Slow Cooker Cajun-Spiced Red Beans and Rice

By AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-03 · Updated 2026-05-03

Hearty slow-cooked red beans simmered with traditional Cajun spices and served over fluffy white rice. This American-inspired slow-cooker recipe, ready in about 495 minutes, pairs dry red kidney beans, onion, diced, green bell pepper, diced 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 dry red kidney beans
• 1 large onion, diced
• 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 4 garlic cloves, minced
• 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced
• 2 tbsp cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• 4 cups vegetable broth
• 2 cups long grain white rice
• 4 cups water (for rice)
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 tbsp olive oil

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

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse and soak 1 lb dry red kidney beans in water for at least 4 hours or overnight, then drain.
2. Step 2: Heat 1 tbsp olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add 12 oz sliced smoked sausage and cook for 5 minutes until browned. Transfer to slow cooker.
3. Step 3: Add 1 large diced onion, 1 medium diced green bell pepper, 2 diced celery stalks, and 4 minced garlic cloves to the slow cooker along with the soaked beans.
4. Step 4: Stir in 2 tbsp Cajun seasoning, 1 tsp dried thyme, 2 bay leaves, 4 cups vegetable broth, 1 tsp salt, and 1/2 tsp black pepper. Cover and cook on low for 8 hours until beans are tender and creamy.
5. Step 5: About 20 minutes before serving, rinse 2 cups long grain white rice and cook it with 4 cups water according to package instructions until fluffy.
6. Step 6: Remove bay leaves from the beans, stir well, and serve the red beans hot over the cooked white rice.