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Authentic New Orleans Style Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice

A close-up serving of slow cooker red beans and rice topped with slices of smoked sausage on a white plate.
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Make classic Cajun comfort food with minimal effort using your slow cooker. This recipe delivers rich, smoky flavor with tender beans, perfect for a hands-off weeknight dinner.

Ingredients

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  • 1 pound dried red kidney beans, rinsed (no need to soak)
  • 1 pound smoked ham hock
  • 1 pound smoked andouille sausage, sliced into rounds
  • 1 large yellow onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 6 cups chicken broth
  • 1 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust to your spice preference)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • Cooked white rice, for serving

Instructions

  1. Place the rinsed red kidney beans and the smoked ham hock into the basin of your slow cooker.
  2. Add the sliced andouille sausage, chopped onion, bell pepper, and celery. This combination forms your ‘holy trinity.’
  3. Stir in the minced garlic, thyme, smoked paprika, and cayenne pepper.
  4. Pour the chicken broth over all the ingredients. Add the bay leaf.
  5. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for 8 to 10 hours, or on high for 4 to 5 hours.
  6. About 30 minutes before serving, remove the ham hock. Shred the meat from the bone, discarding the bone and any excess fat, and return the shredded meat to the slow cooker. Discard the bay leaf.
  7. Stir the beans well. If the mixture seems too thin, remove the lid and cook on high for the last 30 minutes to allow some liquid to evaporate. The beans should be creamy.
  8. Taste and add salt and black pepper as needed. Remember the sausage and ham hock add saltiness.
  9. Serve the red beans and rice hot over cooked white rice.

Notes

  • For a creamier texture, mash about 1 cup of the beans against the side of the slow cooker before serving.
  • If you do not have smoked ham hock, you can substitute with 1 cup of smoked ham hock broth or 1/2 cup of liquid smoke added to the broth, though the texture will change.
  • This recipe is excellent for meal prep; it freezes well.

Nutrition

Find it online: https://blissbatter.com/slow-cooker-red-beans-and-rice/