Vegan Sausage and Peppers with Rice

This hearty vegan sausage and peppers recipe is easy to make with rice that's seasoned with smoky and spicy tomato sauce, sweet bell peppers, and slices of meatless sausage. It’s so flavorful and easy to make in less than 1 hour!

Vegan sausage with peppers and rice is extremely delicious and so flavorful! It's the perfect combination if you're in the mood for comfort food.

This dish combines plant based sausage with sweet bell peppers and chewy brown rice that has soaked up the most delicious smoky and spicy tomato sauce. It's hearty, satisfying, and it always hits the spot.

Why You'll Love This Recipe

• It easy to throw together in less than 1 hour!
• It's easily customizable and you can use fresh or frozen veggies!
• It makes a large amount so hopefully you'll have leftovers for the next day!

What is Vegan Sausage Meat Made of?

Vegan sausage contains no animal products. The filling is usually made of wheat gluten, pea protein, or soy protein, in combination with vegetables, herbs, and seasonings. The sausage casing is plant-based too.

Does Vegan Sausage Taste Like Real Sausage?

It depends on what brand of vegan sausage that you use, but I don't think any taste exactly like meat. To me, the vegan version doesn't taste as dense and the texture is a little drier. Also, the casing doesn't have the same texture. It still tastes delicious, just different.

Which Vegan Sausage Should I Use?

Field Roast vegan sausages are my favorite sausages to use for this recipe. The texture is great and all three flavors are delicious! I usually use the vegan Italian sausage for this recipe or the chorizo if I'm in the mood for something spicy.

Most grocery stores I've checked have the Field Roast sausages, but I usually get them from Publix and Whole Foods. (You can see my personal Whole Foods vegan grocery list, here.)

If you can't find Field Roast sausages, the Beyond Meat vegan sausages are very tasty too and would also be delicious in this recipe. If you want to make homemade vegan sausages, try this gluten-free vegan sausage recipe, here.

Ingredients & Substitutions

• Rice - You can use whatever type of rice you have on hand. I've made this recipe with brown, basmati, and white rice. You could also use farro.
• Onion - Use your favorite variety of onion. I use whatever is the best price at the grocery store.
• Garlic - I used fresh garlic for this recipe, but you can also use dried. Start with ½ teaspoon and add more to taste.
• Dried Seasonings - Smoked paprika, italian seasonings, and chili pepper flakes add lots of flavor and a little heat to this recipe!
• Tomato Paste - This is my favorite organic tomato paste to use. It tastes great, it's in a glass bottle, and you can freeze leftovers in an ice cube tray so it doesn't go bad.
• Hot Sauce - Use your favorite hot sauce to add some heat to the sauce!
• Bell Peppers - You can use red, yellow, orange, or green bell peppers. A bag of frozen peppers would also work perfectly.
• Vegetable Broth - Use low sodium broth so you can control how much salt is added.
• Vegan Sausage - I used Field Roast sausage for this recipe, but you can use your favorite brand or omit it completely and substitute jackfruit or beans.

How to Make Vegan Sausage and Peppers

Step 1 - Start cooking the rice in a separate pot while you cook the rest of the meal so everything is ready at the same time.

Step 2 - In a large pan, saute the diced red onion until it's soft and translucent. Add the tomato paste, hot sauce, garlic, and dried seasonings. Stir to combine, and let it cook until fragrant. (Photos 1 & 2). 

Step 3 - Add the sliced bell peppers and vegetable broth to the pan and bring it to a low simmer. Reduce the heat and let it cook until the peppers have softened (Photos 3 & 4). 

Step 4 - Slice the vegan sausages and add them to the pan with the peppers and onions (Photo 5).

Step 5 - Mix it all together and let it cook for a few minutes or until the sausages are hot all the way through.

Step 6 - Add all of the cooked brown rice to the pan (Photo 6) and combine the rice with the peppers and sauce. Let it cook for a few minutes on low heat until the rice absorbs all of the tomato sauce.

Recipe Variations

My family loves this vegan sausage and peppers recipe just like this, but sometimes I like to switch it up and serve it different ways.

• Skip the Rice - The spicy tomato sauce, bell peppers, onions, and plant-based sausage would be delicious mixed with pasta if you're not in the mood for rice.
• Use Spicy Vegan Chorizo - Add some heat to this sausage, peppers, and rice skillet by using spicy vegan chorizo (I like the Field Roast and Trader Joe's vegan chorizo).
• Make it Low-Carb - If you want to make a low-carb version of this recipe, you can substitute cauliflower rice for the brown rice. It's delicious and it's such an easy way to add extra hidden veggies to your plate.

Serving Suggestions

I like to serve a big salad along with a tray of roasted vegetables as a side dish. Some of my favorite vegan vegetable side dishes are:

• Roasted Maple Dijon Brussels Sprouts
• Roasted Broccoli or Cauliflower
• Roasted Lemon Garlic Asparagus
• Lemon Tahini Courgette Salad

Storage & Freezing Instructions

Store the leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.

When you're ready to reheat it, you can warm it up in the microwave for a few minutes or you can reheat it in a pot on the stovetop. You may need to add a little bit of water to the pot so it won't stick to the bottom of the pan if it gets too dry.

You can freeze it for 2-3 months. When you're ready to eat it, take the container out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw for 24 hours. Then you can reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop.

PRO TIP - Field Roast sausages freeze perfectly! I often wait until they go on sale and then I'll buy a couple packages and put them directly in the freezer (in their original packaging) until I want to make this recipe. Let the package defrost in the fridge for 24 hours the day before you want to cook them.

Frequently Asked Questions

Expert Tips

• Make sure to use a large pan (I used a 5-quart braiser pan) to make this recipe. When you add the rice it will look like the pan is very full, but the rice will absorb all of the tomato sauce.
• I usually add double the amount of hot sauce and chili flakes that the recipe calls for because we like it spicy. Start with what the recipe calls for and then add more to taste.
• Be careful not to overcook the vegan sausage because the slices can get a little chewy if you cook them too long.
• If you want the sausage to have crispy edges, you can saute the sliced sausage in a separate pan before you add them to the rice, pepper, and onion mixture.

Want More Vegan Meat Recipes?

• Vegan Meatballs with Spaghetti
• Vegan Meatballs Subs
• Mini BBQ Jackfruit Burgers
• Vegan Sloppy Joes
• Jackfruit Enchiladas