Rustic Southern Bean and Sausage Stew with Smoked Paprika

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-06-07 · Updated 2026-06-07

A hearty, comforting stew combining smoky sausage, tender white beans, and robust southern flavors, perfect for a nourishing family dinner. This Southern American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 105 minutes, pairs dried white beans, smoked sausage, yellow onion for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 350 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 cup, soaked overnight dried white beans
• 12 oz, sliced into 1/2-inch pieces smoked sausage
• 1 medium, diced yellow onion
• 2, diced celery stalks
• 1 large, diced carrot
• 3, minced garlic cloves
• 4 cups chicken broth
• 2 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 bay leaf
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp black pepper
• 1/4 tsp (optional) red pepper flakes

The slow cooker we’d leave this in all day → Best Slow Cookers in 2026: Top Picks + Buying Guide

Instructions

1. Step 1: Drain 1 cup dried white beans soaked overnight and rinse under cold water. Set aside.
2. Step 2: Heat 2 tbsp olive oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add 12 oz sliced smoked sausage and sauté for 5 minutes until browned and fragrant.
3. Step 3: Add 1 diced medium yellow onion, 2 diced celery stalks, and 1 diced large carrot to the pot. Cook for 6-7 minutes until the vegetables soften.
4. Step 4: Stir in 3 minced garlic cloves, 2 tsp smoked paprika, 1 tsp dried thyme, and 1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (if using). Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
5. Step 5: Add the soaked beans, 4 cups chicken broth, 1 bay leaf, 1 1/2 tsp salt, and 1 tsp black pepper. Bring to a boil.
6. Step 6: Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer gently for 1 to 1 1/2 hours until beans are tender and stew thickens slightly.
7. Step 7: Remove the bay leaf, adjust seasoning if needed, and serve warm with crusty bread.