Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice with Andouille Sausage

Instant Pot red beans and rice gets its smoky, savory flavor from browned Andouille sausage, the Cajun trinity of onion, bell pepper, and celery, garlic, and Cajun seasoning. The pressure cooker softens dried red beans without soaking, while mashing a cup of the cooked beans helps thicken the broth into a creamy sauce.

The sausage is browned first, then set aside while the vegetables soften and loosen the browned bits from the pot. The beans pressure-cook with broth and seasonings before the sausage returns for the finish. Serve the beans over rice prepared separately, then top with chopped scallions and fresh parsley.

Dr. J’s Kitchen

Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice with Andouille Sausage

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Dried red beans pressure-cook with Andouille sausage, Cajun aromatics, and seasonings for a creamy, smoky dish served over rice.

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Servings: 6 servings

Course: Main Course

Cuisine: Cajun & Creole

Ingredients Method Video

Ingredients

  

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• 1 lb. Andouille sausage, cut into ½-inch rounds
• 1 lb. dry red beans, rinsed and picked over Camilla’s brand is recommended in the source.
• 3 T avocado oil
• 1 onion, finely diced
• 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
• 2 celery ribs, finely diced
• 3 garlic cloves, peeled and minced
• 4 C low-sodium chicken broth or water
• 2 tsp. Cajun seasoning
• ½ tsp. smoked paprika
• ½ tsp. dried thyme
• 2 bay leaves
• chopped scallions and fresh parsley, for topping

Method

 

1. Rinse the beans and pick through them to remove any stones. The source says soaking is not necessary.
2. Set the Instant Pot to Sauté Normal and add the avocado oil. When the pot is hot, add the sausage and brown for 6–8 minutes. Remove the sausage and set it aside, leaving the browned bits in the pot.
3. Add the onion, bell pepper, and celery. Cook for 3 minutes, stirring as the vegetables release moisture and loosen the browned bits. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute more.
4. Press Cancel. Add the broth or water, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, thyme, bay leaves, and beans. Stir, secure the lid, and pressure-cook on Manual/More for 45 minutes.
5. When the timer ends, press Cancel and quick-release the pressure. Once the pin drops, remove the lid.
6. Remove 1 cup of beans, mash them, and return them to the pot with the reserved sausage. If the sauce is too loose, use Sauté More to reduce it to the desired thickness.
7. Serve over cooked rice and top with chopped scallions and fresh parsley.

Video

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Do the red beans need to be soaked?

No. The source specifically says to rinse and pick through the dried beans, then cook them without soaking. It notes that soaking can reduce the cooking time slightly, but the supplied recipe uses a 45-minute pressure-cook time for unsoaked beans.

How to thicken the beans

Mashing one cup of cooked beans and stirring them back into the pot helps create a creamier sauce. If the sauce is still looser than you prefer, the source suggests reducing it with the Instant Pot on Sauté.

Frequently asked questions

How should I serve red beans and rice?

Serve the red beans over rice prepared separately, with chopped scallions and fresh parsley on top.

When do I add the sausage back?

After pressure-cooking the beans and quick-releasing the pressure, return the reserved sausage to the pot with the mashed beans.

Watch Dr. J Make Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice with Andouille Sausage

Watch Dr. J make Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice with Andouille Sausage and see how it comes together.