Cozy Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice
This Southern Chicken Bog is the ultimate comfort food, with tender chicken, spicy sausage, and perfectly cooked rice in a creamy broth. After making this many times, I’ve discovered the trick to the perfect texture is to let the rice soak up the liquid slowly. The result is a cozy, hearty stew that’s better than takeout and perfect for chilly nights. Jump to the recipe or keep reading for my best tips. If you love recipes like this, you’ll also enjoy Easy Chicken Avocado Wrap Recipe for Quick Dinner and Easy Pancake Tacos Recipe for a Fun Breakfast or Brunch.
Why This Cozy Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice Is Pure Comfort
- A comforting blend of chicken, sausage, and rice in a creamy broth
- Easy to make and perfect for meal prepping
- Better than takeout and full of southern flavor
- Customizable with your favorite vegetables and seasonings
What You'll Need for Cozy Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice
Choosing the right ingredients makes a big difference, but this recipe is forgiving enough to work with what you have.
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 lb smoked sausage
- 2 cups long grain white rice
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 large onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 bay leaves
- Optional: Fresh parsley, chopped
- Optional: Shredded cheddar cheese
- Optional: Crushed red pepper flakes
📝 Ingredient Notes
- chicken broth: You can use low-sodium or regular chicken broth. Vegetable broth can also be used for a vegetarian version.
🛒 Tools & Equipment I Recommend
- Instant Pot — Cooks rice and chicken perfectly in one pot, saving time and energy. → See on Amazon
- Good quality chicken broth — Better flavor and less sodium than store-brand broths. → See on Amazon
How to Make Cozy Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice
- Step 1: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and sausage into slices. Sauté in a large pot until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Step 2: Dice onion and mince garlic. Sauté in the same pot until softened. Add spices and bay leaves, cooking for 1 minute.
- Step 3: Add rice to the pot and stir to coat with the onion mixture. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Step 5: Add frozen vegetables, cooked chicken, and sausage back to the pot. Stir well to combine. Cover and let simmer for an additional 10 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Step 6: Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, topped with fresh parsley, shredded cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
Cook's Tips for Perfect Cozy Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice
- Common mistake and fix: Don't overcook the rice. Once it's tender, remove from heat to prevent it from becoming mushy.
- Tip: For a vegetarian version, omit the chicken and sausage and add more vegetables like mushrooms or bell peppers.
- Tip: To make this dish spicier, add diced jalapeños or cayenne pepper to the pot when sautéing the onions.
- Tip: For a gluten-free version, use gluten-free sausage and ensure your chicken broth is gluten-free.
Storing & Reheating Cozy Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice
Short-Term Storage
Store in an airtight container in the fridge. Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days. Make-ahead tip: This dish can be made ahead and reheated. The flavors will meld together even more as it sits.
Freezing Cozy Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice
Freeze portions in individual containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
How to Reheat Without Drying It Out
Oven: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Microwave: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
Recipe Notes
- Chef tip: To prevent the rice from sticking, make sure to stir it occasionally while cooking.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the smoked sausage for diced ham or bacon for a different flavor profile.
- Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated, making it perfect for meal prepping.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still hard after 20 minutes, add more chicken broth and continue cooking until tender.
Want to level up this recipe?
Heavy-duty pot with lid — Perfect for cooking this dish evenly and preventing sticking. → Check price on Amazon
Cozy Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 lb boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- 1 lb smoked sausage
- 2 cups long grain white rice
- 8 cups chicken broth
- 1 large onion
- 3 cloves garlic
- 2 cups frozen mixed vegetables
Seasonings
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 bay leaves
Optional Toppings
- Fresh parsley, chopped
- Shredded cheddar cheese
- Crushed red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Step 1: Cut chicken into bite-sized pieces and sausage into slices. Sauté in a large pot until browned. Remove and set aside.
- Step 2: Dice onion and mince garlic. Sauté in the same pot until softened. Add spices and bay leaves, cooking for 1 minute.
- Step 3: Add rice to the pot and stir to coat with the onion mixture. Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
- Step 4: Reduce heat to low, cover, and let simmer for 20 minutes. Stir occasionally to prevent sticking.
- Step 5: Add frozen vegetables, cooked chicken, and sausage back to the pot. Stir well to combine. Cover and let simmer for an additional 10 minutes, until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Step 6: Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve hot, topped with fresh parsley, shredded cheese, and crushed red pepper flakes if desired.
Notes
- Chef tip: To prevent the rice from sticking, make sure to stir it occasionally while cooking.
- Best substitution: You can substitute the smoked sausage for diced ham or bacon for a different flavor profile.
- Make-ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated, making it perfect for meal prepping.
- Scaling: This recipe can easily be doubled or halved to serve more or fewer people.
- Troubleshooting: If the rice is still hard after 20 minutes, add more chicken broth and continue cooking until tender.
Storage
- Fridge: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 5 days.
- Freezer: Freeze portions in individual containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
- Oven reheat: Reheat in the oven at 350°F (175°C) for 15-20 minutes, stirring occasionally.
- Microwave reheat: Reheat in the microwave for 2-3 minutes, stirring halfway through.
- Make ahead: This dish can be made ahead and reheated. The flavors will meld together even more as it sits.
Nutrition Per Serving
- Calories: 520
- Protein: 35g
- Fat: 18g
- Carbs: 50g
- Fiber: 2g
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 1200mg
- Cholesterol: 105mg
- Sat. Fat: 6g
Nutritional values are estimates only. Actual values may vary by brand and portion size.
Cozy Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice FAQs
Yes, this dish can be made ahead and reheated. The flavors will meld together even more as it sits.
This could be due to overcooking the rice. Once it's tender, remove from heat to prevent it from becoming mushy.
Yes, freeze portions in individual containers for up to 3 months. Thaw overnight in the fridge before reheating.
While you can cook the chicken and sausage in the air fryer, the rice and vegetables need to be cooked in a pot on the stove.
You can substitute the smoked sausage for diced ham or bacon for a different flavor profile.
A Warm Final Note
I can’t wait for you to try Cozy Southern Chicken Bog with Sausage and Rice and see how effortlessly it comes together. When you make it, pop back here and leave a rating or share how it turned out — I love hearing from you!
