Description
Slow Cooker Cajun Red Beans and Rice is the cozy, smoky Louisiana-style dinner that basically cooks itself. Tender red beans simmer with the “holy trinity” veggies, bold Cajun seasoning, and smoked sausage—then you spoon it all over fluffy rice for the kind of comfort food that fixes a long day.
Ingredients
1 pound dried red beans (sorted & rinsed)
8 cups chicken broth (or low-sodium broth)
1 onion, diced
1 green bell pepper, diced
1 stalk celery, diced
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning (plus more to taste)
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 bay leaf
12–14 ounces smoked sausage or andouille, sliced
Salt and black pepper, to taste
Cooked white rice, for serving
Chopped green onions, for garnish
Instructions
1. Sort and rinse the dried beans. For best results (and safety), soak beans overnight, drain, then boil in fresh water for 10 minutes. Drain again.
2. Add the boiled beans to the slow cooker along with broth, onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, Cajun seasoning, thyme, bay leaf, and a pinch of black pepper. Stir well.
3. Cover and cook on LOW for 7–9 hours (or HIGH for 4–5 hours), until the beans are very tender.
4. About 30–45 minutes before serving, stir in the sliced sausage so it heats through without getting overcooked.
5. Remove the bay leaf. Taste and adjust salt and Cajun seasoning as needed.
6. Serve the red beans over warm rice and top with chopped green onions.
Notes
Bean note: Dried red beans can be sold as “small red beans” or red kidney beans. Boiling them briefly before slow cooking improves texture and is the safest approach.
Make it lighter: use turkey smoked sausage and low-sodium broth.
More heat: add cayenne, hot sauce, or a diced jalapeño.
Gluten-free tip: most versions are gluten-free, but check the sausage label just in case.
- Prep Time: 20 minutes
- Cook Time: 480 minutes
- Category: Lunch
- Method: Slow Cooking
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 430 kcal
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 950mg
- Fat: 16g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 9g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 55g
- Fiber: 12g
- Protein: 22g
- Cholesterol: 35mg