Monday, February 27, 2012

Easy Crockpot Red Beans and Rice


With Mardi Gras being last week, several people asked me about my Red Beans and Rice. I have a super easy way to make them using the crockpot. A friend of mine showed me this way while we were down in Louisiana a couple months back and it’s turned out to be my favorite way to make them. Of course, I’ve adapted, but the concept is the same and they are delicious this way!  What you see is the Red Beans and Rice with a very unique way of making cornbread, which I’ll have to share later. We always eat ours with cornbread, so make some to go along with it! This is also not the traditional recipe using tomato paste, because I can't stand it like that, to be quite honest. So here you have it:


What you'll need:
  • 1 pound of red beans
  • 1 med chopped (minced, or however you like) white onion
  • 1 pound cooked Andoille sausage (you'll see me with smoked sausage because Andoille can only be found in one place here and at the time it was sold out. So in a pinch, yes, you can use smoked sausage)
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Tony Cachere's seasoning (or if you can't find it, use soul seasoning)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • Instant Brown Gravy (powdered. If you can't find the jar, you can use packets)
  • Brown or White Rice


What you're gonna do:
  • First you need to rinse and throw out any funky looking beans. Pour in your crockpot. I use a 6 qt for this one, but it works fine on 4 qts as well. 
  • Add your chopped onion, sausage, bay leaf and season to your preference. If you aren't used to Tony's, then I'd suggest going light at first until the end when you can taste test to preference.
  •  Cover with water at least one inch. If you are going to be leaving them, I'd suggest adding to cover about 3 inches to ensure they don't dry out. You can always remove water if you need to later. However, you can't unburn your beans. Just sayin'.
  • Turn on low for approximately 6 hours or high for 4 hours. 
  • Keep an eye on the water level, and add as necessary. Don't let it dry out!! Keep it to where there is plenty of room for the beans and sausage to flow freely because you are going to make a gravy with it next.
  • About an hour before it is time,  add the instant brown gravy. I don't have an exact number for you, but I would start with 6 tablespoons. Check after 15 minutes and add more brown gravy mix if it's not thickening. Remember, you need to have enough water in there for this!! If you need more water, add it. If you have too much water, remove some. If you want more gravy, add more water and more mix. Easy fix!
  • Once your gravy is the consistency you want it, let it simmer for another 30-45 minutes or so. 
  • This is where I like to prepare my rice. This is a good opportunity to use brown rice because you really cannot tell the difference. 
  • Once it's ready, remove bay leaf and taste test to determine if you need more salt, pepper, or Tony's.
  • Add rice to a bowl and top with red beans and rice. Sorry, I already mixed mine up!

Hope ya'll enjoy! If you have any questions, ask!!

Sharing with: 
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18 comments:

  1. Yum! I was just pondering what was for dinner:)

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  2. YUM!!! I love beans and rice of any kind. And cornbread. Yes, I'm a GRITS. LOL
    Oh and I love to follow my followers back! :)

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  3. Yum yum yum!! That looks and sounds SO DELICIOUS :)

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  4. Thanks for linking up to Toot Your Horn Tuesday! I am now your newest Linky Follower :)

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  5. This sounds so yummy -- can you believe I've never had red beans and rice? I don't know why -- I'm from St. Louis and they have a HUGE Mardi Gras celebration week complete with the food... lol. Maybe I'll have to try this recipe. It looks so good.

    And YES -- please share your cornbread recipe soon. I LOVE the stuff :)

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  6. Thanks everyone! And don't feel bad Stephanie. I hadn't had them until last year and I've been married to my husband almost 7 years :) I'll definitely get that cornbread up soon. It's so simple and quick!

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  7. This recipe sounds so good! I love trying new crockpot recipes, and I love rice! I have it 3 or 4 times a week.
    Im a new follower from "Toot your Horn".

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  8. This looks delicious! I love red beans & rice. I have a linky party going on @ my blog & would love to have you join in if you have the chance! Thanks!
    http://cookingwithkaryn.blogspot.com

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  9. Erika-- this looks fantastic. I adore a good bowl of red beans & rice. Back in college, we would get our "fix" of this at Popeye's! Yours looks awesome! So, so happy you were able to link up to Mop It Up Mondays. It's always great to "meet" a new friend. I noticed you're an Army wife, if you ever end up on Fort Hood, let me know! We live K-town and most of my friends are Army wives (sometimes I think we may be the only civilians in town!). I'm sure we'd have a fabulous time!!
    {HUGS},
    kristi

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  10. I make a version of this my family loves it.

    Following you on the Linky Follower Hop. I am your newest linky follower.

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  11. This looks good! I'm your newest follower from the blog hop...If you get a chance, I'd love you to stop by my blog & maybe follow along too!
    Sally
    loveofhomes.blogspot.com

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  12. Red Beans and Rice is an all time favorite here at The Cottage. Your recipe is awesome! Hope you have a great week end and thank you so much for sharing with Full Plate Thursday.
    Come Back Soon!
    Miz Helen

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  13. This looks great and fairly easy to make (?)! Thanks so much for sharing at Two Sasters! We are your newest followers:)

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  14. Looks delicious and I love crockpot cooking...so convenient! Thanks for sharing at the Rock 'N Share!

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  15. Looks yummy!!

    Found you in the hop! New GFC and Linky Follower, Hope you will follow me back!

    http://giveawayhog.blogspot.com/

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  16. My hubby loves Red beans and rice...that looks yummy! Thanks for stopping by my blog and becoming by 1400th follower :) Following you back!

    http://www.wherenothinggoodcomeseasy.com

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  17. That looks so easy! My favorite kind of recipe! I am not the best cook.....so easy is my favorite category.

    blessings,
    karianne

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I love to hear from ya'll!! It's always nice to hear from friends, new and old. I love to chat back, and I usually like to through email, so make sure you are not a no-reply comment. It makes me sad :(