One Pot Red Beans and Rice is an easy and affordable recipe that the entire family will love. Get a taste of the south in under 30 minutes!
Today we’re talking quick-fix, super simple dinner recipes that require just ONE pot to cook the entire meal.
(Which means there’s just ONE pot to clean at the end. Game changer!)
That said, One Pot Red Beans and Rice is in heavy rotation at my house!
If you’ve been reading IGE for any length of time then you know that my husband and I love traveling to the south. From New Orleans, to Savannah, and Charleston, we cannot get enough of the culture and food, and I love to recreate the dishes we’ve had on our travels in my Iowa kitchen.
We’ve been lucky enough to eat Red Beans and Rice at New Orlean’s Desire Oyster Bar and Mother’s Restaurant, and the memories are seared into my brain. Traditionally the dish is slow cooked in a saucy, savory gravy then served over rice but I’ve adapted it to cook in under 30 minutes and in just one pot.
Southerners, bear with me because although this version is nontraditional, it’s so simple and delicious. Red Beans and Rice inspired, if you will. I promise you’ll love it!
Not only is this one pot meal a super quick fix, but it’s extremely affordable and wholesome, too. We’re talking rice, beans, vegetables, and protein. Hot sauce optional — but recommended!
How to Make this Recipe
Start by draining a 15oz can red beans. Red beans are different than kidney beans, as they come pre-seasoned and are very creamy (one of the reasons I can’t stand kidney beans is because they’re so chalky, right?)
Drain off the packing liquid but keep some of the flavor by not rinsing them off as you’d do with a can of kidney beans or black beans, for instance.
While the beans are draining, add 1 small green bell pepper, 2 stalks celery, and 1 shallot or 1/2 small onion that have been finely chopped to a large dutch oven or soup pot over medium heat with 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil.
Season with Cajun seasoning (I like Emeril’s Essence,) then place a lid on top and saute until the vegetables are nearly tender, stirring occasionally, about 5 minutes.
Turn the heat up to medium-high then add 12oz sliced gluten-free andouille or kielbasa sausage and saute until the sausage begins to brown and the vegetables are completely tender, another 5 minutes. Add 3 cloves minced garlic then saute for 30 more seconds.
Note: andouille sausage is spicy so if you are wanting to serve this dish to the spice-averse, or kids, stick with kielbasa which is a mild smoked sausage.
Next add 1-1/2 cups long grain white rice, 3 cups gluten-free chicken broth, the drained beans, and more Cajun seasoning then turn the heat up to high and bring the liquid to a simmer.
Place a lid on top then turn the heat down to low (the liquid should barely be at a simmer!) and simmer for 10 minutes. Remove the pot from the heat then let sit for 5 minutes before taking off the lid and fluffing with a fork.
Last step is to taste then add more Cajun seasoning if you like, then scoop into bowls and dig in.
I’d recommend serving this One Pot Red Beans and Rice with a side salad or gluten-free corn bread. Enjoy!
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 small green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 ribs celery, finely chopped
- 1 shallot or 1/2 small onion, finely chopped
- Cajun seasoning, see notes
- 12 oz gluten-free Andouille or Kielbasa sausage, sliced, see notes
- 3 cloves garlic, pressed or minced
- 1-1/2 cups long grain white rice, Lundberg Jasmine Rice recommended
- 15 oz can red beans, slightly drained, Bush's recommended
- 3 cups chicken broth
Directions
- Heat oil in a large, 6-quart Dutch oven or pot with high sides over medium heat. Add bell pepper, celery, and shallots, season with Cajun seasoning then saute with the lid on, stirring occasionally, until vegetables are nearly tender, 5 minutes. Turn heat up to medium-high then add sausage and continue sauting with the lid off until sausage is slightly browned and vegetables are tender, 5 minutes. Add garlic then saute until very fragrant, 30 seconds to 1 minute.
- Add rice, red beans, chicken broth, plus more Cajun seasoning then turn heat up to high to bring broth to a simmer. Place the lid back on top then turn heat down to medium-low (no higher!) and simmer for 10 minutes. Take the pot off the heat then let sit for 5 more minutes, covered, before removing the lid and fluffing with a fork. Taste then add more Cajun seasoning if desired and serve.
Notes
- I keep a batch of homemade Emeril's Essence on hand for Cajun seasoning.
- Andouille sausage is spicy so if you are serving this dish to kids or people who are sensitive to spice, use kielbasa instead.
Nutrition
Nutritional values are estimates only. Please read our full nutrition information disclaimer.
This was so good! Used Aidell’s andouille, which is so spicy, and Slap yo Mama Cajun seasoning. The flavors were amazing! I think next time, I’ll use two cans of beans. Maybe less sausage (I’m a total wuss). I can’t wait to make this again! Any dish where you can stir in the rice to cook has my heart.
SAME. So glad this was a hit, April! Thank you so much for your feedback and recipe rating!
Have made this several times! Have you tried Zatarain’s Cajun Style smoked sausage? (It is GF too.) It’s got a nice kick but more mild than Andouille. It’s my favorite to use in this recipe.
I am planning to make this for the first time next week. Can you tell me about how much of the Cajun seasoning you use? I’m not the best cook, and I don’t want to over or under (more likely) season the dish. Thanks!
Oh my gosh! This recipe was so good!! I absolutely loved it and will be making it for some friends of mine in the very near future.
Thanks so much for this recipe AWESOME, Best Dish I have had in a long time.
Very good recipe. We enjoyed it!
This is yummy. I used only one cup of rice and added more celery and peppers, but otherwise stuck to the recipe and we enjoyed it a lot. I served it with a green salad and it was a low fat, quick, simple, satisfying, one-pot dinner.
Great recipe! Husband loved it and kids liked picking out the yummy sausages. And it was quick and easy!
Wohoo – a hit with the whole family. I love it! Thanks for the feedback and recipe rating, Jenn!
Amy Keller asked for publication of your GF Chex Mix. That recipe is fabulous. I just tried the GF Red Beans & Rice. Also FANTASTIC!!!! Thanks
your recipe
I made 3 changes – I used Emeril’s Creole Seasoning; Kielbasa – I like the flavor better and I used Organic Red beans – because there is no MSG in them. Also used Better than Bouillon Chicken base – no MSG and low sodium in that. Other than that – great recipe.
Is the rice raw when you add it to the pot? I ask because rice usually takes 30 minutes to cook but this recipe only has it cooking for 10 minutes.
Reading your question about whether the rice is added raw or cooked because rice usually takes 39 minutes to cook, but the recipe says only 10 min.
I hope I will get a reply.
*30 min.
Hi Alice! It is added uncooked. If you need additional time/liquid for your particular brand of rice, please feel free to adjust the recipe to accommodate!
Could you substitute dried red beans instead of canned? (Soaked of course so they’re softened a bit)
Hi Chloe! I’m not sure how the cooking time would be affected with soaked vs cooked beans so I might cooke them separately then add.
Would this freeze well?
I haven’t tried freezing this recipe but I think it could work well!
I have frozen it in 1 – 1-1/2 cup servings in freezer bads and it works out fine on the re-heat – which I take to the office for lunch with some crusty French bread and butter. Yum!!!!