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Home » Recipes » Quick Dinners

Louisiana Red Beans and Cauliflower Rice

Published: Apr 15, 2020 · Modified: Jan 27, 2022 by Sara Vaughn · 20 Comments

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Don't skimp out on flavor for tonight's dinner. This traditional southern Louisiana Red Beans and Cauliflower Rice will have you singing the blues in a good way, of course!

Louisiana red beans and cauliflower rice being served from a white skillet into dark grey bowls over cream colored plates and black forks.

Red Beans and Rice is a real southern Louisiana classic dish. This dish has bold flavors, but it’s easy enough to enjoy any night of the week! Made with andouille sausage, simple veggies, red beans, and all the Cajun spices, it’s bound to become a family favorite fast.

Our daughters got their love of southern flavors from me. I grew up in the south, and in the south, recipes are known for being big and bold and completely filled with flavor. Just ask any southern grandma the amount of spices in her famous dish, and she will probably respond with a pinch, dash, or sometime along those lines. My husband didn't grow up in the south, and his mother didn't exactly cook, as he would say "edible" meals. He would describe the food cooked when he was a child as bland.

When we got married, his dad was still cooking chicken in the microwave—not even kidding. We had dinner with him, and his idea of dinner was chicken with a little salt and pepper, cooked in the microwave. I think his new wife has done him some good in that department and took him to a few cooking classes over the years, and now he is a MUCH better cook. My father-in-law, though, has always loved the spice, well, hot sauces. He likes to find the hottest ones he can find, and he will put them on everything. With his love for spice, this dish is one he would love. I might just add it to my list to make him next time we have them in town.

Luckily for my husband, this dish is anything but bland, and it's a huge family favorite for those nights we want something a little extra without a lot of work.

What makes this so delicious?

The ingredients in Louisiana-style red beans and rice are really simple, yet they yield a beautiful flavor combination of smokey and hot that anyone who knows good cajun food will enjoy!

  • Olive Oil
  • Onion
  • Celery
  • Green Onion
  • Andouille Sausage - I use Aidell's Cajun Sausage
  • Garlic
  • Cajun Seasoning - See below for my blend.
  • Chicken Broth
  • Red Kidney Beans
  • Sage
  • Salt
  • Pepper
  • Bay Leaf
  • Parsley
  • Cayenne - For some extra heat if desired.
Making Louisiana red beans and cauliflower rice

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How to Make Red Beans and Cauliflower Rice

This version of this recipe has all the traditional flavors of the southern classic, but it uses canned beans to help make it come together in a flash so you can enjoy it any night of the week, including a Tuesday!

  1. Heat the oil in a large dutch oven or pot.
  2. Add in the sliced sausage and allow it to start browning.
  3. Add in all the fresh veggies and let them start to brown and become fragrant.
  4. Add in the fresh garlic and the Cajun spices.
  5. Add in the chicken stock and beans.
  6. Add additional spices to taste for extra heat.
  7. Bring the mixture to a low boil, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Let it simmer on low for about 15 minutes.
  8. Remove the lid and allow it to continue to simmer another 15 minutes, occasionally stirring as needed.
  9. Serve it over cauliflower rice and garnish with fresh parsley.
  10. Sit back and enjoy all the soul of the south in every bite!

Type of Beans Used to Make Red Beans and Cauliflower Rice

Traditionally red beans are most often used to make this dish. They are smaller beans that look like pinto beans, but they have a more distinct red color to them. If those aren't available (especially already canned), using red kidney beans is entirely acceptable. I prefer the final texture that the red beans leave over the kidney beans since they tend to break down easier. Either way, this dish still has amazing flavor no matter which ones you decided to use.

Cajun Spice

While you can easily buy a ready-made Cajun spice mixture, I am a huge advocate for making my own blends. This way, I know there is a smaller chance of the spice mixture containing filler ingredients or anti-caking ingredients containing gluten or grains.

Ingredients

  • 2 TBS Smoked Paprika
  • 2 TBS Salt
  • 2 TBS Garlic Powder
  • 1 TBS Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 TBS Ground White Pepper
  • 1 TBS Onion Powder
  • 1 TBS Dried Oregano
  • 1 TBS Dried Basil
  • 1 TBS Dried Thyme
  • 1 - 2 TBS Cayenne (depending on desired heat level)

Mix everything into a small bowl until combined. Store it in a sealed container or jar until ready to use.

Tailwind for Pinterest

How to Make Cauliflower Rice

I'm going to give you my total favorite cheater way to make cauliflower rice. BUY IT FROZEN. Okay, this might not be such a secret, but I promise it makes life so much easier. I've learned a few tips and tricks to make sure you end up with a texture very similar to that of rice and not a mushy bowl of mashed cauliflower instead.

  • Cook it from frozen - DO NOT thaw cauliflower rice before you try to cook it. Trust me; if you do, you will end up with mush.
  • Do NOT add any oil/ cooking fat to your pan - Cook the cauliflower rice.
  • Cook it over HIGH heat - This might sound weird to say. Still, I find cooking the cauliflower rice over medium-high heat helps not only for the water in frozen cauliflower to evaporate faster, but it also adds the nice little crisp bite that is more reminiscent of rice.
  • Serve it right away - Cauliflower rice is like broccoli; it cools off very fast, and nobody wants cold cauliflower.

What to Serve With

I love this dish classically accompanied with the cauliflower rice. You could use traditional rice if you can tolerate that as well. Some southern biscuits (recipe in book) are also good choices or even a simple side salad.

More Recipes to Enjoy

Beef Tips and Gravy

Salisbury Steak

Slow Cooked Boneless Shot Ribs

Easy Loaded Vegetable Marinara

Louisiana style red beans and cauliflower rice in a white pan with a wooden handle sitting over a white table linen on a marble counter.
Louisiana style red beans and cauliflower rice in a white pan with a wooden handle sitting over a white table linen on a marble counter.

Louisiana Red Beans and Cauliflower Rice

Sara Vaughn
Don’t skimp out on flavor for tonight’s dinner. This traditional southern Louisiana Red Beans and Cauliflower Rice will have you singing the blues in a good way, of course!
5 from 9 votes
Print Recipe Pin Recipe
Prep Time 10 mins
Cook Time 20 mins
Total Time 30 mins
Course Main Course
Cuisine American
Servings 4
Calories 437 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 2 TBS Olive Oil
  • 1 Small Onion diced
  • 4 Stalks Celery diced
  • 1 Large Green Bell Pepper diced
  • 12 Oz Andouille Sausage sliced, I like Aidell's Brand Cajun for this dish.
  • 4 Cloves Garlic minced
  • 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning See above or in notes for my blend.
  • 3 C Chicken Broth
  • 2 16 Oz Cans Red Kidney Beans
  • ½ teaspoon Ground Sage
  • 1 ½ teaspoon Salt
  • ½ teaspoon Pepper
  • 1 Bay Leaf
  • 2 teaspoon Parsely
  • ½ teaspoon Cayenne Optional, if you want a little extra heat.

Instructions
 

  • Heat the olive oil over medium heat, in a large stockpot, or dutch oven.
  • Add the diced onions, celery, and bell peppers and cook them until the vegetables start to soften and become fragrant.
  • When the vegetables are fragrant, add the sliced sausage and garlic until the garlic becomes fragrant and the sausage starts to brown.
  • Next add in the chicken broth, red beans, and spices.
  • Bring the mixture to a boil, then cover and reduce the heat to low.
  • Allow it to continue cooking, covered, for 15 minutes.
  • Remove the lid and allow it to continue to cook, stirring occasionally, another 15 minutes.
  • Gently mash some of the red beans to help thicken the sauce. The sauce will thicken more as it cooks and cools
  • Serve over your prepared cauliflower rice (see notes above) and enjoy!

Notes

I like to make my own cajun seasoning since many have anti-caking ingredients that can contain gluten. It's really easy to do.
 
My favorite blend:
Ingredients
  • 2 TBS Smoked Paprika
  • 2 TBS Salt
  • 2 TBS Garlic Powder
  • 1 TBS Ground Black Pepper
  • 1 TBS Ground White Pepper
  • 1 TBS Onion Powder
  • 1 TBS Dried Oregano
  • 1 TBS Dried Basil
  • 1 TBS Dried Thyme
  • 1 – 2 TBS Cayenne (depending on desired heat level)
Mix everything into a small bowl until combined. Store it in a sealed container or jar until ready to use.
 
Keyword cajun, cauliflower rice, louisiana, red beas,

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment, rate it, and don't forget to tag a photo #grainfreetable or @grainfreetable on Instagram. I'd love to see what you come up with!

Originally Posted 02/25/2020

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Comments

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    Recipe Rating




  1. Jan says

    December 05, 2021 at 6:04 pm

    How can the cook time be 20 minutes when it has to cook for 15 minutes covered and 115 minutes uncovered?

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      December 07, 2021 at 12:43 pm

      Jan, I am not sure where you saw 115 minutes uncovered? It should be about 10-15 minutes covered and then uncovered. Total cook time 20-30 minutes.

      Reply
  2. Alexandra says

    January 23, 2022 at 6:37 pm

    5 stars
    So delicious and full of flavour!

    Reply
  3. Jamie says

    January 23, 2022 at 6:48 pm

    5 stars
    This was so delicious! The perfect balance of flavors!

    Reply
  4. Sue says

    January 23, 2022 at 8:54 pm

    5 stars
    I love how full of flavor this is!

    Reply
  5. Jeannie says

    January 24, 2022 at 12:51 am

    5 stars
    can I use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth? this looks delicious and a complete meal for me.

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      January 27, 2022 at 9:52 am

      Absolutely, you can use vegetable broth instead of chicken.

      Reply
  6. Kayla DiMaggio says

    January 24, 2022 at 9:02 am

    5 stars
    These red beans and rice was so delicious! I loved how easy they were to make and enjoyed them with the cauliflower rice!

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      January 27, 2022 at 12:49 pm

      I am happy you found these red beans and cauliflower rice delicious.

      Reply
  7. Stine Mari says

    January 24, 2022 at 10:58 am

    5 stars
    This is perfection! So flavorful and delicious.

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      January 27, 2022 at 12:48 pm

      It is one of my favorite recipes; glad you enjoyed it.

      Reply
  8. Michelle says

    January 24, 2022 at 4:51 pm

    5 stars
    This is so Yummy!

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      January 27, 2022 at 12:47 pm

      I am so happy you found it yummy.

      Reply
  9. Lexa says

    January 24, 2022 at 7:04 pm

    5 stars
    This was so flavorful! My family loved it!

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      January 27, 2022 at 12:46 pm

      So happy your family loved it just as much as mine.

      Reply
  10. Addie says

    January 24, 2022 at 10:51 pm

    5 stars
    Loved these flavors together!

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      January 27, 2022 at 12:45 pm

      Glad you enjoyed this recipe.

      Reply
  11. Emily says

    June 17, 2022 at 9:07 am

    Recipe looks great! Excited to try it. For the canned beans, do they need to be drained and rinsed? Thx!

    Reply
    • Sara Vaughn says

      June 17, 2022 at 9:09 am

      Emily, in all honesty, it doesn't matter. If you prefer to rinse your beans, go ahead. If you want it a little more saucy, don't rinse them. I've done it both ways and it taste delicious.

      Reply
      • Emily says

        June 17, 2022 at 10:42 am

        Got it! Thx!

        Reply

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