Recipe – Red Beans And Rice Casserole

Dinner can be less of a stress with this one-dish meal that’s flavorful, comforting, and kid-friendly.

Red beans and rice are a beloved food combination in many cultures around the world. Not only do they provide an abundant source of plant protein, but their combination also has numerous health benefits.

Easy to make

Red beans and rice casserole is an easy weeknight family dinner that takes only minutes to prepare. It features spices, sauteed vegetables, and sausage for a hearty meal everyone will love!

This recipe calls for Zatarain’s Dirty Rice mix, smoked sausage, a can of French fried onions and cream of chicken soup for an irresistibly flavorful casserole. Not only is it simple to make but the best part is that leftovers keep well – perfect for another day!

This dish’s long-grain rice is flavorfully enhanced with chili powder and spices like cumin, oregano and black pepper. Unlike many store-bought mixes that contain fillers, this variety retains more of its original taste.

To prepare this dish, preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease a 2-quart casserole or 8-inch square glass baking dish with cooking spray before mixing together rice, corn, beans, broth, tomatoes and chile in the pan. Cover with lid or foil and bake for 1 hour at 350 degrees F.

Remove the lid or foil, stir, and return to the oven for 5 more minutes. At this point, your rice should be tender and all liquid absorbed.

Serve this simple dish with French bread, turnip greens or a salad for a complete meal. For added protein and flavor, you can add sliced ham or cooked and shredded sausage to the mixture and add chips or cheese on top for extra texture and protein.

This dish is an adaptation of the classic New Orleans Monday meal: red beans and rice. Slow simmered beans are flavored with sausage, vegetables and Cajun seasoning for a flavor that’s irresistible at any time of the week! While traditionally served on Mondays as leftover meat from Sunday night’s supper, you can enjoy this delectable dish any day of the week!

This recipe calls for Vigo brand Authentic Red Beans and Rice, but you can easily substitute other brands of dry red beans to keep this dish more budget friendly. Be sure to rinse the beans prior to use them as this helps reduce their saltiness.

Traditionally served over rice, this dish can also be enjoyed as a side with fried chicken. If you have access to a crock pot, consider making the dish in the morning and then reheating for lunch or dinner later that same day.

Comforting

Red beans and rice casserole are ideal when you need a quick and effortless weeknight family meal. Not only is it deliciously comforting, but it’s also simple to make; plus, once cooked it can be reheated up to four days in an airtight container!

This dish is packed with protein and fiber to keep your kids feeling satisfied for longer. Plus, it freezes well – perfect for school lunches!

Begin by cooking the rice according to its package instructions. Meanwhile, brown the sausage in a skillet with some oil over medium-high heat. Once browned, stir in onion, celery, bell pepper and carrot and cook for 8 minutes more.

Next, drain and rinse any canned beans you have. Mash them up with a fork before adding them to the sausage mixture.

Season the vegetables with Creole seasoning, paprika and cayenne pepper if desired. Saute for several minutes until vegetables have wilted.

Once again, add chicken broth and ground red pepper, simmering for 8 to 10 more minutes. Finally, remove the bay leaves and thyme sprig before serving.

Serve over steamed white rice, or any other long-grain rice of your preference. You could also experiment with this recipe using black beans, pinto beans or canned refried beans for a low carb version of the classic dish.

Vegetarians can opt for vegetarian dishes by leaving out the chicken. Additionally, you could substitute meat with shrimp or scallops.

This red beans and rice casserole is not only flavorful, but it’s also packed with fiber – making it a nutritious and healthy choice for the whole family. Plus, it provides essential minerals like calcium, magnesium, iron, folate and antioxidants!

You can easily make this dish gluten-free by swapping out the chicken for gluten-free turkey or non-dairy alternatives like rice milk. Or you could use another type of rice such as cauliflower rice or quinoa.

This dish is packed with flavor and the ideal blend of spices, so your kids are sure to love it. Plus, they can help make this delicious meal by mixing beans and spices in a large bowl before baking in an oven-safe casserole dish!

Kid-friendly

Red beans and rice casserole is a classic Southern dish from Louisiana that’s packed with flavor. Not only that, but it’s simple to make in just one pot – your entire family will be sure to love it!

When you need a quick weeknight family meal, red beans and rice casserole is the ideal solution. Not only is it ready in no time, but you can even prep ahead of time and bake it later.

You can also freeze this dish to enjoy at a later date. It keeps well in the freezer for up to three months.

This recipe also freezes well for later. Simply reheat it in the microwave or on the stovetop the following day for a delicious lunch or dinner!

This recipe is kid-friendly and made with pantry items you probably already have on hand. Plus, it’s high in fiber and protein so kids will stay full for an extended period of time.

If your child is sensitive to spicy foods, this recipe can be adjusted by substituting the andouille sausage for a regular smoked sausage that lacks the spice. You may also omit the cayenne pepper.

Another way to make this dish milder is by using milder diced tomato and chili sauce. You could also add some adobo sauce for extra flavor.

This dish’s delicious combination of ingredients makes it a family favorite and perfect for packing in school lunches.

Make this meal extra kid-friendly by asking your child to help you assemble the casserole before baking it in the oven. They can stir together beans, salsa and spices before spreading everything out into a baking dish.

Once the casserole has baked, serve it with guacamole and chips for an extra-delicious meal. Plus, this casserole is gluten-free and vegetarian so everyone in the family will love it!

This delectable, nutritious dinner is ideal for any night of the week! For an extra special touch, serve it with dessert! This recipe is an ideal way to get your children interested in trying new flavors – plus it’s so simple to prepare!

Healthy

Red beans and rice, the classic comfort dish, is packed with nutrition – protein, fiber, and various vitamins and minerals. It’s one of the best ways to get your daily servings of plant-based protein and fiber that benefits heart, brain, and bones.

Beans and rice are both low in calories and fat, which makes them ideal for those on a weight loss mission. Furthermore, these nutritious grains supply essential minerals like iron and magnesium – one cup of red beans and white rice offers complete protein as well as folate, phosphorus, calcium, and potassium in one convenient serving size.

Soaking beans before cooking is an effective way to make them healthier. Soaking the beans overnight in water helps reduce their sodium content, making it especially beneficial for people with high blood pressure or heart disease. If using dried beans, be sure to rinse them thoroughly prior to soaking and cooking.

If you don’t enjoy dried beans, canned are another viable option for this dish. Just be sure to check the label for sodium content as many canned versions contain a lot of salt.

To prepare this recipe, begin by soaking red beans in plenty of water overnight. Then, simmer until tender. Next, add rice and seasonings; heat through until heated through.

This casserole takes only minutes to make and makes the ideal weeknight family dinner. You can easily double or triple this recipe and freeze some for later.

It’s also ideal for meal prepping. Freeze individual portions of rice and beans in freezer bags, then reheat as needed to enjoy a nutritious and flavorful meal.

Beans and rice combine to provide all nine amino acids, making them a powerful source of protein for the heart. Plus, the combination helps you feel fuller for longer – ideal if you’re trying to shed some pounds! Plus, beans and rice also provide essential nutrients like fiber and iron. So if you’re searching for something new to try in the kitchen, why not give this healthy twist on an old favorite a go?

Approximate Prep Time

• 10 minutes

Approximate Cook Time

• 30 minutes

Approximate Total Time

• 40 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 cup small onion (105g)
• 1 cup medium green pepper (105g)
• 1 cup medium red pepper (105g)
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 12 ounces beef sausage, sliced (240g)
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1 16-ounce can of red beans, rinsed and drained (450g)
• 1 10-ounce can Diced Tomatoes and Chilies (280g)
• 1 ½ cups Minute Rice White Rice (300g)
• 1 ½ cups chicken broth (360g)
• 1 cup cheddar cheese, shredded (80g)

Preparation Directions

• Heat oven to 350 degrees F.
• Spray a 9 x 13-inch baking dish with cooking spray and set aside.
• Heat the olive oil in a large pan on medium-high heat.
• Add the onions, red peppers, and green peppers and cook, occasionally stirring, until vegetables are tender, about 8 minutes.
• Add the garlic and cook, stirring for a minute more.
• Add in the sausage and red beans and stir.
• Mix in the can of undrained diced tomatoes and chilies, the rice, and the chicken broth. Stir well.
• Transfer to the baking dish and top with shredded cheddar cheese.
• Cover the baking dish with foil and bake for 30 minutes.

Servings

• About 8 servings

Ready to eat!