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This red beans and rice is jam-packed full of authentic New Orleans flavor, but made in Instant Pot for a quicker and easier Cajun meal! With no shortcuts, just simple ingredients like dried red beans, andouille sausage, and plenty of spices. Filling, satisfying, and budget-friendly, you’ll come back to this recipe over and over, just like we do. From our Southern family.
Why This Recipe Is So Good
- Soft beans, Cajun-seasoned andouille sausage, and fresh veggies with a heaping side of rice and a dash of Tabasco makes the most delicious, warm, family-friendly dinner without having to make a trip to New Orleans.
- Red beans and rice cooked in the Instant Pot is so easy, but still full of all the rich flavors and perfect textures of a traditionally cooked recipe. Even better? You don’t have to soak your beans!
- We like our Instant Pot red beans and rice with a slice of cornbread – this is a complete meal for us! The slightly sweet cornbread dipped into the spicy beans is the ultimate flavor explosion.
How To Make It
- Heat the neutral oil in an Instant Pot on Sauté mode at normal heat. Add the sausage and sauté, stirring occasionally, until both sides are browned. Remove the sausage with a slotted spoon and set the side.
- There will still be some oil left in the Instant Pot from step 1. Add the beans, onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to that, and sauté until softened.
- Add the rest of the ingredients except the rice, and secure the lid. Cook Manual High Pressure for 45 minutes. After time is up, let naturally release for 20 minutes.
- Mash everything with a potato masher until at desired texture. Add about 1/2-1 teaspoon of salt and stir. The beans should be soft and a little soupy. If you desire a thinner consistency, add an additional cup of water.
- Serve with a large scoop of rice. Garnish with the green onions. Serve with hot sauce, like Tabasco, if desired. The extra spice and acidity adds the perfect Cajun touch!
Chef’s Tips
- If you can’t find dried kidney beans, you can use dried small red beans. You’ll want to cook them for 50 minutes on manual high pressure instead.
- No need to soak your beans prior to making this recipe. If your beans are soaked, however, cut your cook time down from 45 minutes to 20, then check to make sure they are soft.
More Instant Pot Dinner Recipes
- Instant Pot Frozen Chicken Thighs
- Dreamy Instant Pot Chicken and Rice
- Instant Pot Pulled Pork
- Instant Pot Chicken and “Rice” Soup (Whole30, Low Carb)
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
Loaded with New Orleans flavor, this super easy red beans and rice recipe is made in the Instant Pot.
servings
Equipment
- Instant Pot or pressure cooker
Ingredients
- 1 pound dry kidney beans
- 2 tablespoons neutral oil
- 1 pound andouille sausage sliced
- 1 large onion chopped
- 1 red bell pepper chopped
- 2 tablespoons garlic minced
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 4 cups chicken stock
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- ½ teaspoon oregano
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 1 tablespoon dried parsley
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 6 cups cooked white rice from 2 cups dried
- green onions greens thinly sliced, for garnish
- salt to taste
- hot sauce to serve, optional
Instructions
- Heat oil in Instant Pot on Sauté mode at normal heat. Add sausage and sauté, stirring occasionally, until both sides are browned. Remove with a slotted spoon and set the side.
- To oil remaining in Instant Pot from first step, add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to that, saute until softened.
- Add rest of ingredients except rice and garnishes, and secure the lid. Cook Manual High Pressure for 45 minutes. Let naturally release for 20 minutes.
- Mash everything with a potato masher until at the desired texture. Add about 1/2-1 teaspoon of salt and stir. Beans should be soft and a little soupy. If you desire a thinner consistency, add an additional cup of water.
- Serve with a large scoop of rice. Garnish with the green onions. Serve with hot sauce, like Tabasco, if desired.
- No dried kidney beans: Use dried small red beans and cook them for 50 minutes on manual high pressure instead.
- Soaked beans: Cut your cook time down from 45 minutes to 20, then check to make sure they are soft.
Approximate Information for One Serving
Calories: 681calProtein: 30gFat: 29gSaturated Fat: 8gCholesterol: 68mgSodium: 923mgPotassium: 888mgTotal Carbs: 73gFiber: 8gSugar: 5gNet Carbs: 65gVitamin A: 1075IUVitamin C: 30mgCalcium: 76mgIron: 5mg
Nutrition Disclaimers
Number of total servings shown is approximate. Actual number of servings will depend on your preferred portion sizes.
Nutritional values shown are general guidelines and reflect information for 1 serving using the ingredients listed, not including any optional ingredients. Actual macros may vary slightly depending on specific brands and types of ingredients used.
To determine the weight of one serving, prepare the recipe as instructed. Weigh the finished recipe, then divide the weight of the finished recipe (not including the weight of the container the food is in) by the desired number of servings. Result will be the weight of one serving.
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I agree with the comments that it wasn’t enough time for the beans. I followed the instructions; then I added 2 cups of water and put it on steam for another 30 minutes. Then I added an extra cup of water afterwards to make it a proper thickness. Aside from that, it was perfect!
Thanks for the helpful tip, Carley! So glad you enjoyed them.
The cooking time recommended is not nearly long enough. Beans are still tough and crunchy, and there’s not enough liquid left in the pot.
Hi Caroline, sorry you had that issue! We didn’t run into that with the 45 minute cook time and the 20 minute natural release. Did you have your Instant Pot on high pressure? Was the vent secured in the sealing position for the duration?
One other thing to check would be the sealing ring on the Instant Pot lid – if it’s slightly out of place, worn, or just not getting a good seal, the pressure cooker won’t behave the way it should. That’s typically the problem when the liquid evaporates.
I hope you’ll give this one another try!
Not sure what happened but the beans were not at all cooked. Not even close 🤷🏻♀️ put them in for anothee 30 minutes and maybe it’ll be a meal for tomorrow. Has to order pizza for tonight.
So sorry that was your experience, G! We haven’t run into that issue. Double check the sealing ring on your Instant Pot to make sure it’s fitted properly in place and not worn out, as that will definitely affect the time and results.
I love this recipe and make it all the time
Thrilled to hear this! Thanks for sharing.
Camilla. Brand red beans is yum!
Great tip!
Left out the sausage (by choice) this time and ended up cooking the beans 55 minutes to get to the texture we like. Added 1 teaspoon of liquid smoke for some extra flavor. So easy and SO GOOD!
Sounds delicious, Logan!
How would you do this in a slow cooker? Also, I would use canned beans.
Thanks