Creole-Style Crock Pot Black Beans and Sausage

By
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Diana Rattray
Southern-cuisine expert and cookbook author Diana Rattray has created more than 5,000 recipes and articles in her 20 years as a food writer.
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Updated on 02/25/22
Creole Black Beans

The Spruce / Diana Rattray

Prep: 20 mins
Cook: 7 hrs
Total: 7 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 6 to 8 servings

Beans are a key ingredient in Creole cuisine and make their way into a variety of dishes, including red beans and rice. This recipe uses black beans, and the dish is amped up with spicy andouille sausage, a variety of herbs, some tomato sauce, and the classic "holy trinity" of Creole and Cajun cooking.

Made in the slow cooker, this hearty and comforting recipe comes together quickly and cooks unattended. All that is required is browning the sausage in a skillet and then adding to the crock pot along with the remaining ingredients, which include canned black beans, onion, celery, peppers, and garlic, as well as herbs, canned tomatoes, and chicken broth. A bit of cayenne pepper provides a little heat—use as much or little as you like, or eliminate altogether.

Andouille sausage is a smoked sausage that is commonly used in Cajun and Creole cooking. It is smoked twice and has a spicy, smoky taste. It is readily available in grocery stores and can be found in its original pork variety as well as a chicken version.

Serve the black beans over white rice or with crusty French bread, homemade cornbread, or cornbread muffins. Make it a well-balanced meal with a side salad or lightly dressed arugula or spring greens.

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Ingredients

  • 1 to 1 1/2 pounds spicy smoked sausage, cut into 1/2-inch slices

  • 3 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped onion

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped green bell pepper

  • 1 1/2 cups chopped celery

  • 3 cloves garlic, minced

  • 2 teaspoons dried thyme

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons dried oregano

  • 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly ground white pepper

  • 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

  • 1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper, or to taste

  • 3 bay leaves

  • 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce

  • 1 cup chicken broth

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. Brown the sliced sausage in a heavy skillet over medium heat.

  3. Drain the fat and transfer the cooked sausage to the crock pot.

  4. Add the remaining ingredients to the slow cooker and gently mix to combine.

  5. Cover and cook on low for 7 to 9 hours, or on high for 3 1/2 to 4 1/2 hours.

  6. Remove the bay leaves.

  7. Serve with hot cooked rice, if desired.

  8. Enjoy.

Recipe Variations

  • You can use red beans or kidney beans in place of the black beans.
  • If you would like to cut down on the heat in this dish, you can substitute another type of smoked sausage, such as kielbasa, that is less spicy than andouille.
  • To make this recipe vegetarian, use a plant-based spicy sausage or skip it altogether.
  • Add a handful of fresh parsley or cilantro to the finished dish.
Nutrition Facts (per serving)
453 Calories
25g Fat
37g Carbs
22g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 to 8
Amount per serving
Calories 453
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 25g 32%
Saturated Fat 8g 41%
Cholesterol 53mg 18%
Sodium 1604mg 70%
Total Carbohydrate 37g 14%
Dietary Fiber 13g 47%
Total Sugars 6g
Protein 22g
Vitamin C 30mg 149%
Calcium 108mg 8%
Iron 5mg 26%
Potassium 1203mg 26%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)