Description
Hoppin’ John Casserole is a flavorful Southern-inspired dish combining smoky sausage, seasoned dirty rice, creamy components, and black-eyed peas. This comforting casserole is perfect for a hearty dinner and brings together traditional ingredients in an easy-to-make baked dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients
- 1 (8-oz) box Zatarain’s Dirty Rice mix
- 1 lb smoked sausage, chopped
- 2 (15-oz) cans black-eyed peas, drained and rinsed
- 1 (10-oz) can Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, drained
- 1 (10.5-oz) can Unsalted Cream of Chicken Soup, undiluted
- 1 cup sour cream
- 1 cup French fried onions
Instructions
- Preheat and Prepare Dish: Preheat your oven to 350ºF (175ºC). Lightly spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with cooking spray to prevent sticking.
- Cook Sausage and Rice: In a large skillet over medium heat, cook the chopped smoked sausage until it starts to brown. Then add the dirty rice mix along with the water quantity specified on the rice package. Prepare the dirty rice following the package instructions, stirring occasionally until fully cooked.
- Combine Ingredients: Remove the skillet from heat. Stir in the drained and rinsed black-eyed peas, drained Rotel diced tomatoes and green chilies, undiluted cream of chicken soup, and sour cream until all ingredients are well combined.
- Assemble the Casserole: Spread the combined rice and bean mixture evenly into the prepared baking dish. Sprinkle the French fried onions evenly on top of the casserole to add a crunchy topping.
- Bake: Bake the casserole uncovered in the preheated oven for 30 minutes, or until the casserole is bubbly and hot throughout. Remove from the oven and let it rest for a few minutes before serving.
Notes
- For a vegetarian version, substitute smoked sausage with a plant-based sausage alternative and use a vegetarian cream soup.
- Drain and rinse canned black-eyed peas to reduce sodium content and improve flavor.
- French fried onions add a delightful crunch but can be replaced with crushed cornflakes for variation.
- This casserole can be prepared a day ahead; simply refrigerate after assembling and bake when ready to serve.
- Adjust spice level by choosing mild or spicy Rotel diced tomatoes based on your preference.
