New Orleans-Style Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-18 · Updated 2026-06-18

Slow-simmered red beans with smoky sausage and classic Creole seasonings served over fluffy white rice. This Creole-inspired rice and grain recipe, ready in about 170 minutes, pairs dried red kidney beans, smoked sausage, onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 480 calories and feeds 6, 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 lb, rinsed and soaked overnight dried red kidney beans
• 12 oz, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds smoked sausage
• 1 large, diced onion
• 1 medium, diced green bell pepper
• 2, diced celery stalks
• 4 cloves, minced garlic cloves
• 2 tbsp vegetable oil
• 1 tbsp cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 6 cups chicken broth
• 2 cups, cooked long grain white rice
• 3, sliced for garnish green onions
• optional, for serving hot sauce
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper

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Instructions

1. Step 1: Drain 1 lb soaked red kidney beans and set aside. Heat 2 tbsp vegetable oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add 12 oz sliced smoked sausage and cook for 5 minutes until browned and fragrant.
2. Step 2: Add 1 large diced onion, 1 diced green bell pepper, 2 diced celery stalks, and 4 minced garlic cloves to the pot. Sauté for 7 minutes until vegetables are softened and aromatic.
3. Step 3: Stir in 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 2 bay leaves. Add the drained beans and 6 cups chicken broth. Bring to a boil.
4. Step 4: Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer gently for 2 to 2.5 hours, stirring occasionally, until beans are tender and creamy. Add water as needed to maintain desired consistency.
5. Step 5: Remove bay leaves, season with salt and black pepper to taste. Serve beans spooned over 2 cups cooked long grain white rice, garnished with 3 sliced green onions and hot sauce if desired.