Slow Cooker Red Beans & Rice

One of the easiest meals I make is Red Beans and Rice and I make them in the slow cooker. The recipe below is Cajun approved by my husband, so I like to think it's a pretty good one. 

Red Beans and Rice (Slow Cooker)

1 pound dried red beans

3 celery ribs, chopped

1 green bell pepper, chopped

1 yellow onion, chopped

3 garlic cloves, minced

1 box of prepared Beef broth or Stock

1 tablespoon Creole seasoning

1 Bay leaf

Salt and Pepper

3/4 pound Andouille (or smoked sausage), thinly sliced

Hot cooked long-grain rice

Hot sauce (optional)

Garnish: finely chopped green onions, finely chopped red onion

Combine first 9 ingredients and 4 cups water in a slow cooker. Cover and cook on High 7 hours or until beans are tender.

Remove some of the beans with a slotted spoon; mash up on a plate with a fork and return to slow cooker. Add in sausage and cook until warmed through (if using a fattier sausage you might choose to render it first).

Serve red beans over hot cooked rice, and, if desired, hot sauce. Garnish with sliced green onions if desired.

Bon Appetit!