Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice with Sausage
Red Beans and Rice has its roots in New Orleans as a "Monday dinner" favorite. According to one popular legend, families way-back-when would have a ham for Sunday dinner, and not wanting to be wasteful they would use the leftover ham bone (and maybe some of the meat) to add flavor to a pot of red beans for the next day's meal.
This dish is considered Cajun style (i.e. it does not use tomatoes), and has smoked sausage in place of the ham/ham bone to provide for a more complete meal. While it could be prepared on a stovetop, a slow cooker allows the flavors to blend together better and makes it a great "set it and forget it" meal for busy weekdays.
Adapted from Add A Pinch
This dish is considered Cajun style (i.e. it does not use tomatoes), and has smoked sausage instead of the traditional ham/ham bone to provide for a more complete meal. Slow cooking allows the flavors to blend together and makes it a great "set it and forget it" meal for busy weekdays.
Adapted from Add A Pinch
- 3 can red kidney beans, divided (15 oz. each)
- 1 lb smoked sausage, thinly sliced (pork or beef)
- 3 ribs celery, chopped (about 1 to 1-1/2 cups)
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped (about 1 to 1-1/2 cups)
- 1 medium onion, chopped (about 1-1/2 to 2 cups)
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- 1/2 tsp kosher salt
- 1/4 tsp chili powder
- 4 cup long grain rice, uncooked
- green onions, chopped for garnish (optional)
- chopped parsley for garnish (optional)
Drain and rinse two cans of the kidney beans and add them to a 6 quart slow cooker. Add the third can of kidney beans to the slow cooker without draining or rinsing.
Add sausage, celery, bell pepper, onion, garlic, Worcestershire sauce, salt, and chili powder to the slow cooker. Mix until everything is evenly blended.
Cook on High for 4 hour or Low for 8 hours.
Prepare rice according to package directions.
Serve by placing a bed of rice in a bowl and spoon the red beans on top. Garnish with green onions and parsley if desired.
Servings 10
- Amount Per Serving
- Calories 575kcal
- % Daily Value *
- Total Fat 14g22%
- Saturated Fat 4g20%
- Cholesterol 38mg13%
- Sodium 487mg21%
- Potassium 290mg9%
- Total Carbohydrate 81g27%
- Dietary Fiber 11g44%
- Sugars 2g
- Protein 24g48%
- Calcium 3 mg
- Iron 22 mg
* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily value may be higher or lower depending on your calorie needs.
This recipe as written has a mild flavor. Suggested ways to make it spicy:
- Use andouille sausage in place of the smoked pork or beef sausage
- Increase the amount of chili powder to taste
- Add hot sauce to taste
- Provide hot sauce on the side when serving