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Instant Pot New Orleans Red Beans and Rice is loaded with creamy beans, vegetables, spices, and a flavorful combination of meats. This classic Louisiana staple is easy to make and bursting with incredible flavors. Say hello to your new favorite comfort food!
Add these classic New Orleans recipes to your repertoire: New Orleans Seafood File Gumbo, Dirty Rice, Baked Mac n Cheese, Stewed Okra and Tomatoes, Corn Maque Choux, Pecan Pralines, and Beignets.
As a New Orleans native, red beans and rice were a huge part of my diet growing up. In fact, 8-year-old me might have mistaken it for one of the 5 major food groups. I know that many kids get tired of eating the same dishes over and over, but those kids probably weren’t from New Orleans.
One of the best food cities in the world, New Orleans is widely known for its insanely delicious Creole cuisine. From gumbo, jambalaya to beignets, and po-boys, one thing is certain: The Creoles know how to do comfort food. Red beans and rice was one of my all-time favorite meals as a kid, and it still is to this day.
I still remember walking in circles around the house to distract myself from the mouthwatering smells wafting from the pot. Red beans and rice was the kind of dish that took the entire day to cook, so you smelled it long before you could taste it. With the invention of the Instant Pot, meals like this yield the same amazing flavors in a fraction of the time. Now, instead of waiting hours for it to cook, you can whip it up in just an hour and a half.
If you like food that is both incredibly delicious and beyond easy to make, then it’s safe to say you’re going to love this Instant Pot New Orleans Red Beans and Rice recipe. Serve it up alongside a scoop of rice and some crusty bread to soak up some of the sauce for the ultimate comfort food meal.
Red Beans and Rice Ingredients
To make this delicious pot of New Orleans red beans and rice, you will need the following key ingredients:
Red beans
You can use Camellia red beans or dark kidney red beans, depending on your preference.
Holy Trinity
For this recipe, you will need a combination of onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. The holy trinity of Cajun-Creole cooking.
Herbs and spices
I don't use Cajun seasoning in my beans. You’re going to need bay leaves, dried thyme, salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, and cayenne pepper to bring this dish to life.
Cumin
Cumin is not a common ingredient in red beans and rice. I find the spice compliments the smoky flavor of the smoked meats.
Sausage, Bacon & Smoked Meat
The types of meat used in red beans and rice vary from recipe to recipe, but I like to use bacon, smoked turkey necks, and smoked beef sausage. This combination adds a ton of incredible flavor to the dish.
Worcestershire sauce
This ingredient packs a major umami punch that adds rich, savory flavor and enhances the flavors of the rest of our ingredients.
How do you make red beans and rice from scratch?
You can make Red Beans and Rice in the instant pot in just 4 easy steps:
- Heat a large skillet over medium heat, add oil and bacon, and cook for 5 minutes. Stir constantly until the bacon is brown and crispy, then remove it and set aside.
- Add onions, bell peppers, and celery to the skillet, then cook for 2 minutes. Stir, then add the garlic, bay leaves, and thyme. Remove from heat and set aside.
- To an instant pot, add the cooked vegetable mixture along with red beans, turkey necks, sausage, worcestershire sauce, bacon, and water. Cover the lid, press ‘pressure cook’ on high, and set the timer for 90 minutes.
- After the timer goes off, quick release the pressure and remove the lid. Smash some of the red beans against the side of the pot, and stir in the seasonings. Taste and adjust seasoning as needed, then serve with cooked rice.
Recipe Video:
New Orleans Red beans cooking Tips:
Here are some of my top tips and tricks to help you make my red beans and rice recipe:
- Make sure to use dried red beans in this recipe, not canned red beans.
- To make this dish extra thick and creamy, do as the New Orleanians do and smash some of the red beans against the side of the instant pot after cooking them.
- Make sure you wait until the end to season the red beans. Seasoning at the end allows the herbs and spices to coat the red beans better and prevents them from getting tough during the cooking process.
- For a pop of color, garnish with fresh parsley or green onions just before serving the dish.
- If you’re a lover of all things spicy like me, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the red beans before serving them.
- To make this dish vegan, leave out the meat and swap out the Worcestershire sauce for a vegan alternative. For added flavor, you can use vegetable broth instead of water.
- If you can’t find smoked turkey necks, you can use smoked turkey legs, wings, or ham hock instead.
- We do not always cook with andouille sausage in New Orleans. It's a personal choice. Your red beans and rice will still taste great if you do not use andouille sausage.
- Unlike our Caribbean family, in New Orleans, we do not cook our beans and rice (rice and peas) in the same pot.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about making instant pot red beans and rice:
Monday’s became the dedicated day for red beans and rice because in the 1800’s Monday’s were laundry days. Washing clothes in the past was a labor of love, sometimes taking the whole day. Red beans and rice don’t require much attention to prepare. They can cook low and slow the entire day.
The Creoles are the reason why the world knows about red beans and rice. You will find red beans and rice in both Cajun and Creole households.
Traditionally you soak red beans in water overnight. Soaking red beans or any beans allows you to remove the acidic nature of beans which causes gas or bloating. However, the option is solely yours for this recipe because we're using an instant pot (pressure cooker). You do not need to soak the beans overnight. Put the dry red beans into the pressure cooker with enough water to cover them, bring them back up to pressure, and then cook for 90 minutes.
If you don’t have an Instant Pot, don’t worry about it. You can cook this dish in an 8-quart pot over the stove for two hours OR in a crockpot on low for 6 hours. You’ll still get the same delicious flavors, regardless of the type of pot you cook it in.
There are two ways to release the pressure from your instant pot. Natural release and quick release. Natural release means that you'll let the instant pot depressurize on its own without any help from you. With a quick release, you can immediately depressurize your instant pot by using the pressure valve or by manually turning the venting knob.
The main difference between quick and natural release is how much steam/hot water is released during each method. With the natural release, the instant pot has time to absorb some of that steam/water and replenish some of its liquid contents.
You can make red beans and rice vegan by omitting the beef bacon and turkey necks. Use a vegan sausage as a substitute for the smoked sausage and use a vegan Worcestershire sauce. Worcestershire contains anchovies.
Contrary to what the name might lead you to believe, red beans and rice are not vegetarian dishes. You can certainly make it vegetarian by leaving out the meat it typically calls for, but I prefer this dish with meat because it adds a ton of rich and savory flavors.
No. Red beans and kidney beans are two different beans, but they are often used interchangeably because of how similar they are. You can use either type of bean for this red beans and rice recipe, both will work fine.
This is the technique that separates New Orleans red beans and rice from any other rice dish. By smashing the beans against the wall of the pot to make the beans creamy and thicker. This creamy texture is a crucial technique to making New Orleans red beans. You only need to smash a few of them to achieve this incredible texture.
For some people, ham hock is a necessary part of this dish. For others, the fat content in ham hocks makes them undesirable for health reasons. I use smoked turkey necks in my red beans instead of ham hock for a healthier version.
Ham hock adds a great flavor but isn't the best for health since they're so fatty. Using smoked turkey necks still imparts the smoky flavor ham hock add but also will shred as they cook in the instant pot giving us another meat option in this delicious pot of red beans and rice.
How to store Leftovers?
Absolutely! New Orleans red beans and rice is one of those dishes that taste better the next day.
Freezer: It's a New Orleans tradition to make a big batch and freeze half of it. After the red beans cool, transfer to an airtight container. Place in freezer for 6 months.
Fridge: After red beans cool, transfer to an airtight container. Place in fridge for 7 days. (If they last that long.)
Reheating: Turn on heat to medium, in a small or medium sauce pan, add red beans, cook until mixture starts to boil. About 10 minutes or less.
what do you eat with Red Beans and Rice?
Here are some great things to eat with these delicious red beans and rice.
- Moist Southern Cornbread
- Southern Fried Chicken Wings
- BBQ Chicken
- Meyer Lemon Sweet Tea
- Southern Sweet Tea
- Buttermilk Pound Cake
More New Orleans Recipes:
If you love New Orleans food, then I know you'll love more recipes from my beautiful culture.
- Creole Jambalaya
- Crawfish Etouffee
- Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
- Grillades and Grits
- Hurricane Drink
- Mambo Daiquiri
So there you have it, the best red beans and rice recipe I know. I hope you enjoyed this quick and easy recipe for instant pot red beans and rice. If you have any questions about cooking or ingredients, don't hesitate to ask me below. Happy cooking!
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Recipe:
📖 Recipe
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
Equipment
- Tools:
- Chef knife
- Cutting board
- Large skillet
- Dry measuring spoons
- Liquid measuring cup
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon oil
- 5 strips bacon chopped medium
- 1 large onion chopped medium
- 1 bell pepper chopped medium
- 3 stalks celery chopped medium
- 8 garlic cloves chopped fine
- 2 lbs. Camelia red beans or dark kidney red beans rinsed
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 teaspoon dry thyme
- 6 smoked turkey necks
- 2 lbs. smoked beef sausage sliced medium
- 4-5 ½ cups water
- ¼ cup worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon kosher salt
- 1 tablespoon black pepper
- 2 teaspoon garlic powder
- 2 teaspoon cumin
- 2 teaspoon cayenne
- To taste hot sauce
- 3 cups rice cooked
Instructions
- Turn on the heat to medium in a large skillet add the oil and bacon, cook for 5 minutes, stirring constantly until the bacon gets brown and crispy. Remove the bacon, add the onions, bell peppers, and celery, cook for 2 minutes, stirring a few times. Add the garlic, bay leaf and thyme.
- Add the red beans, turkey necks, sausage, vegetable mixture, worcestershire, bacon and water to the instant pot. Cover and lock lid, press pressure cook and set timer for 1 hour 30 minutes. After the timer goes off remove lid; smash some of the red beans against the side of the pot. Stir in the kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, cumin and cayenne. Taste and adjust seasoning. Serve beans with a scoop of cooked rice.
Notes
- Make sure to use dried red beans in this recipe, not canned red beans.
- To make this dish extra thick and creamy, do as the New Orleanians do and smash some of the red beans against the side of the instant pot after cooking them.
- Make sure you wait until the end to season the red beans. Seasoning at the end allows the herbs and spices to coat the red beans better and prevents them from getting tough during the cooking process.
- For a pop of color, garnish with fresh parsley or green onions just before serving the dish.
- If you’re a lover of all things spicy like me, add a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce to the red beans before serving them.
- To make this dish vegan, leave out the meat and swap out the Worcestershire sauce for a vegan alternative. For added flavor, you can use vegetable broth instead of water.
- If you can’t find smoked turkey necks, you can use smoked turkey legs, wings, or ham hock instead.
- We do not always cook with andouille sausage in New Orleans. It’s a personal choice. Your red beans and rice will still taste great if you do not use andouille sausage.
- Unlike our Caribbean family, in New Orleans, we do not cook our beans and rice (rice and peas) in the same pot.
Heidi Flowers says
I love some red beans and rice, and with this way it was quick fast and very yummy ???? for my tummy
Kenneth says
A perfect combination for sure.
Dominique Dumas says
These red beans were the best i ever had. The bacon with tbe holy trinity elevated them to a new level. I love that mo gressy pork was used. Making again real soon.
Kenneth says
I'm glad you enjoyed the beef bacon! Most people look at me crazy when I mention it lol
Dee says
I wouldn’t have even put bacon in my beans. I’ve never heard of anyone in Nola do this, but I’ll give it a try ⚜️
Emily Kornack says
This looks delicious ????????????
Cee says
I loved this. Used for a Saturday wine and dine at my house. It was a big hit
Whitney W says
I love a good instantpot recipe. Im not from NOLA but I live here and I also don’t have all Monday to make beans. This is IT!
Kenneth says
Yes!!! The instant pot for the win on Red Bean Monday.
A C says
I don't know making red beans and rice could be so easy. Thank you Chef Kenneth
Kenneth says
That means a lot to me.
Jessica Gilder says
Made this a few times, once in the IP. Family loved it.
Kenneth says
Glad the whole family approved!
Zach Jones says
Chef, as always, you had our stomachs feeling warm and full. The spice level was on point we even through some cornbread on that thang. #deliciousness
Kendra Lewis says
Omg, I just got finished and OMG!!!!! Thank you soooooo much!!!!! Its my first time ever making red beans and rice not from a box and it's so delicious and I LOVE IT!!!!! Its soooo good and I'm not even over exaggerating!!!! TRY IT!!!!
Diana says
Can you point me to where to get smoked turkey necks...or a good substitute. I'd love to try this recipe! I love red beans and rice!
Kenneth says
Hey, I'm not sure where you live so pointing you to a location for smoked turkey necks will be hard. However, please check my substitutions options for great subs.
Lakaisha Gray says
I cooked this on Monday and it was a hit. Now I can cook some mean red beans but this recipe added a new twist with loads of flavor. Thank you Chef this was awesome!!!!
Lisa says
Do you cook this using high pressure?
Kenneth says
I use an instant pot and there's only one option for pressure cooking. I would guess that if you're using another pressure cooker high would be best.
Stephen Soffer says
I have a 6 quart pot. Suggestions?
Kenneth says
Halve the ingredients so they fit in the 6 qt pot.
Tamara says
Made these for the fam this past weekend- and WHEW!!! Amazing! Coming from Houston- with lotsa Nola flare, we’ve had many red beans n’ rice. These were super simple to make in the pressure cooker, and so flavorful!!! My go-to for sure!
Lauren says
Can you give us a vegetarian/vegan alternative recipe please?
Kenneth says
Hi Lauren, please check the substitutions section of the blog for how to make the recipe vegetarian/ vegan.
Karen says
Hi Kenneth!! I’m making this tomorrow. I don’t have my instant pot out, I believe it’s a 6 quart. I have (2) of everything. Sausage and beans., I’ll just add (1) of everything. I’m hoping it will be h good.
Hope Neff says
Not to be rude, but you never mention in the directions when to add the bacon....
Kenneth says
Hi, you add the bacon once you add the red beans to the pot.
Lucy says
Laissez les bons temps! We just harvested our first ever crop of kidney beans, and while hunting for a good inaugural recipe, my husband came across this. Having lived in NOLA in the 80s, it’s been a long time since I’ve enjoyed red beans and rice. So not only was the dish perfectly delicious, it brought me back home to the Bayou! We made it vegan, using a dash of liquid smoke (wah... no bacon), a few more table spoons of olive oil, a couple tablespoons of Roast Garlic Better than Bouillon added to the water, and a Field Roast sage and garlic celebration roast. So easy a sooooo good! Thank you!
Kenneth says
Love to hear it! Especially the vegan version!
Jeanne says
Question: can you use smoked ham hocks instead of the turkey necks? Up in the northeast those are quite hard to find!
Kenneth Temple says
Yes, I use smoked turkey necks as a healthier option.
Bryan says
Excellent recipe Kenneth, I see what you mean about perfecting everything over 7 years. Spices and flavors are perfectly balanced. Love the turkey necks, its a cheat code! Ham hocks end up being too fatty. Thanks for adapting an all-day favorite to modern cooking!
Ed says
Chef Kenneth or anyone who has made this recipe, how many would this feed if brought to a potluck dinner for 55 people? This wouldn't be the main meal, just a potluck food choice.
Thanks!
Kenneth Temple says
Hi Ed, if you double the recipe, it will make a nice large catering pan that will feed everyone.