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Authentic Slow Cooker Cajun Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage

A white bowl filled with rich, saucy slow cooker red beans and rice mixed with slices of smoked sausage.
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Make rich, comforting Cajun Red Beans and Rice with minimal effort using your slow cooker. This hands-off recipe delivers deep Louisiana flavor, perfect for an easy weeknight meal or meal prep.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 pound dried red kidney beans, rinsed and picked over (soak overnight for best results)
  • 1 pound smoked andouille sausage, sliced into rounds
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 4 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to your spice preference)
  • 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 andouille sausage, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, chicken broth, thyme, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf into your slow cooker.
  3. Stir all ingredients together until they combine.
  4. Cover the slow cooker and cook on LOW for 7 to 8 hours or on HIGH for 3 to 4 hours, until the beans are very tender.
  5. Remove the bay leaf. Taste the mixture and add salt and black pepper as needed. If the mixture seems too thin, remove the lid for the last 30 minutes of cooking to allow some liquid to evaporate.
  6. Serve the red beans and rice hot over freshly cooked white rice.

Notes

  • Soaking the beans overnight helps them cook more evenly and reduces cooking time slightly.
  • For a true New Orleans flavor, use smoked ham hocks along with or instead of some of the sausage. Remove the hock before serving.
  • This recipe makes excellent leftovers and is great for meal prep lunches.
  • If you prefer a creamier texture, mash about 1 cup of the beans against the side of the slow cooker during the last 30 minutes of cooking.

Nutrition

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