Slow Cooker Red Beans & Rice Recipe – better than Popeyes! This is the best red beans and rice outside of New Orleans! SO easy to make and crazy delicious! Just dump everything in the crockpot and let it do all the work. Dried red beans, andouille sausage, water, tomato sauce, Worcestershire, garlic, onion, green bell pepper, and cajun seasoning – serve over hot white rice. Whip up some cornbread or biscuits for an easy meal the whole family will love! Perfect for Mardi Gras!
Post updated February 9, 2022
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Pin This RecipePopeye’s Red Beans & Rice
We made a big pot of Slow Cooker red Beans & RIce last weekend, and it really hit the spot! We both gave this recipe rave reviews. It is just as good, if not better than Popeyes! This version of red beans and rice could not be easier; just toss everything in the crock pot and let it slow cook all day. There is no need to presoak the beans, just toss them in the slow cooker with the rest of the ingredients and cook all day. Simply whip up a pan of cornbread or some biscuits to complete the meal. Comfort food at its best! Don’t miss these red beans and rice!
How to Make Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
These beans are effortless to make. In a large skillet, cook sliced smoked sausage over medium-high heat until it starts to brown. Transfer to the slow cooker. Add dry red kidney beans, onion, water or chicken stock. tomato sauce, garlic clove, green bell pepper, and creole seasoning. Stir and cover the slow cooker. Cook on LOW setting until the beans are tender. Serve the creamy beans over your favorite rice. I love easy slow cooker recipes like this!
Helpful Tips & Frequently Asked Questions
- There is NO need to soak the dry beans before adding them to the crockpot.
- I use Camellia Brand dried red beans.
- What is Cajun seasoning? It is a combination of paprika, salt, garlic, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, and thyme.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Cajun Seasoning: https://www.plainchicken.com/creolecajun-seasoning-secret-recipe/
- If using a store-bought Cajun/Creole seasoning, I suggest a salt-free seasoning to cut down on the sodium in the dish.
- For an extra kick add some hot sauce and fresh chopped jalapeno.
- Can use chicken broth, chicken stock, vegetable broth, or water.
- Can use andouille sausage, smoked sausage, or smoked turkey sausage.
- If you don’t like sausage, you can use some ham hocks.
- For a creamier consistency, use a potato masher to mash some of the cooked beans. If you don’t have a potato masher, you can mash some of the beans on the side of the slow cooker before serving.
- You can use any cooked rice that you prefer – white rice or brown rice works great. I like to use Louisiana Popcorn Rice.
- Short on time? You can cook the beans on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.
- Can I cook Red Beans & Rice on the stove top? Yes! Brown the sausage in a Dutch oven or large saucepan. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer 60 to 90 minutes, until the beans are tender.
- It is not necessary to pan-sear the sausage before adding it to the slow cooker. I like to cook it in the skillet to give it a nice color.
- Store leftovers in an air tight container in the refrigerator.
What to Serve with Traditional Creole Red Beans
You can serve these beans as a side dish, like Popeyes, or as a main dish. Either way, they are delicious! This is the only way I will make red beans and rice! We usually serve these beans with some cornbread or our favorite 2-Ingredient Cream Biscuits. Don’t forget the King Cake Bites!
This recipe will feed a lot of people. Perfect for any upcoming Mardi Gras parties. Give this a try the next time you need a meal the whole family will enjoy. One bite and it is sure to become a favorite meal too!
Looking for more side dishes? Here are a few of our favorite recipes from the blog that go great with this easy slow cooker meal:
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Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
Ingredients:
- 1 pound dried small red beans
- 1 pound andouille sausage or smoked sausage, sliced
- 5 cups water or chicken broth
- 1 cup tomato sauce
- 1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- salt, to taste
- 1 tsp black pepper
- 2 Tbsp Cajun/Creole Seasoning
- 1 clove garlic, crushed
- ½ cup finely chopped onion
- ½ cup finely chopped green pepper, optional
Instructions:
- In a large skillet, cook sliced smoked sausage over medium-high heat until it starts to brown. Transfer to the slow cooker.
- Add remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and cook on low 8-10 hours. Serve over hot white rice.
Notes:
- There is NO need to soak the dry beans before adding them to the crockpot.
- I use Camellia Brand dried red beans.
- What is Cajun seasoning? It is a combination of paprika, salt, garlic, onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, and thyme.
- Here is our recipe for Homemade Cajun Seasoning: https://www.plainchicken.com/creolecajun-seasoning-secret-recipe/
- If using a store-bought Cajun/Creole seasoning, I suggest a salt-free seasoning to cut down on the sodium in the dish.
- For an extra kick add some hot sauce and fresh chopped jalapeno.
- Can use chicken broth, chicken stock, vegetable broth, or water.
- Can use andouille sausage, smoked sausage, or smoked turkey sausage.
- If you don’t like sausage, you can use some ham hocks.
- For a creamier consistency, use a potato masher to mash some of the cooked beans. If you don’t have a potato masher, you can mash some of the beans on the side of the slow cooker before serving.
- You can use any cooked rice that you prefer – white rice or brown rice works great. I like to use Louisiana Popcorn Rice.
- Short on time? You can cook the beans on HIGH for 4 to 5 hours.
- Can I cook Red Beans & Rice on the stovetop? Yes! Brown the sausage in a Dutch oven or large saucepan. Add the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil. Reduce the heat and simmer 60 to 90 minutes, until the beans are tender.
- It is not necessary to pan-sear the sausage before adding it to the slow cooker. I like to cook it in a skillet to give it a nice color.
- Store leftovers in an air-tight container in the refrigerator.
Steph
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Can you adapt this to cook in the Instant pot? We love this recipe, but sometimes I forget to get everything ready in the morning before I head to work. Thanks so much for a great recipe!
Yes – cook on High pressure for 40 minutes and then do a natural release for 20 minutes.
I just came home, (by accident!) with a dozen cans of red kidney beans. Could they be used instead of the dried red beans?
I have this cooking at the moment. I have sampled the juice and it is pretty hot, spice wise.
I will cut back on the cajun spice next time.
Try mashing about 1/2 to 3/4 of the cooked beans with a fork or potato masher then add it back in. This will thicken it and then you still have the rest of the beans full
Can you use canned beans in this recipe or will the beans turn to much cooking so much? This recipe looks really good and I love read beans and rice. It also looks quick and easy and I love quick and easy. Thanks
Do any of you good people out there know of a Crock Pot recipe for Red Beans & Rice w/o the sausage &Tex-Mex flavor? I can't eat anything hot & spicy anymore (though, truth be told, I never much liked it anyway.) I'd like to make the Slow-cook beans/rice with chicken thighs as a one-pot dinner. Any ideas? Any recipes you know? "Foodies" have the best recipes! Thank you all!
Is there anyway to thicken this up a bit? Ive been cooking it for about 8 hrs and its slightly thin..
This baby is in the Crockpot for dinner tonight!! Keeping my fingers crossed. Happy Fat Tuesday y'all!!
So do you have to soak the beans before putting them in the crockpot?
I have dried read beans i want to use up so this will be perfect, thanks!
I tried this for the first time a few weeks ago-came across it on Pinterest. It was delicious! Every bit of this dish was eaten. I used a spicy chicken andouille sausage, instead of the smoked turkey, but followed everything else to the letter. It was spicy (which I love), but a little salty. I don't know if I need to reduce the cajun seasonings or try a different sausage. I have a spicy Chorizo on hand and thinking about trying that one out. I'll let you know how it turns out.
I've never had red beans and rice before but your recipe looked so delicious I just had to try it yesterday. It came out great! My husband and I both loved it. I'm eating it for lunch today and it is even tastier. Thanks!