Slow Cooker Sunday: Red Beans and Rice

May not be a fancy meal but it’s full of nourishment.

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Cook Time: 5 hours on low; 8 hours on high
Serves 4

1 pound ground Italian sausage
1 8-ounce bag dried red beans
4 cups water
1 yellow onion, chopped
1 green bell pepper, coarsely chopped
4 stalks celery, sliced
1 teaspoon dried thyme
1 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper
2 bay leaf
2 teaspoons garlic,  minced
coarse salt and ground pepper, to taste
2 cups long grain rice, cooked


1) Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium-high heat until browned, breaking up chunks and stirring occasionally, about 5-8 minutes.


2) While sausage is cooking, combine remaining ingredients, except rice, in slow cooker. Drain sausage and add to mixture. Stir, cover and cook according to time and temperature above.


3) Twenty minutes before the end of cook time, prepare rice. Remove the bay leaves and serve bean mixture over rice. Enjoy!