Cajun-Spiced Red Beans and Rice

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-30 · Updated 2026-06-30

A flavorful regional Cajun dish featuring red beans simmered with aromatic vegetables and smoked sausage, served over fluffy white rice. This Latin American-inspired rice and grain recipe, ready in about 135 minutes, pairs dried red kidney beans, smoked Andouille sausage, sliced, yellow onion, diced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 500 calories and feeds 4, so it slots cleanly into a weekly meal plan and pairs well with a quick salad or grain on the side. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" below to drop this recipe into your week and send the ingredients straight to Instacart. Nutrition values are approximate, calculated from USDA FoodData Central (fdc.nal.usda.gov) — verify against ingredient labels for any health-driven dietary plan.

Ingredients

• 1 cup dried red kidney beans
• 8 oz smoked Andouille sausage, sliced
• 1 medium yellow onion, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 3 garlic cloves, minced
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tbsp cajun seasoning
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 cups uncooked white rice
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Soak 1 cup dried red kidney beans overnight in cold water. Drain and rinse before cooking.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 8 oz sliced smoked Andouille sausage and sauté for 5 minutes until browned and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 diced yellow onion, 2 diced celery stalks, 1 diced green bell pepper, and 3 minced garlic cloves to the pot. Sauté for 6-7 minutes until vegetables are softened.
4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Add soaked beans, 4 cups chicken broth, and 1 bay leaf. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer uncovered for 1.5 to 2 hours until beans are tender and sauce thickens.
5. Step 5: Meanwhile, cook 2 cups uncooked white rice according to package instructions.
6. Step 6: Remove the bay leaf from the beans, adjust seasoning as needed, and serve the beans over the cooked white rice.