One-Pan Sweet Apple Chicken Sausage Rice Bowls
A comforting, kid-approved skillet meal featuring savory gluten-free chicken sausage, sweet apples, and quick-cooking brown rice. Nourishing, satisfying, and ready in just 15 minutes after a long day.
Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
Makes
4 servings
Created together. Shared with you.
Made by Nikki + Lila
Nikki created this recipe with Lila and shared it with the perimenopause community.
The feel-good payoff
Why this meal can feel especially good in perimenopause
Think practical wins: steadier energy, comfortable fullness and one less food decision. Your response is personal, so use the prompts below to notice what works for you.
Perimenopause symptoms and relief · Office on Women’s HealthComfortably satisfied
Fullness that has staying power
This meal is designed to feel substantial, so finishing it can feel like the meal is complete rather than the start of an evening of grazing.
Notice: fullness 2–3 hours later
Steadier energy
Feel fueled, not flattened
A complete meal with protein, carbohydrates and fats is designed to offer more staying power than a quick carb-only fix.
Notice: energy 1–3 hours later
Digestive comfort
A portion that works for you
Fiber and plants can support digestion, but more is not always better overnight. Start with a comfortable portion and build gradually.
Notice: comfort + portion
More staying power
Make the next few hours easier
This meal is built to be more sustaining than a snack-sized stopgap, with enough substance to carry you into the next part of the day.
Notice: energy + fullness later
Setup
Get set up
Choose your servings, gather what you need, then cook along below.
Prep
5 min
Cook
10 min
Total
15 min
How many are you cooking for?
The ingredient amounts update automatically.
Equipment
Large skillet · Knife and cutting board
Time saver
Storage: Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
Do these three things first
- 1Set out all ingredients before cooking
- 2Measure the pantry ingredients before heating the pan
- 3Read through the steps once before you begin
Ingredients
Gather as you go
Ingredients
Cook along
Instructions
0 of 6 steps complete
Next: Heat the olive oil in a large…
- 01
Heat the olive oil in a large…
Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
Tap card to mark done - 02
Add the sliced chicken sausage to the…
Add the sliced chicken sausage to the pan and sear for about 3 minutes until lightly browned.
Look for: lightly browned
Tap card to mark done - 03
Stir in the chopped apple and red…
Stir in the chopped apple and red onion, cooking for another 3 to 4 minutes until they begin to soften.
Look for: they begin to soften
Tap card to mark done - 04
Pour in the pre-cooked brown rice and…
Pour in the pre-cooked brown rice and the vegetable broth, stirring to scrape up any browned bits from the bottom of the pan.
Tap card to mark done - 05
Bring to a gentle simmer
Bring to a gentle simmer, cover, and cook for 3 to 5 minutes until the rice is heated through and has absorbed most of the liquid.
Look for: the rice is heated through and has absorbed most of the liquid
Tap card to mark done - 06
Remove from the heat
Remove from the heat, stir in the fresh baby spinach until just wilted, and serve immediately in individual bowls.
Look for: just wilted, and serve immediately in individual bowls
Tap card to mark done
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