This post contains affiliate links. For more information, visit my disclosure page

The other day I came across a recipe for red beans and rice on Miz Helen’s Country Cottage blog. I love beans of any kind, and they are so good for you. I have never seriously attempted making red beans and rice from scratch. I have always bought Zatarain brand in a box. Since I have  started eliminating processed foods I had to try this recipe. Miz Helen’s recipe is for a slow cooker. Since I am home today I thought I would use my dutch oven which I love almost as much as my slow cooker 🙂 ( I did change the recipe slightly I used what I had on hand)

Red Beans and Rice

4 slices crisp cooked bacon

1 lb package Johnsonville chicken sausage with cheese and chipotle peppers (It’s what I had on hand)

2 cups cooked red beans

2 cups cooked brown rice

1 can tomato sauce

1 yellow onion diced

1 green pepper diced

2 cloves garlic minced

1 tsp oregano

1 tsp Red Hot sauce

1 tbsp worcestershire sauce

cayenne pepper to your taste (I used 2 tsp)

4 cups water

crisp bacon in dutch oven

remove and drain on paper towel

saute peppers, onions and garlic in bacon fat

add sliced sausage

add oregano

add cooked beans

add tomato sauce, Red Hot sauce, worchestershire sauce and 4 cups water

add cayenne pepper, bring to a boil, simmer on low 4 hours ~ Miz Helen didn’t say in her recipe what to do with the crisp bacon so I ate one piece and put the other 3 crumbled in the pot 🙂

Pour over cooked rice

We topped it with fresh grated Parmesan. It was so good. Smelled great cooking.