Slow Cooker Rice and Beans

This Slow Cooker Rice and Beans recipe is a simple, hearty dish that works as either a side dish or a full main course. It’s filled with chicken sausage, red beans, and veggies in a tasty sauce that tastes amazing over rice with your favorite fixings.

If you are looking for more crockpot side dishes, you can also try these Pinto Beans, Baked Beans, or Crockpot Cheesy Potatoes.

This dump-and-go crockpot recipe is full of chicken sausage and veggies, giving it great flavor while it cooks. Serve over long grain white rice and top with sour cream, diced avocado, and fresh cilantro for a hearty complete meal or simple side dish.

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Below, you will find tips on recipe substitutions, how to cook beans and rice on the stove top, how to use dried beans, and more. It’s also a great recipe to freeze for later, so be sure and make plenty.

A white serving bowl with Slow cooker beans and rice, a recipe full of sausage, rice, and beans in crock pot.

Key Ingredients

Onion – you will need 1 whole yellow or white onion, diced finely.
Bell Pepper – I like to use red bell peppers, but any other color would work great.
Celery – you will need about 3 whole stalks of diced celery for this recipe.
Chicken Sausage – I like to use Andouille sausage, but any similar sausage will work. It should be sliced before adding to the slow cooker.
Beans – red kidney beans work great, although black beans and rice are also delicious. Be sure to drain and rinse the beans before adding them. Note that the cook time in this recipe is for canned beans. See below for more information on using dried beans in this recipe.
Hot Sauce – I love using Frank’s Red Hot Sauce, but if you like another use that instead.
Herbs and Spices – this recipe calls for dried thyme, garlic powder, and bay leaves. You could use fresh thyme if you have it. A little bit of Old Bay Seasoning would also taste great. To make things a bit spicier, add a little chili powder or cayenne pepper.
Rice – for beans and rice, I prefer long grain rice that is chewy and will absorb moisture and flavor. With that being said, don’t hesitate to serve over brown rice or wild rice if that’s what you prefer!

A large ladle full of slow cooker red beans and sausage.

How to Make Crock Pot Beans and Rice

Add ingredients to the crock pot. In a slow cooker, add the onion, red pepper, celery, sliced chicken sausage, beans, salt, pepper, hot sauce, thyme, garlic powder, bay leaves, and chicken broth.
Cook. Cover the slow cooker and cook on low for about 3-4 hours, on high for about 2 hours, or until the onions are tender. Once cooked, remove the bay leaves and add more salt and pepper to taste if desired.
Serve. To serve, add about 1/2 cup of your favorite cooked rice to each bowl and top with the beans and sausage. Enjoy!

Best slow cooker beans and rice with sausage in a slow cooker.

Recipe Variations

For a spicy Tex-Mex variation, add black beans, corn, diced green chilies, and Tex-Mex seasonings like chili powder, cumin, and jalapeños.
Create a Creole-style dish with red kidney beans, Andouille sausage, and Cajun spices like paprika, thyme, and cayenne pepper.
Combine shredded chicken, green chilies, and a touch of sour cream for a creamy and mildly spicy slow cooker dish.
To make a vegetarian version, load up your slow cooker with a variety of seasonal vegetables, such as zucchini, eggplant, and bell peppers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use dry beans in the slow cooker?

Yes, you can absolutely use dry beans in this recipe. However, you will either need to cook the beans separately first (read our entire post on how to cook beans in a slow cooker here) or extend the cook time to about 8 hours on low heat or 6 hours on high heat.

Can I make this on the stove top?

Yup! It won’t be quite as hands-off, but making Red Beans and Rice on the stove top is still very simple and quite fast. Just saute the onion, pepper, and celery in a little cooking oil in a skillet over medium heat first. Next, add the sliced sausage and cook, then add the rest of the ingredients and simmer gently until warmed through.

How long should I cook sausage, beans, and rice in a slow cooker?

If you use canned beans, it should take around 3-4 hours on low or about 2 hours on high for the onions to become tender. If you use dry beans, plan on increasing the time to about 8 hours on low heat or 6 hours on high heat.

Can I cook the rice in the slow cooker with the beans?

You can try adding the uncooked rice to the slow cooker along with the rest of the ingredients. Just increase the cooking time to about 4-6 hours on low or about 3-4 hours on high – until the rice is cooked. You may need to add 1-2 cups of water to the mixture so keep an eye on it while it cooks.

Storing and Reheating Instructions

Refrigerator: allow beans to cool to room temperature, then store in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Freezer: freeze the beans and sausage mixture in an airtight container (or freezer bags) for up to 2 months. You’ll want to transfer to the refrigerator overnight (or at least 6 hours) before using.
To reheat: transfer to a saucepot and add a splash of water. Heat over medium stirring occasionally until the beans are warmed through. If you are reheating a small portion, you can also reheat in the microwave for about 30-60 seconds on high.

More Recipes That Use Beans

This rice and beans slow cooker recipe is an easy dump-and-go meal that everyone loves. It’s full of sausage, red beans, and veggies and couldn’t be easier to make.

Categories:

Chicken, Crockpot, Dairy-Free, Easy Weeknight Meals, Fall Recipes, Main Dish, Nut-Free, Rice, Sides, Winter Recipes,

Very tasty!
The whole family loved it. Only had Italian sausage, but it was still great!
When I make it again, I will use less broth because it came out very soupy.

Slow Cooker Beans and Rice