Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
10 Comments Sep 12, 2023
Updated Jul 25, 2025
This post may contain affiliate links. Please read our disclosure policy.
Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice is a soul food classic that is a must try—packed with flavorful kielbasa, red beans, fresh veggies, and southern seasonings.
Featured Comment
“Delicious meal that even my kids liked! Would definitely make this again.”
– Stephanie
My Slow Cooker Red beans and rice is a southern food that can be enjoyed any time of the year! The beans are tender and take on the creole and sausage flavor. This recipe I created tastes as good as any stove-top version, and much easier!
Key Ingredients
Here is what you need to make red beans from scratch. Find the full recipe in the recipe card below the images.
Red Beans: You will want to find small red beans (NOT KIDNEY BEANS). Kidney beans should not be cooked in a slow cooker (see recipe notes in the recipe card).
Vegetables: You’ll need a yellow onion, green bell pepper, and a celery rib, all classic vegetables for red beans with rice.
Sausage: I like to use polska kielbasa (this is the ring of sausage). You can use Andouille sausage if you can find it.
Chicken Broth: This adds flavor to the broth of the beans, rather than just water.
Seasonings: Onion powder, garlic powder, bay leaves, and Creole seasoning combine to make the best-tasting flavor for this dish.
How to Make Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
- Load your slow cooker with the red beans, sausage, veggies and more.
- Let that simmer away all day – let those beans get ultra tender and mingle with the other ingredients.
- Mix it up and serve as desired (see my serving tips below!)
Tips & Variations
Substituting canned beans: This recipe is designed for dried beans and will not yield the same results if you use canned beans.
Extra spice: Add a diced jalapeno or poblano pepper for a touch of heat to the beans.
Vegetarian: To make vegetarian, skip the sausage. Add some cubed sweet potatoes and use veggie broth.
Meat Swap: Use a ham hock, diced ham or cooked bacon instead of kielbasa – it will still be just as good!
Serving Suggestions
Here are our favorite ways to serve crockpot red beans and rice
- Per the recipe name, the red beans and sausage can be served over steamed white rice. If you prefer a healthier version, serve a nice helping over brown rice or cauliflower rice.
- When it comes to pairing this delicious meal with sides, you can’t go wrong with coleslaw, corn on the cob, cornbread, a wedge salad, or collard greens. Any of these options are sure to make this comfort food a satisfying meal.
Should red beans be soaked before cooking in the slow cooker?
No, red beans are small and will cook up great on the high setting of the slow cooker. You can soak the beans if desired, which can cut down on the cooking time.
Can I add uncooked rice to red beans and rice?
No, the slow cooker does not get hot enough to cook the rice properly. Adding rice to the pot will make it more like a soup with rice, rather than beans over fluffy rice, which is what we want.
Slow Cooker Red Beans and Rice
How to Video
Ingredients
- 1 lb dried small red beans, (not kidney beans) No need to presoak the beans
- 1 yellow onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 1 celery rib, diced
- 24 oz. polska kiełbasa sausage, sliced
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 cups water
- 1 tsp. onion powder
- 1 tsp. garlic powder
- 1 Tbsp. creole seasoning, (I use Tony Chachere's creole seasoning)
- 2 bay leaves
Instructions
- Chop and prepare all ingredients and add to a 6 quart (or bigger) slow cooker.
- Give a stir, then cover and cook on HIGH for 6-7 Hours.
- In the last 2 hours of cooking, stir the beans intermittently, it will help them to cream up.
- Serve over white rice.
Sarah’s Notes
Nutrition
Nutrition info is auto-generated. This information is an estimate; if you are on a special diet, please use your own calculations.
More Slow Cooker Bean Recipes
Sweet and smoky, Apple Pie Baked Beans and Baked Beans with Little Smokies are unique, crowd-pleasing sides perfect for barbecues or holiday meals. Slow Cooker Lima Beans are simple, buttery, and perfect alongside cornbread or ham.
For a hearty and flavorful combo, try Country Style Ribs and Baked Beans—a slow-cooked meal that’s both comforting and satisfying.
Charro Beans and Pinto Beans and Chicken are packed with bold, savory flavors and make great additions to any Tex-Mex dinner.
I use dried kidney beans never had a problem. That’s the basis of red beans and rice
I use small red beans.
What about canned red beans?
Canned red beans have already been cooked, so no toxin problem. Though I have not teste the recipe with canned beans for it would be entirely different.
Can any type of onion be used? Not just yellow?
Great recipe! On the nutritional information, what serving size is that? A cup? Two cups?
I do not measure that, I apologize.
Can I cook this on low instead? How long on low?
It usually takes about 9-10 hours on low.
Delicious meal that even my kids liked! Would definitely make this again.