Real-life dinner in 25 minutes
25-Minute Sausage, Red Beans & Rice
Leftover rice, smoked sausage, beans, and a little seasoning come together in one pan for a filling dinner that is on the table fast.
This one started with what I already had on hand: leftover cooked rice and frozen smoked sausage. About 25 minutes later, dinner was done. No complicated prep, no long ingredient list, and definitely no drive-thru.
Why This Recipe Works
- Leftover cooked rice skips one of the longest parts of making a rice dinner.
- The frozen smoked sausage goes straight into the pan and heats while the rice simmers.
- Beans make it hearty without adding extra prep.
- Everything comes together in about 25 minutes with one pan to clean.
25-Minute Sausage, Red Beans & Rice
Ingredients
- 2–3 cups leftover cooked rice
- 2 frozen beef smoked sausages
- 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 1–2 cups water, as needed
- 1 can chili beans or red beans, rinsed and drained
- 1 teaspoon Slap Ya Mama seasoning, plus more to taste
Directions
- Add the chicken broth, cooked rice, and frozen smoked sausages to a large skillet or sauté pan over medium-high heat.
- Add enough water, if needed, to mostly cover the sausage.
- Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat to low and simmer uncovered until the sausage is heated through and most of the liquid has cooked down.
- Remove the sausage, cut it into rounds, and return it to the pan.
- Stir in the rinsed and drained beans and 1 teaspoon of Slap Ya Mama seasoning.
- Continue cooking for a few minutes, until the beans are heated through and the remaining liquid has reduced to your liking.
- Taste before adding any more seasoning. Serve hot.
Note: Smoked sausage, beans, broth, and Cajun seasoning can all bring salt to the dish. Starting with low-sodium broth, rinsing the beans, and adding the seasoning a little at a time keeps the flavor from getting too salty.
Melanie’s Mealtime Tip 💜
Start light with the seasoning. I learned this one the hard way after getting a little too enthusiastic with the Slap Ya Mama. 😂 The sausage already has plenty of flavor, so start with 1 teaspoon, let everything simmer together, then taste before adding more.
If you over-season it: add a little more water and some extra cooked rice to spread out the seasoning, then simmer gently until the consistency is where you want it.
Using low-sodium chicken broth and rinsing and draining the beans also gives you much more control over the final salt level.
The Shortcut Is the Leftover Rice
This is exactly why I love having cooked rice in the fridge. Instead of starting dinner by waiting for a pot of rice to cook, you can turn those leftovers into a completely different meal.
Add the rice straight to the broth with the frozen sausage, let everything heat together, then finish it with the beans and seasoning. Simple ingredients, very little prep, and dinner is handled.
Real-Life Dinner for a Busy Night
This is not a fussy dinner. It is warm, filling, easy to make, and uses ingredients you can keep around for the nights when you need something fast.
If you make it, take a picture and tag me on social media—I want to see what is on your dinner table!
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