Description
This Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice recipe is a flavorful and comforting dish featuring smoky andouille sausage, tender red beans, and classic Cajun seasonings. Perfect for an easy, hands-off meal, it combines savory ingredients slow-cooked to perfection and served over fluffy white rice for a traditional Southern-style experience.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage
- 1 pound andouille sausage, sliced into bite-size pieces
Vegetables
- 2 stalks celery, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Beans & Liquids
- 1 pound dried small red beans
- 1 15-ounce can tomato sauce
- 4 cups chicken stock
Seasoning
- 2 tablespoons Cajun seasoning
Serving
- Cooked white rice for serving
Instructions
- Prepare the sausage: Slice the andouille sausage into bite-size pieces to allow them to distribute evenly through the beans and vegetables.
- Brown the sausage: Heat a medium skillet over medium-high heat. Add the sausage pieces and cook until they are nicely browned to develop a deep, smoky flavor.
- Combine ingredients in slow cooker: Transfer the browned sausage to the slow cooker. Add the dried red beans, chopped celery, green bell pepper, onion, minced garlic, tomato sauce, chicken stock, and Cajun seasoning. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Cook low and slow: Set the slow cooker to high and cook for 6 hours, or set it to low and cook for 8 hours. The beans will become tender and flavors meld together beautifully during this time.
- Serve: Once the beans are cooked and tender, serve the red beans over cooked white rice. For a thicker sauce, mash some of the beans before serving to create a creamier texture.
Notes
- Soaking the beans overnight can reduce cooking time but is not necessary in this slow cooker method.
- Adjust the level of Cajun seasoning to your preferred spice level.
- You can substitute smoked sausage if andouille is not available.
- Leftovers keep well refrigerated for up to 4 days and can be frozen for up to 3 months.
- For a vegetarian version, omit the sausage and use vegetable broth instead of chicken stock.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 6-8 hours
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Keywords: Red Beans and Rice, Slow Cooker Recipe, Andouille Sausage, Cajun, Comfort Food
