Turn leftover rice into a bright, flavorful stir-fried lemon rice with sausage and peas. Ready in under 20 minutes, this dish works as a quick one-pan meal or a vibrant side to accompany a main course.
Have leftover rice sitting in the fridge? Transform it into a dish your family will actually look forward to. With just a few pantry staples—sausage, peas, lemon, green onion, and garlic—you can give plain rice a refreshing makeover.
This simple sausage, pea, and lemon rice is versatile: serve it as a satisfying main or as a bright, citrusy side. I used chorizo for bold flavor, but any fresh sausage will work well.
All you need is sausage (casing removed), a splash of oil, chopped green onion, garlic, frozen peas, cooked rice, lemon zest, and a little lemon juice. The citrus lifts the whole dish and adds a clean, bright finish.
How to make Lemon Rice with Sausage and Peas
Start by removing the casing from the sausage and crumbling the meat.
Brown the crumbled sausage in a skillet until cooked through, breaking it up as it cooks.
Add the chopped green onion and minced garlic, cooking briefly until the onion softens and the garlic is fragrant.
Stir in the thawed peas and cooked rice, tossing until everything is heated through. Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste. Remove from the heat, then add the zest of one lemon and about 1 tablespoon of lemon juice. Toss to combine—add more lemon juice if you prefer a tangier finish.
The result is quick, easy, and refreshingly tasty. It presents beautifully on the table and shows how a few simple ingredients can become something special.
Simply delicious—serve warm or at room temperature.
Easy Lemon Rice with Sausage and Pea
Pin Recipe
Leave a Review
Ingredients
- 1/2 lb Chorizo or Italian sausage, casing removed and crumbled
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 1/2 cup chopped green onion
- 2 cloves garlic , minced
- 3/4 cup frozen peas, thawed
- 2 1/2 to 3 cup cooked white rice
- zest of 1 lemon
- 1 tablespoon lemon juice
- salt and pepper , to taste
Instructions
-
Heat oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add the crumbled sausage and brown until fully cooked, about 2–3 minutes, breaking it up as it cooks.
-
Add the green onion and garlic, and cook until the onion wilts, about 1 minute. Stir in the peas and rice, tossing to heat through. Season with salt and pepper to taste.
-
Remove from heat and add the lemon zest and 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice. Toss well to combine. Serve warm or at room temperature.