Slow Cooker Louisiana-Style Red Beans and Rice
This hearty slow cooker recipe brings the comforting flavors of Louisiana with tender red beans simmered with smoky sausage and served over fluffy white rice. This louisiana creole-inspired slow cooker ready in about 500 minutes pairs dry red kidney beans, large yellow onion, diced, medium green bell pepper, diced for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 360 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
- 12 oz smoked Andouille sausage, sliced into 1/2-inch rounds
- 1 large yellow onion, diced
- 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 garlic cloves, minced
- 6 cups chicken broth
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1 bay leaf
- 2 cups long grain white rice
- 4 cups water (for rice)
- to taste salt
- to taste black pepper
- 3 green onions, sliced for garnish
Equipment for this recipe
Top-rated tools to make this recipe successfully.
Instructions
- Step 1: Rinse 1 lb dry red kidney beans under cold water until water runs clear, then soak them in water for 4 hours or overnight; drain before cooking.
- Step 2: In a slow cooker, combine the drained beans with 12 oz sliced smoked Andouille sausage, 1 diced large yellow onion, 1 diced green bell pepper, 2 diced celery stalks, 4 minced garlic cloves, 6 cups chicken broth, 1 tsp dried thyme, 1 tsp smoked paprika, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, and 1 bay leaf.
- Step 3: Cover and cook on low for 8 hours or on high for 4 hours, until the beans are tender and the stew is thickened.
- Step 4: About 30 minutes before serving, rinse 2 cups long grain white rice and add to a pot with 4 cups water and a pinch of salt. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 minutes until rice is fluffy.
- Step 5: Remove bay leaf from the beans, season the beans with salt and black pepper to taste, and stir well.
- Step 6: Serve the red beans over the cooked rice and garnish with 3 sliced green onions.
Frequently asked questions
How long does Slow Cooker Louisiana-Style Red Beans and Rice take to make?
Total time is about 500 minutes (20 min prep + 480 min cook). Most home cooks find this fits comfortably into a weeknight; double the batch on Sunday for two dinners.
How do I store leftover Slow Cooker Louisiana-Style Red Beans and Rice?
Cool to room temperature within 2 hours, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat covered in a 350°F oven for 10-12 minutes, or microwave at 70% power in 60-second bursts to keep dry red kidney beans from drying out.
Can I substitute ingredients in Slow Cooker Louisiana-Style Red Beans and Rice?
Yes — most ingredients in this recipe have flexible swaps. For oil, use any neutral high-smoke-point oil (avocado, grapeseed, refined coconut). For aromatics, dried herbs at ⅓ the volume of fresh work in a pinch. The full ingredient list is shoppable on Instacart so you can see substitutes in real time.
How do I scale Slow Cooker Louisiana-Style Red Beans and Rice for a different number of people?
The recipe is written for 6 servings. Multiply each ingredient by (your serving target / 6). Cook time stays roughly the same up to 2x; for 3-4x batches, switch from a skillet to a sheet pan or stockpot so the food isn't crowded — overcrowding steams instead of browns.
What goes well with Slow Cooker Louisiana-Style Red Beans and Rice?
Louisiana Creole slow cooker like this pair well with a simple grain (rice, couscous, or crusty bread), a quick salad with acid (lemon vinaigrette, pickled onions), and a pan sauce or yogurt-based dip. Tap "Plan a meal with the AI" to get specific side suggestions.
