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Simple Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

Close-up of a white bowl filled with rich, savory slow cooker red beans and rice mixed with chunks of sausage.
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Make authentic Cajun Red Beans and Rice with minimal effort using your slow cooker. This hands-off recipe delivers rich, smoky flavor perfect for an easy weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound dried red kidney beans, rinsed (soaked overnight is best)
  • 1 pound smoked andouille sausage, sliced into rounds
  • 1 large onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to taste)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Cooked white rice, for serving

Instructions

  1. If you soaked the beans overnight, drain and rinse them. If you did not soak them, rinse them well.
  2. Place the rinsed beans, sliced sausage, onion, bell pepper, celery, and minced garlic into the basin of your slow cooker.
  3. Pour in the chicken broth. Stir gently to combine the ingredients.
  4. Add the thyme, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf. Stir again.
  5. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours.
  6. About 30 minutes before serving, remove the bay leaf. Taste the mixture and add salt and pepper as needed. If the mixture seems too thin, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for the remaining time to allow some liquid to evaporate.
  7. Serve the red beans and rice hot over cooked white rice.

Notes

  • For a creamier texture, remove about 1 cup of the beans and mash them with a fork before stirring them back into the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.
  • If you do not have ham hocks, the andouille sausage provides plenty of smoky flavor for this recipe.
  • This recipe freezes well for future easy weeknight dinners.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://tastethisplate.com/slow-cooker-red-beans-and-rice/