Slow Cooker Sausage & Red Beans

Looking for a cozy, hearty dinner that practically cooks itself? This Slow Cooker Sausage & Red Beans is packed with smoky sausage, creamy red beans, tender vegetables, and flavorful spices. Everything slowly simmers together until the beans are tender and the broth becomes rich and savory.

Serve it over fluffy white rice with a sprinkle of fresh parsley or green onions for a comforting meal the whole family will love. It’s budget-friendly, filling, and perfect for busy weeknights!

🛒 Ingredients

• 1 lb smoked sausage or kielbasa, sliced
• 3 cans (15 oz each) red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 medium onion, diced
• 1 green bell pepper, diced
• 2 celery stalks, diced
• 3 cloves garlic, minced
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 1 can (14.5 oz) diced tomatoes
• 1 tbsp tomato paste
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp dried thyme
• 1 tsp dried oregano
• 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
• 1/2 tsp black pepper
• 1 bay leaf
• 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
• Salt, to taste
• 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley or green onions, for garnish
• Cooked white rice, for serving

👩‍🍳 Instructions

1. Prepare the sausage

Slice the sausage into bite-size rounds. For extra flavor, quickly brown the sausage in a skillet over medium-high heat for 3–4 minutes. This step is optional but gives the finished dish a delicious smoky, caramelized flavor.

2. Add everything to the slow cooker

Place the sausage, red beans, onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic into the slow cooker.

Add the diced tomatoes, tomato paste, chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, Cajun seasoning, black pepper, and bay leaf.

Stir everything together.

3. Slow cook

Cover and cook on LOW for 6–7 hours or HIGH for 3–4 hours.

The vegetables should be tender and the flavors nicely blended.

4. Make it creamy

For a thicker, creamier bean mixture, mash about 1 cup of the cooked beans against the side of the slow cooker with a spoon, then stir them back into the mixture.

Cook for another 15–20 minutes.

5. Taste and finish

Remove the bay leaf. Taste and add salt or additional Cajun seasoning if needed.

Garnish with fresh parsley or sliced green onions.

6. Serve

Spoon the sausage and red beans generously over hot cooked white rice and serve immediately.

💡 Pro Tips

• Brown the sausage first for deeper flavor.
• Use smoked sausage, kielbasa, or andouille-style sausage depending on how spicy you like it.
• Mash some of the beans to naturally thicken the sauce.
• If you like heat, add cayenne pepper or diced jalapeño.
• Don’t add too much salt at the beginning because smoked sausage and broth can already contain plenty.
• Leftovers are even more flavorful the next day!

🍚 Serving Ideas

Serve with:

• Steamed white rice
• Brown rice
• Cornbread
• Crusty French bread
• Steamed green beans
• Simple green salad
• Sautéed cabbage

📊 Yield & Nutrition

Yield: 6 servings
Prep time: 15 minutes
Cook time: 6–7 hours on LOW
Total time: About 7 hours 15 minutes

Estimated per serving, including rice, and depending on the sausage and brands used:

• Calories: ~520
• Protein: ~25g
• Carbohydrates: ~58g
• Fat: ~22g
• Fiber: ~12g
• Sodium: ~1,050mg

Nutrition values are estimates and can vary.