Chicken Sausage and Peppers with Sweet Potato Dirty Rice

This spiralized version of dirty rice uses spiralized sweet potatoes as a substitute for rice and is loaded with the bold flavors of oregano and smoked paprika. Savory chicken sausage and peppers sit atop the bed of rice for a protein and veggie packed meal.

Chicken Sausage and Peppers with Sweet Potato Dirty Rice

Chicken Sausage and Peppers with Sweet Potato Dirty Rice

You can replace traditional rice with spiralized vegetable rice and make a more colorful, nutritious, and lower carb version! I love sweet potato rice especially, because it cooks perfectly al dente to the consistency of ‘regular’ rice. It fluffs up and absorbs flavor well, making each bite flavor packed.

Dirty rice is a traditional Creole dish made from white rice which gets a “dirty” color from being cooked with small pieces of meat, bell pepper, celery, and onion, and spiced with cayenne and black pepper. It sounds simple, but the flavor is robust! I’m always amazed by how much flavor gets infused in dirty rice, and with this sweet potato version, there’s a slight hint of sweetness from the sweet potatoes that’s next level.

I used chicken sausage in here, but you could also use small bits of chicken, pork, or beef. You could also use seafood, but I find that flavor wise and preparation wise, it’s easier to do one of those meats. If you want to make this vegetarian, use black eyed peas!

The sweet potato rice absorbs the vegetable broth and tomato paste, fluffs up, and creates a slightly creamy consistency that’s addictive. You will love this spiralized rice dish – and feel free to make it your own by changing up the protein!

Chicken Sausage and Peppers with Sweet Potato Dirty Rice

How do you make rice from spiralized veggies?

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Nutritional Information & Recipe

Chicken Sausage and Peppers with Sweet Potato “Dirty Rice”

Prep Time 25 minutes
Cook Time 25 minutes
Total Time 50 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil
  • 9-10 ounces about 4 small links chicken sausages, sliced into 1/4” chunks
  • 1 yellow bell pepper diced
  • 1 red bell pepper diced
  • 2 medium sweet potatoes peeled, Blade D
  • 2 garlic cloves minced
  • 2 celery ribs diced
  • 1/2 cup chopped red onions
  • 1 cup low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 tablespoons tomato paste
  • 1 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • chopped parsley to garnish

Instructions

  • Place a large skillet over medium heat and add in the olive oil. Once oil heats, add in the sausage, peppers and let cook for 5-7 minutes or until peppers soften.
  • Meanwhile, place the sweet potato noodles into a food processor and pulse until rice-like and set aside.
  • Once the meat is browned, transfer to a plate with peppers and then let skillet cool down for 1 minute and then add in the garlic, celery and onions to the skillet. Let cook for 30 seconds and then add in the tablespoon of the chicken broth. Let vegetables cook for 2-3 minutes or until onions are translucent and then add in the tomato paste. Stir for 1 minute or until tomato paste coats the vegetables.
  • Then, add in the sweet potato “rice,” oregano and paprika and season with salt and pepper. Stir to combine and let cook for 1 minute. Then, add in the chicken broth, stir again and let cook, covered, for 5 minutes, uncovering occasionally to stir. If the rice starts to stick to the bottom of the pan, add more chicken broth by the tablespoon. Then, add in the sausage and peppers and cook for another 2-3 minutes, or until sweet potato rice is cooked through.
  • Once done, add in the parsley, stir to mix and then transfer to a serving bowl or individual bowls and enjoy.

Chicken Sausage and Peppers with Sweet Potato Dirty Rice

with love, Ali

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Recipe Rating




comments

  • When my daughter got married last year she and her new husband entered the reception to "Tonight Gonna Be a Good Night" by the Black-eyed Peas. Got the party started on the right foot.
  • Looks delicious! I'll be making this for dinner tomorrow! And yes, we'd love to hear more about your wedding!! So happy for you & Lu!!!!
  • Easy, Ali! Everyone says that marriage is all about compromise, so you both just have to do that! You compromise on 'Born in the USA" and he compromises on "Sugar". And you have 'Beautiful Day' as your ceremony recessional song, or another that you can both agree on. It is after all, the most Beautiful Day of your current lives!
  • Hey Ali. My friend had Beautiful Day by Elbow for her walk down and that's a lovely one. Same sentiment but less Bono! Looking forward to this recipe :) X
  • Are you from North or South Jersey? My husband is from South Jersey and we entered our reception to "Thunderstruck" by ACDC because its the song the Eagles enter to. :)
    • We're Giants fans in this family, but great idea!!!
  • I think the new hit "SHUT UP AND DANCE" would be the coolest song for a wedding recessional EVER!
  • I can't help with the ceremony recessional, since I got married in the Catholic Church and we didn't have much leeway on music choices but for the reception entrance of the bridal party we used, and I loved Marry You by Bruno Mars. What about Pour Some Sugar on Me for cake cutting?
  • Hi Ali, I agree with the above folks telling you to compromise...you and Lu are going to be so excited, nervous..you are not even going to hear the music....so compromise and put it behind you so you can concentrate on loving each other before your big day...and most important...look around at your friends and family, take it all in....because the day goes by so super fast...and smile for those great pictures.
  • Over The Rainbow/What A Wonderful World and it is sung by Israel Kamakawiwo'ole. It was played at my wedding. Beautiful and uplifting.
  • Consider this for a recessional: Forever and Ever by the David Crowder Band. It's about God's love, but it also reflects a forever human love.
  • Our recessional was "Everlasting Light" by the Black Keys! Such a fun upbeat song and great lyrics!
  • For the recessional: Signed, Sealed Delivered - I'M YOURS! Stevie Wonder, never wrong.
    • agreed with above!! classic/classy and fun ^^
  • I prefer the classics. Have a listen to: "Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring" - J S Bach - beautiful! Another good one and more modern: "How long will you love me?" by Ellie Goulding Also Ellie G's "Your Song" was played at the evening wedding reception of Prince William and Catherine Middleton - very royal!
  • Hi When we got married - we had LoneStar Amazed Every time our eyes meet This feeling inside me Is almost more than I can take Baby when you touch me I can feel how much you love me And it just blows me away I've never been this close to anyone or anything I can hear your thoughts I can see your dreams I don't know how you do what you do I'm so in love with you It just keeps getting better I wanna spend the rest of my life With you by my side Forever and ever Every little thing that you do Baby I'm amazed by you The smell of your skin The taste of your kiss The way you whisper in the dark Your hair all around me Baby you surround me You touch every place in my heart Oh it feels like the first time every time I wanna spend the whole night in your arms I don't know how you do what you do I'm so in love with you It just keeps getting better I wanna spend the rest of my life With you by my side Forever and ever Every little thing that you do Baby I'm amazed by you Every little thing that you do I'm so in love with you It just keeps getting better I wanna spend the rest of my life With you by my side Forever and ever Every little thing that you do Oh, yeah every little thing that you do Baby I'm amazed by you Not a Dry eye in the Chapel
  • I think "Best Day of My Life" by American Authors i a great choice for a recessional. Betty
  • Our recessional song was "You're My Best Friend" by Queen. I now use it as my husband's ringtone.
  • https://youtu.be/5Euvz1s70iQ
  • My cousin had "You Make My Dreams Come True" by Hall & Oates as her wedding recession and it was SO fun.
  • I agree with Jesse. My son snd darling daughter in law danced their first dance to that version of wonderful world/ over the rainbow. Just gorgeous.
  • Billy Joel - Your my home (oldie but a goodie) Peter Gabriel - in your eyes Louis Armstrong - Oh what a wonderful world Regardless have a blast and enjoy your day!!! :)
  • I love Gabby's suggestions for music....as a Long Islander now living in Arizona, I can definitely say that oldie Billy Joel song always puts tears in my eyes --all good choices. Personally I would not even consider anything by AC/DC.....constant battle with radio here that plays them all day every day. Not appropriate for a wedding!
  • Girl, I'm with you on U2. What about instead of "Beautiful Day," you go with "Lovely Day" by Bill Withers?? Old school, yes. But also classic and with a fabulous, peppy sentiment.
  • For our recessional, we played an instrumental version of I'm Yours by Jason Mraz. When it came on, I heard the attendees utter a collective "awww." We walked in to Happy by Pharrell.
    • I "danced" down to aisle with my dad on my arm to Happy by Pharrell. Gave everyone a little giggle, and started the day off perfectly.
  • We went with the classic "We've only just begun" by the Carpenters for our recessional song. (keep in mind I'm married 24 yrs now) My sister (who's got an amazing voice) sung it for us. As others have said just enjoy every single moment of the day because it flies by! Congrats!
  • Can't wait to make this. How about: How Sweet It Is -James Taylor for cake cutting Jungle Boogie -Kool & The Gang for wedding party entering reception
  • Hi Ali, this looks delicious, but I am really not fond of sweet potatoes. Would there be a good substitute here for them in the rice? Thanks!
  • Yum, Ali! This was awesome. I am a huge fan of sweet potato noodles but the rice is so much more versatile. Took your tip and added andouille sausage - boyfriend loved the meal so much! Huge fan of your recipes and will be purchasing the cookbook ASAP!
  • I love, love, love (did I say love enough?) this recipe! I made a few adjustments....instead of sauteing the peppers with the sausage, I sauteed the celery first instead. I find that the peppers cooked faster than the celery so I just reversed that step. I also liked a little bit of zing or heat in this dish so I opted to use hot Italian turkey sausage. These two adjustments made this recipe just right! Since this dish serves four, I made a pan full of it and put it in a tupperware container and I'm grazing on it all week for lunch! I could eat sweet potatoes by the boatloads and I don't get bored with eating it either! Thank you for introducing me to the wonderful world of Spiralizing.....I'm using alot of your recipes to make in advance and take them to work with me for lunch! It beats those chemical laden Lean Cuisines (yuck) and I know that what I am eating is healthy for me, and has ingredients I can pronounce! Woo Hoo!
  • I made this for dinner last night and son of a gun, the technique to make "rice" worked like a charm! Pretty exciting. This dish is delicious and I will probably make it again. Thanks!
  • Another winner recipe! This is fantastic! I followed the recipe exactly as is. The chicken sausage I purchased had the casing on, so once the casing was removed the consistency was a bit different from the one used in the original recipe, but because it all crumbled up, I had the delicious sausage taste in every bite. This is a total repeat!
  • We made this today with one modification and one addition - I kept the sweet potatoes spiralized and we added a yogurt/avocado (yogamole?) mix to the top. Used roasted garlic sausage from Trader Joes. So good. Thank you for the awesome recipe!