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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I was too lazy to change out of my PJs and go to the store (all day) to pick up a bell pepper and some Worcestershire, but it still came out AMAZING! So excited!! Love all of your recipes… The sausage cheese muffins are always a hit and this is going to become a regular in my house!!
I LOVED this recipe! Even better with a little bit of chopped up chipotle in adobo sauce for a little more kick plus a teaspoon of liquid smoke. Thanks!
Found you through Pinterest several weeks ago. I made this recipe last week (with quinoa instead of rice because it cooks faster than the brown rice I had)and wanted to tell you it was so good. We are Texans transplated to West Virginia and I swear these people up here think tomato sauce is spicy!! I saw in comments you said the dish wasn't spicy as is, but it was REALLY spicy to us (no complaints here), maybe the Creole seasoning I use is spicier than Cajun seasoning? Anyway, we LOVED it just as it was. Thank you for your blog. I love it!! (I've also made the chicken cordon bleu casserole and making the taco crescent bake tonight).
When I try to save recipe it says the recipe is Garlic Parmesan Crusted Chicken??? and not Red Beans and Rice.
I Googled to see what's in Cajun seasoning, and I'll just make my own with less cayenne pepper. This is from allrecipes that makes 1/4 cup. Just store airtight!
2 teaspoons salt
2 teaspoons garlic powder
2 1/2 teaspoons paprika
1 teaspoon ground black pepper
1 teaspoon onion powder
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1 1/4 teaspoons dried oregano
1 1/4 teaspoons dried thyme
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
I think that the seasonings combination sounds very tasty, and I can't wait to try your recipe!
Thanks for this!
I am currently making this. It has been in the crockpot 10 hours and the beans do not seem to be done. Does it take longer than the 10 hours mentioned in the instructions?
Karijoy – mine was done in 10 hours, but all slow cookers are different. I may take longer in your slow cooker.
Glad I'm not the only one who thinks of "Baby Got Back" when I hear "red beans and rice!"
This looks great!
Sorry, I am late getting here. I was busy doing side bends and sit ups:)
Red beans and rice rock, one of my favorite side dishes but I don't make them often enough. I like how easy your version is!
We have red beans and rice quite often. There is now a packaged red beans…has the seasoning packet that is too perfection. All you do is add your sausage and water.Has directions on the package. It is called Ragin Cajun Fixins..OMG it is wonderful. I'm cajun and you can't beat this product LOL.
Steph I also love your blog. Your recipes are not too fancy for us plain folks and most of the ingredients are in the pantry. I have not been following you long but I pin most your recipes on Pinterest and always have lots of repins.
I love, love, love your blog! You have the best recipes! High five, girl!
This looks really yummy! Sounds like corn bread would go perfectly with it!
This wasn't spicy. You could reduce the Cajun seasoning to 1 tablespoon, but I wouldn't go less than that.
I've never had red beans & rice, and haven't ever had Cajun food because I'd been told it's spicy. I can't handle spice above "Mild" (think Mild salsa or Mild sauce packets @Taco Bell). Should I, then, use only 1 Tbs Cajun seasoning? Or even less? Thanks!
Red beans and rice is one of my hubbies favorite things he picks to cook.
looks good!
This sounds DEEEEEEE-lish! Can't wait to try it.
What a lovely dish! We just have started using our slow cooker and currently on the lookout for slow cooker recipes to try. This one totally caught our attention. We love red beans and we think we'll love this recipe just as much. We're bookmarking this now. Thanks for sharing Steph. 🙂