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Cozy Red Beans and Rice with Smoked Sausage

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A comforting and hearty dish featuring smoky sausage, tender red beans, and fluffy rice, perfect for cozy evenings and easy weeknight meals.

Ingredients

Scale
  • 1 1/2 cups dried red kidney beans or 3 cans, drained and rinsed
  • 12 oz smoked sausage, sliced (preferably Andouille)
  • 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice
  • 1 medium onion, finely chopped
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, diced
  • 2 celery stalks, diced
  • 3 garlic cloves, minced
  • 4 cups chicken broth (low sodium preferred)
  • 2 bay leaves
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme or 1 teaspoon fresh thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 tablespoons olive oil

Instructions

  1. If using dried beans, rinse 1 1/2 cups dried red kidney beans and soak overnight in cold water (about 8 hours) or quick soak by boiling for 2 minutes then letting sit covered for 1 hour. Drain and rinse before cooking.
  2. Heat 2 tablespoons olive oil in a large Dutch oven or heavy-bottomed pot over medium heat. Add diced onion, green bell pepper, and celery. Cook until softened and fragrant, about 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  3. Add minced garlic and cook for 1 minute more. Then add sliced smoked sausage and sauté until lightly browned, about 3 minutes.
  4. Stir in soaked or canned red beans. Pour in 4 cups chicken broth, ensuring beans are fully submerged. Add bay leaves, smoked paprika, thyme, cayenne (if using), salt, and pepper. Bring to a gentle boil.
  5. Reduce heat to low, cover partially, and simmer, stirring occasionally. Simmer 45-50 minutes for dried beans until tender but not mushy; if using canned beans, simmer 20-25 minutes to meld flavors. Add more broth or water if mixture becomes too thick.
  6. While beans simmer, rinse 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice until water runs clear. Cook rice separately according to package instructions (typically 2 cups water to 1 1/2 cups rice, simmered covered). Fluff with a fork when done.
  7. Remove bay leaves from the beans. Taste and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper if needed.
  8. Serve by spooning a generous portion of rice onto plates and ladling the red beans and sausage mixture over the top.

Notes

If beans seem watery near the end, uncover and increase heat slightly to reduce liquid for a thick, stew-like consistency. Avoid over-stirring to prevent beans from breaking down too much. Use Andouille sausage for authentic smoky flavor, but kielbasa or other smoked sausages work well. For vegetarian version, omit sausage and use smoked paprika and liquid smoke with mushrooms or smoked tofu. Brown rice can be substituted for white rice but requires longer cooking time.

Nutrition

Keywords: red beans and rice, smoked sausage, comfort food, Cajun recipe, easy dinner, weeknight meal, Andouille sausage, hearty meal

Find it online: https://jodierecipes.com/cozy-red-beans-and-rice-with-smoked-sausage-easy-homemade-recipe-for-comfort-food/