Description
A classic Creole and Southern dish made easy in the Instant Pot, featuring smoky sausage, tender red beans, and flavorful spices. This comforting one-pot meal is perfect served over fluffy white rice and garnished with green onions and hot sauce for a satisfying weeknight dinner.
Ingredients
Scale
Sausage and Vegetables
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound smoked sausage (such as Andouille), sliced
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
Beans and Seasonings
- 1 pound dried red kidney beans, rinsed and soaked (or use the no-soak method)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- ½ teaspoon salt
- 2 bay leaves
- 6 cups chicken broth or water
Additional
- 2 cups long grain white rice, cooked separately
- Chopped green onions, for serving
- Hot sauce, for serving
Instructions
- Sauté Sausage: Set the Instant Pot to Sauté mode. Add olive oil and brown the sliced sausage for 3–4 minutes, stirring occasionally to develop color and flavor.
- Add Vegetables: Add diced onion, green bell pepper, celery, and minced garlic to the pot. Continue cooking for another 3–4 minutes until the vegetables soften and become fragrant.
- Add Beans and Seasonings: Stir in the soaked red beans, dried thyme, paprika, Cajun seasoning, black pepper, salt, bay leaves, and chicken broth or water. Mix everything together well to combine the flavors.
- Pressure Cook: Turn off the Sauté mode. Secure the lid on the Instant Pot and set the valve to sealing. Pressure cook on High for 35 minutes to fully cook the beans and meld the flavors.
- Pressure Release: Allow the pressure to release naturally for 15 minutes, then carefully do a quick release to vent any remaining pressure. Remove the bay leaves from the pot.
- Thicken the Beans: Using a spoon or a masher, press some of the beans against the side of the pot to mash and thicken the mixture slightly for a hearty texture.
- Serve: Serve the red beans over hot cooked white rice. Garnish with chopped green onions and a dash of hot sauce if desired for an extra kick.
Notes
- If short on time, skip soaking and increase pressure cooking to 50 minutes with a 20-minute natural release to ensure beans are tender.
- Adjust seasoning to your taste—add more Cajun seasoning for extra heat and flavor.
- Leftovers freeze well up to 3 months, making this a great make-ahead meal option.
