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Red Beans and Rice

Name: Red Beans and Rice
Prep time: 15 min
Cook time: 120 min
Yield: 6
Ingredients: 1 lb dried red kidney beans, soaked overnight; 1/2 lb smoked sausage or andouille, sliced; 1 ham hock or 1/4 lb ham; 1 onion, chopped; 1 green bell pepper, chopped; 2 stalks celery, chopped; 4 cloves garlic, minced; 2 bay leaves; 1 tsp dried thyme; 1 tsp Cajun seasoning; 1/2 tsp cayenne; 8 cups water or chicken stock; Salt and black pepper; 4 cups cooked white rice, for serving

Creamy red beans slow-simmered with smoked sausage and seasonings, served over fluffy white rice — a New Orleans Monday tradition.

⏱ 15 minPrep time

🔥 120 minCook time

🍽 6Servings

🏷 DinnerCategory

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Red beans and rice is the Monday tradition of New Orleans — creamy red beans slow-simmered with smoked sausage, ham, and the holy trinity, served over rice. For generations, Monday was wash day, and beans could simmer all day on the stove while the laundry got done.

The Monday tradition of New Orleans

Creamy red beans slow-simmered with smoked sausage and seasonings, served over white rice.

Perfect rice is the foundation here — our How to Cook Perfect Rice Every Time covers ratios, rinsing, and resting.

Louisiana / Cajun-Creole recipes →

Step by stepInstructions

Drain the soaked beans. In a large pot, brown the sausage, then add the onion, bell pepper, and celery and cook 5 minutes. Add the garlic.
Add the beans, ham hock, bay leaves, thyme, Cajun seasoning, cayenne, and water. Bring to a boil, then simmer gently for 2 hours, stirring occasionally.
When the beans are creamy and tender, remove the ham hock, shred the meat, and return it to the pot.
Mash some beans against the pot to thicken. Season with salt and pepper.
Serve over hot white rice.

💡 Chef tips & storage

Mash some of the beans against the side of the pot near the end — that's what makes the gravy creamy. Serve with a scoop of rice and a bottle of hot sauce.

Recipe details

Prep15 min

Cook120 min

Servings6

CategoryDinner

PublishedAugust 16, 2026

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

Hi, I'm Emily — the cook behind My Comfort Recipes. Simple, tested comfort food for real weeknights, written down the way grandma would. Pull up a chair. More about me →

Red Beans and Rice

The Monday tradition of New Orleans

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Red Beans and Rice

The Monday tradition of New Orleans

Step by stepInstructions

💡 Chef tips & storage

Rate this recipe

Recipe details

Hi, I'm Emily 🧡

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