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Authentic Cajun Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage

A close-up serving of slow cooker red beans and rice topped with sliced smoked sausage and garnished with parsley.
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Make this classic Louisiana dish with minimal effort using your slow cooker. This recipe yields tender, smoky red beans perfect for a comforting weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound dried red kidney beans, rinsed and picked over
  • 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
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to your heat preference)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 6 cups chicken broth or water
  • 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
  • 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
  • Cooked white rice, for serving

Instructions

  1. Place the rinsed red kidney beans into your slow cooker.
  2. Add the sliced andouille sausage, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, thyme, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, and bay leaf to the slow cooker.
  3. Pour in the chicken broth or water until the ingredients are covered by about one inch of liquid.
  4. Stir everything together gently.
  5. 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.
  6. About 30 minutes before serving, remove the bay leaf. Stir in the salt and black pepper. If the mixture seems too thin, remove the lid and cook on HIGH for the last 30 minutes to allow some liquid to evaporate. The beans should be creamy.
  7. Serve the slow cooker red beans and rice hot over cooked white rice.

Notes

  • For the creamiest texture, mash about one cup of the beans against the side of the slow cooker before serving.
  • If you do not have smoked sausage, you can use smoked ham hocks or smoked turkey sausage for a similar smoky flavor.
  • Soaking the beans overnight is optional but can reduce the cooking time slightly. If you soak them, reduce the liquid by about 1 cup.

Nutrition

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