Easy Red Beans and Rice with Ground Beef Recipe
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This red beans and rice with ground beef recipe is a twist on traditional red beans and rice. It’s an easy recipe packed with flavor that’s made with ground beef instead of smoked pork.
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Authentic red beans and rice is made with bacon, cured pork, and andouille sausage. It cooks for several hours and has a ton of flavor. This version is a quicker easier version made with less pork, but still has a lot of flavor going on.
If you are in a hurry for a spicy delicious spicy dinner, that the whole family will love, give this red beans and rice with ground beef recipe a try. If you are looking for an easy dinner that is more mild and flavored with ground beef and rice, try my deconstructed stuffed peppers recipe.
If you are looking for authentic red beans and rice recipe, try this one, or you are looking for another healthy cajun recipe, try this keto cajun shrimp creole recipe.
Why you will love this recipe
- It’s a hearty dish that is filled with flavor.
- Red beans and rice with ground beef is an easy recipe that can be ready in less than an hour!
Here is what you will need
This is a brief summary of the ingredients needed to make this beans and rice recipe and a convenient shopping list from my Instacart affiliate link. For a printable recipe card with exact measurements and detailed instructions, scroll down to the recipe card section.
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Ingredients
- Olive oil
- Lean ground beef
- Cajun spice blend
- Andouille sausage
- Canned red kidney beans or red beans
- Onion
- Celery
- Green bell pepper
- Garlic
- Diced tomatoes
- Water
- Bay Leaves
- Rice
🥄Equipment
- Dutch oven or large skillet
- Chef’s knife
- Cutting board
How to make this red beans and rice with ground beef recipe
Prepare the ingredients: Chop the celery, onions and pepper, and garlic cloves. Drain and rinse the beans, and slice the sausage. Measure the tomatoes and water, cook the rice according to the package instructions.
STEP 1. Cook the meat. Heat oil in a skillet over high heat. Once the skillet is hot, add the beef and brown ground beef until it turns pink. Reduce to medium-high heat; sprinkle with cajun seasoning, and stir in the andouille sausage.
STEP 2. Add the vegetables. Reduce to medium heat and stir in the bell peppers, onions and celery. Cook for a few minutes until the vegetables begin to turn soft.
STEP 3. Add the tomatoes, beans, water, and bay leaf. Reduce the heat to low heat to heat. cover, and simmer for at least 20 minutes.
STEP 4. Cover and simmer for at least 20 minutes. Serve with a scoop of cooked rice.
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Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
The complete ingredient list to make this delicious meal is above. Below are notes about some of the ingredients, along with ideas for substitutes.
Ground Beef – Ground beef can be omitted and replaced with another link of sausage. It can also be substituted with an equal amount of ground chicken, ground pork, or ground turkey.
Celery, Bell Pepper, and Onion also known as the holy trinity of cajun cuisine is the base of this recipe as it is several creole and cajun dishes. It adds a ton of flavor there really are no substitutes for this mix of ingredients.
Cajun Spice Blend – I make my own spice blend, here is the recipe for a homemade cajun spice blend. You can also use a packaged spice blend from the supermarket if you don’t want to make your own.
Beans – Red beans look similar to kidney beans, but they are two different types of beans. Red beans are less common than kidney beans and are sold as dried beans. So for the convenience of the can, I use red kidney beans to make red beans and rice.
If you have dried red beans and the time to soak them and cook them, you can use them instead of red kidney beans.
How to store leftovers
This is a great recipe for leftovers because it tastes even better the next day. Store leftover red beans and rice in the refrigerator for up to 4 days in an airtight container, or you can freeze them in a freezer-safe container for up to 3 months.
Defrost frozen red beans and rice in the refrigerator overnight.
Reheat leftovers in the microwave or on top of the stove.
Recipe variations
Mild red beans and rice – For a milder version of this recipe, replace the andouille sausage with smoked sausage such as kielbasa and use a mild cajun spice blend.
Vegetarian red beans and rice – Leave out the ground beef and sausage. Add up to a teaspon of smoked paprika and a pinch of cayenne pepper to taste.
Serving suggestions
Serve red beans and rice with ground beef garnished with sliced green onion and a scoop of cooked white rice or brown rice, salad, roasted brussels sprouts, green beans, and a crusty piece of crusty bread or cornbread.
Tips
- Adding the spices early in the cooking process will make the most flavorful red beans and rice.
- Canned beans can contain a decent amount of sodium, be sure to rinse the beans after draining them to cut back on sodium.
Red beans and rice is fairly healthy. It’s an excellent source of fiber, protein, and veggies.
Yes, you can. Start the recipe in a skillet and when you get to the simmer point. Dump all of the ingredients into a slow cooker and cook on low for 3 to 4 hours.
You can experiment with varieties of beans to make this recipe such as black beans, or pinto beans.
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If you are looking for more easy and delicious ground beef recipes, check out these Grass Fed Ground Beef Recipes!
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Find process photos and variations in the blog post:
Easy Red Beans and Rice with Ground BeefEquipment
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Lean ground beef
- 1 tablespoon Olive oil
- 2 teaspoons Cajun spice blend see the ingredients list in the notes section below for a homemade blend.
- 1/4 pound Andouille sausage 1 link
- 1 can Red kidney beans rinsed and drained
- 1/2 cup Onion chopped
- 1/2 cup Bell pepper chopped
- 1/2 cup Celery chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 cup Diced tomatoes fresh or canned
- 1/4 cup Water
- 1 Bay leaf
Instructions
- Prepare the ingredients: Chop the vegetables: 1/2 cup Onion, 1/2 cup Bell pepper, 1/2 cup Celery, 2 cloves Garlic.
- Cut the sausage link into slices. Drain and rinse 1 can Red kidney beans, measure 1 cup Diced tomatoes and 1/4 cup Water
- Heat 1 tablespoon Olive oil in a skillet over high heat. Once the skillet is hot add the 1/2 pound Lean ground beef and cook until the beef is pink. Add 2 teaspoons Cajun spice blend and the sausage.
- Stir in the peppers, celery onions and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the beans, tomatoes, water and 1 Bay leaf. Reduce the heat to low heat and simmer for at least 20 minutes.
Notes
1 teaspoon sea salt
1 1/2 teaspoons garlic powder
1 teaspoon black pepper
1/2 teaspoon onion powder
1/2 teaspoon oregano
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/4 teaspoon thyme See the article above for recipe tips, and more.
Nutrition
Nutrition information provided is an estimate and can vary based on cooking methods and ingredients used
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