice casserole is the Lipton noodle soup mix. It adds great flavor and as it bakes, the noodles soften and blend with the rice to create a texture similar to Rice-A-Roni.

Chicken broth, Lipton noodle soup, sausage, rice, onions, peppers, and celery.

Sausage: I like using regular breakfast sausage. You can substitute with hot sausage, Italian sausage, or sage sausage.
Onion: Use a yellow or sweet onion that is finely diced.
Celery: Just one stalk of celery works for this recipe.
Bell pepper: I prefer using a red bell pepper to give this casserole a little color but you can substitute with green bell pepper.
Water chestnuts: This is one of the ingredients I added to the dish to give it a little crunch that goes well with the dish. Make sure to drain them and finely chop.
Chicken broth: Chicken broth adds great flavor to the casserole. You can use low sodium broth if you like.
Long grain rice: Long grain white rice cooks up well and holds the flavor of the broth and soup mix.
Lipton noodle soup mix: This is the secret ingredient that gives the casserole amazing flavor and texture.

How to Make Sausage and Rice Casserole

Step one: Crumble and brown the sausage in a large sauce pan or pot. Once the sausage has browned, drain off any excess grease.

Step two: Stir in the diced onion, celery, bell pepper, and water chestnuts. Cook for 2-3 minutes.

Skillet with ground sausage, diced pepper, celery, onion, and water chestnuts.

Skillet with ground sausage, rice, and lipton soup.

Step three: Stir in the rice and Lipton noodle soup mix.

Step four: Pour in the broth and stir. Let the mixture simmer over medium heat for 10 minutes.

Skillet with broth, rice, and vegetables.

Casserole dish with unbaked sausage and rice casserole.

Step five: Pour the mixture into a 9 x 13 casserole dish. Tightly cover the dish with foil and bake at 350 for 50 minutes.

Casserole dish with sausage and rice casserole.

Step six: Carefully remove the foil and serve warm.

Heather’s Recipe Tips

Drain any excess grease from the cooked sausage. This will help prevent the sausage and rice casserole from being too greasy.
Make sure to dice the vegetables into small pieces. It helps them to cook and blend together well.
Cover the baking dish tightly with foil while baking. This traps the steam to help cook the rice.
Let the casserole rest for about 5 minutes before serving.

Variations

You can make this sausage and rice casserole with Lipton soup your own with a few variations.

Protein: Substitute the ground sausage with ground beef.
Cheese: Sprinkle the top of the casserole with shredded cheddar or monterey jack cheese.
Vegetables: Add in extra vegetables like mushrooms, peas, corn, or carrots.

Storage Instructions

Make ahead: You can make this casserole the night before. Just let it cool, cover with foil and store in the refrigerator. Reheat the next day in the oven, covered with foil at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until heated through.

Store: Keep this casserole covered in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the oven covered with foil at 350 degrees or in the microwave.

Freeze: This sausage casserole freezes well. Be sure to let the casserole completely cool down. Transfer it into a freezer safe container and freeze for up to 3 months. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight and then reheat before serving.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to rinse off the rice first?

No, just use dry, uncooked long grain white rice.

Can I use instant rice?

I don’t recommend using instant rice for this recipe because it cooks faster and might become too mushy.

What can I serve with this sausage and rice casserole?

This is great on it’s own but you can also serve it with things like steamed broccoli, a house salad, or a piece of garlic bread.

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