Spicy Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage and Creole Vegetables

By Lauren Mitchell, Test Kitchen Director · Reviewed by AislePrompt Editorial · Published 2026-05-04 · Updated 2026-05-04

A bold and hearty red beans and rice dish featuring smoked sausage and the classic 'holy trinity' of Creole cooking, seasoned with Cajun spices. This Latin American-inspired Mardi Gras recipe, ready in about 140 minutes, pairs dry kidney beans, olive oil, large onion, chopped for a weeknight-friendly dinner that comes together with one pan and minimal cleanup. Each serving lands at about 440 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 pound dry kidney beans
• 1/4 cup olive oil
• 1 cup large onion, chopped
• 1 cup green bell pepper, chopped
• 2 cups celery stalks, chopped
• 2 tablespoons minced garlic cloves
• 12 ounces smoked sausage, sliced
• 2 bay leaves
• 1 tablespoon dried parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
• 6 cups water
• 1 cup uncooked white rice
• 2 cups water for rice
• 2 tablespoons butter
• to taste salt
• to taste black pepper

Instructions

1. Step 1: Rinse 1 pound dry kidney beans and soak overnight or quick-soak by boiling for 3 minutes and resting for 1 hour. Drain beans.
2. Step 2: Heat 1/4 cup olive oil in a large heavy pot over medium heat. Add 1 cup chopped large onion, 1 cup chopped green bell pepper, and 2 cups chopped celery. Sauté for 7 minutes until vegetables soften and release aroma.
3. Step 3: Stir in 2 tablespoons minced garlic cloves and cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
4. Step 4: Add 12 ounces sliced smoked sausage and cook for 4 minutes until browned.
5. Step 5: Add soaked beans, 6 cups water, 2 bay leaves, 1 tablespoon dried parsley, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, and 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, and simmer uncovered for 2 hours, stirring occasionally until beans are tender and sauce thickens.
6. Step 6: Season with salt and black pepper to taste.
7. Step 7: Meanwhile, bring 2 cups water and 2 tablespoons butter to a boil in a saucepan. Stir in 1 cup uncooked white rice, cover, reduce heat to low, and cook for 15 minutes until rice is fluffy.
8. Step 8: Remove bay leaves from beans, serve beans hot over the white rice, and enjoy this spicy, hearty meal.