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A wooden spoon holds a serving of red beans and sliced sausage in a thick, savory sauce, perfect for anyone seeking classic red beans and rice recipes, with a blurred background of a pot.

Table of Contents

Red beans, sausage, onion, celery, and Creole seasoning make a hearty bowl to serve over rice. The slow cooker handles the long simmer while the beans soften and the broth develops flavor.

🍽️ A Quick Look at the Recipe

Recipe Name: Crockpot Red Beans and Rice

⏱️ Ready In: 6 hours in the slow cooker, plus preparation

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 Serves: 4

🥣 Main Ingredients: Red beans, sausage, onion, celery, Creole seasoning

📖 Dietary Info: Contains meat; check sausage, bouillon, and seasoning labels

🔥 Flavor Profile: Savory, smoky, and Creole-spiced

⭐ Best For: A hearty dinner

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Why You’ll Love This Recipe

  • Sausage and Creole seasoning flavor the beans.
  • The slow cooker handles the long simmer.
  • Mashing some of the cooked beans thickens the broth.

Key Ingredients

Dried red beans: Check the bean variety before cooking. For dried red kidney beans, rinsing alone is not enough: soak and boil them separately before slow cooking. Follow Kansas State Extension’s dried-bean preparation guidance and allow that preparation time in addition to the slow-cooker time.

Sausage: Chicken andouille and smoked sausage add savory flavor. Keep the recipe amounts as listed in the card.

Onion, celery, and garlic: Dice or mince them so they distribute through the beans.

Bay leaves, bouillon, and Creole Kick: These season the cooking liquid. Serve the finished beans over separately cooked rice.

Useful Kitchen Tool

AB’s Premium Garlic Press can help prepare the garlic before it goes into the slow cooker.

How to Make Crockpot Red Beans and Rice

  • Rinse and drain the beans. If using dried red kidney beans, first soak them for at least 5 hours, drain, and boil in fresh water for at least 30 minutes before adding them to the slow cooker. Allow this preparation time in addition to the slow-cooker time.
  • In your trusty 5-quart (or larger) slow cooker, combine the red beans, chicken Andouille sausage, smoked sausage, diced onion, diced celery, minced garlic, bay leaves, water, beef bouillon cubes, and Creole Kick seasoning blend. Give it all a good stir to mix everything together.
A person wearing black gloves adds chopped celery and onions to a slow cooker filled with kidney beans, perfect for making red beans and rice. Measuring cups with water and a cutting board are nearby, inspiring easy red beans and rice recipes.
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A slow cooker filled with sliced sausage, chopped celery, chopped onions, and red beans—perfect for a classic red beans and rice recipe—sits on the counter with a measuring cup of water next to it.
A person wearing black gloves and a navy apron adds a spoonful of seasoning from a jar into a slow cooker filled with chopped onions, celery, sausage—perfect for classic red beans and rice recipes.
A person wearing black gloves and a dark apron adds seasoning from a jar into a slow cooker filled with chopped celery, onions, and sausage—prepping an instant pot red beans and rice recipe with measuring cups of water and spices on the counter.
A measuring cup pours water into a slow cooker filled with sliced sausage, chopped onions, and green bell peppers—perfect ingredients for classic red beans and rice recipes.
  • Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to cook on high for 6 hours.
  • Once the beans are tender and creamy, you can optionally mash some of them against the side of the pot to thicken the broth.
A close-up of a slow cooker filled with red beans and sliced sausage in a thick, savory sauce, being stirred with a wooden spoon—perfect for those searching for classic red beans and rice recipes.
  • Serve your Crockpot Red Beans and Rice piping hot over a bed of fluffy white rice. Don’t forget to ladle plenty of that delicious broth over the top for maximum flavor!
A person holds a blue bowl filled with white rice topped with red beans and sausage, serving this classic red beans and rice from a slow cooker.

Expert Tips and Tricks:

  • For extra depth of flavor, sauté the diced onion, celery, and garlic in a skillet until softened before adding them to the slow cooker.
  • If you like a bit of heat, feel free to add a splash of hot sauce or a pinch of cayenne pepper to the broth.
  • Refrigerate leftovers promptly in shallow containers within 2 hours, or within 1 hour above 90°F. Use within 3–4 days and reheat to 165°F, adding a little water or broth if needed to loosen the beans.

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A wooden spoon holds a serving of red beans and sliced sausage in a thick, savory sauce, perfect for anyone seeking classic red beans and rice recipes, with a blurred background of a pot.
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Crockpot Red Beans and Rice Recipe

5 from 3 votes
Prep: 15 minutes
Cook: 6 hours
Total: 6 hours 15 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Hey y’all, AB here, bringing you a taste of Southern comfort straight from my kitchen to yours. Today, we’re diving into a classic dish that’s near and dear to my heart: Crockpot Red Beans and Rice. Picture this – tender beans simmered in a rich, flavorful broth, mingling with savory sausage and aromatic spices. It’s the kind of meal that warms your soul and fills your home with irresistible aromas. So grab your apron and let’s get cooking!
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Ingredients  

  • 1 lb dried Red Beans
  • 1 Link Chicken Andouille Sausage, quartered
  • 1 Links Smoked Sausage, sliced
  • 1 Yellow Onion, diced
  • 1 Celery Rib, diced
  • 4 Garlic cloves, minced
  • 3 Bay Leaves
  • 6 Cup Water
  • 2 Beef Bouillon Cubes
  • 1 Tablespoon Creole Kick seasoning blend

Instructions 

  • Rinse and drain the beans. If using dried red kidney beans, first soak them for at least 5 hours, drain, and boil in fresh water for at least 30 minutes before adding them to the slow cooker. Allow this preparation time in addition to the slow-cooker time.
  • In your trusty 5-quart (or larger) slow cooker, combine the red beans, chicken Andouille sausage, smoked sausage, diced onion, diced celery, minced garlic, bay leaves, water, beef bouillon cubes, and Creole Kick seasoning blend. Give it all a good stir to mix everything together.
  • Cover the slow cooker with the lid and set it to cook on high for 6 hours.
  • Once the beans are tender and creamy, you can optionally mash some of them against the side of the pot to thicken the broth.
  • Serve your Crockpot Red Beans and Rice piping hot over a bed of fluffy white rice. Don’t forget to ladle plenty of that delicious broth over the top for maximum flavor!

Notes

  • Check the bean variety. Dried red kidney beans need the separate soak-and-boil preparation in step 1; the slow cooker does not replace that step.
  • Mash some of the tender cooked beans against the pot to thicken the broth; cook the rice separately for serving.
  • Refrigerate leftovers promptly in shallow containers within 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F. Use within 3–4 days and reheat to 165°F.

Nutrition

Serving: 1g | Calories: 220kcal

Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.

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Variations:

  1. Vegetarian adaptation: Omit both sausages and replace the beef bouillon with a vegetarian bouillon. Add vegetables such as bell peppers, carrots, or mushrooms, and check seasoning labels. This changes the original meat-based recipe.
  2. Spicy Kick: Amp up the heat with extra Creole seasoning, jalapeños, or a dash of hot sauce.
  3. Smoky Flavor: Use smoked paprika or add a ham hock to the slow cooker for a smokier taste.
  4. Creole Chicken: Swap out the sausage for diced chicken thighs for a lighter take on this classic dish.
  5. Cajun Shrimp: Stir in some peeled and deveined shrimp during the last 30 minutes of cooking for a seafood twist.
  6. Mexican Fusion: Add a can of diced tomatoes, a splash of lime juice, and a handful of cilantro for a Tex-Mex flair.
  7. Italian-Inspired: Replace the Creole seasoning with Italian herbs and spices like oregano, basil, and thyme.
  8. Coconut Curry: Substitute coconut milk for some of the water and add curry powder, turmeric, and ginger for a tropical twist.
  9. Mediterranean Style: Throw in some diced tomatoes, kalamata olives, and capers for a taste of the Mediterranean.
  10. BBQ Beans: Stir in a few tablespoons of your favorite barbecue sauce for a sweet and smoky flavor profile.

What to Serve It With:

For specific side-dish recipes, try Buttermilk Biscuits, Deviled Egg Potato Salad, or Southern Hush Puppies.

  1. Fluffy White Rice
  2. Brown Rice
  3. Quinoa
  4. Cornbread
  5. Garlic Bread
  6. Steamed Vegetables
  7. Collard Greens
  8. Coleslaw
  9. Potato Salad
  10. Fried Plantains

About AB

Aaron “A.B.” Brown, a self-taught culinary maestro, has carved his flavorful path into the hearts and kitchens of millions. With over 3.6 million devoted YouTube subscribers, he’s become a household name for those seeking culinary expertise.

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5 from 3 votes (3 ratings without comment)

1 Comment

  1. Heston says:

    Made this for the Family tonight, WOW! Thank you for making this easy and now they think I can cook!!! Only thing I did different was I only added 4 1/2 cups of water.