📋 Apple Rice (with Sausage) Recipe

apple rice with sausage on a white plate with pine cones in the background

5 from 1 vote

📋 Apple Rice (with Sausage) Recipe

This award-winning Gluten-free Apple Rice (with sausage), dehydrated/dried apples, sage, wild rice, spinach, and nuts is a great fall dish that's perfect for a Thanksgiving or holiday side.

Course Side Dish

Cuisine North American

Keyword apple rice, sage, sausage

Special Diet Dairy-free, Gluten-free, weight watchers

Prep Time 15

Cook Time 30

Total Time 45

Servings servings

Calories 210kcal

Author Terri Gilson

Equipment

Ingredients

6 fresh breakfast sausage links chopped into ¼ inch circles
1 cup finely chopped dried/dehydrated apples
1 Tbsp. chopped fresh sage
1 ½ cups fresh baby spinach washed and dried
2 cups dry brown rice and wild rice blend (or 1 ½ cups dry brown rice and ½ cup dry wild rice) cook as per package directions
Chicken stock or vegetable stock amount according to package direction of rice
½ cup pine nuts
1 teaspoon olive oil

US Customary - Metric

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Instructions

Make the rice: Cook rice according to package directions, but use chicken stock or vegetable stock in place of water.
Cook sausage in a frying pan on stove top over medium heat until no longer pink and set aside.
Heat a frying pan on medium high heat. Add 1 teaspoon of olive oil and the pine nuts. Toast, for a minute or so, stirring, then add sage and spinach.
Continue to stir until spinach is soft and pine nuts are fragrant. Remove the mixture and stir into rice mixture.
Stir in chopped dried apples and sausage into the rice and serve warm.

Notes

*Note: I used brown minute rice and wild rice in the final photos and a rice medley in the process photos and that is why they look different.

Expert Recipe Tips:

Toast the nuts for maximum flavor: Toasting the pine nuts or almonds brings out their rich, nutty flavor and adds a subtle crunch that elevates the dish. Keep a close eye on them, as they can burn quickly.
Use stock, not water: Cooking the rice in chicken or vegetable stock instead of water adds layers of savory flavor that complement the apples and sausage.
Chop dried apples finely: Cutting the apples into small, even pieces ensures they distribute evenly throughout the rice and blend seamlessly into each bite.
Don’t skip the fresh sage: Fresh sage has a vibrant, earthy flavor that pairs beautifully with the apples and sausage. Dried sage works if needed, but fresh will give the best result.
Cook sausage separately for best texture: Browning the sausage on its own allows the fat to render out and the pieces to develop caramelization, which adds depth of flavor to the final dish.
Reheat gently with stock: If making ahead, add a splash of chicken or vegetable stock when reheating to keep the rice moist and flavorful.
Shape for presentation: For a holiday table, pack the rice into a small bowl, then invert onto a plate for a tidy, elegant dome shape. This makes it look like a special centerpiece side dish

Storage:

This delicious rice dish can be made ahead and stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
It also freezes well. Store in an airtight container for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight, then reheat on the stovetop or in the microwave, adding a little stock if needed.
Reheat: Reheat this recipe in the microwave for 3-5 minutes or until warm.

Nutrition