Slow Cooker Red Beans & Sausage

Name: Slow Cooker Red Beans & Sausage
Prep time: 50 min
Cook time: 8 h
Total time: 8 h 50 min
Yield: 8 servings (2-3/4 quarts).
Cuisine: North America, Cajun
Ingredients: 1 pound dried red beans; 1 tablespoon olive oil; 1 pound fully cooked andouille sausage links, cut into 1/4-inch slices; 1 large onion, chopped; 1 medium green pepper, chopped; 2 celery ribs, finely chopped; 3 teaspoons garlic powder; 3 teaspoons Creole seasoning; 2 teaspoons smoked paprika; 2 teaspoons dried thyme; 1-1/2 teaspoons pepper; 6 cups chicken broth; Hot cooked rice

TOTAL TIME: Prep: 50 min. + soaking Cook: 8 hours YIELD: 8 servings (2-3/4 quarts).

Being from Louisiana, my go-to comfort food is red beans and rice. The Crock-Pot makes it so easy and the recipe reminds me of Sunday family dinners going back generations. Serve it as a slow-cooker side dish or make it a meal with hot buttered corn bread. —Lisa Bowie, Las Vegas, Nevada

Ingredients

1 pound dried red beans
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 pound fully cooked andouille sausage links, cut into 1/4-inch slices
1 large onion, chopped
1 medium green pepper, chopped
2 celery ribs, finely chopped
3 teaspoons garlic powder
3 teaspoons Creole seasoning
2 teaspoons smoked paprika
2 teaspoons dried thyme
1-1/2 teaspoons pepper
6 cups chicken broth
Hot cooked rice

Directions

1. Rinse and sort beans. Place in a large saucepan; add water to cover by 2 in. Let soak, covered, overnight. Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid.
2. Return beans to saucepan; add water to cover by 2 in. Bring to a boil. Boil 15 minutes. Drain and rinse beans, discarding liquid.
3. In a large skillet, heat oil over medium-high heat. Brown sausage. Remove with a slotted spoon. Add onion, green pepper and celery to skillet; cook and stir until crisp-tender, 5-6 minutes.
4. In a 5- or 6-qt. slow cooker, combine beans, sausage, vegetables and seasonings. Stir in broth. Cook, covered, on low until beans are tender, 8-10 hours.
5. Remove 2 cups of the bean mixture to a bowl. Mash gently with a potato masher. Return to slow cooker; heat through. Serve with rice.

Nutrition Facts

1-1/3 cups (calculated without rice): 283 calories, 14g fat (4g saturated fat), 77mg cholesterol, 1534mg sodium, 43g carbohydrate (4g sugars, 27g fiber), 25g protein.