My Vegetarian Sausage with Red Beans and Rice is inspired by the classic Cajun recipe, but isn’t meant to be traditional. The vegetarian sausage adds extra protein to this, already hearty, plant-based meal. This recipe can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner, or even paired with a fried egg for breakfast. Serve with fresh lime juice and sliced avocado for even more flavor.

I was lucky enough to tag along on my husband’s work trip to New Orleans years ago, before we were even married. It was such a great traveling experience that I will never forget. It’s a beautiful city with amazing people, and the food is so good! We managed to hit up as many restaurants as we could, but our first meal was red beans and rice. It’s always been a favorite of mine, so I decided to make a quick and easy skillet version using plant-based sausage. My Vegetarian Sausage with Red Beans and Rice is packed with flavor, filling, and so easy to make. Let me know in the comments if you give it a try!

Why You’ll Love This Quick and Easy Recipe

• Easy to make – This red beans and rice recipe is made in one skillet and doesn’t take much time. This is a quickened version of the traditional dish, and I use pre-cooked rice and beans to significantly speed up the cooking process.
• Comforting – Beans and rice are one of those meals I could happily eat every single day. Red beans and rice is a Cajun version of just that, and I love its bold flavors. Enjoy it with some plain Greek yogurt for a cozy meal that will fill you up.
• Packed with flavor – Cajun food is known for its delicious flavors and is anything but boring. Though this recipe is not traditional, I tried to add many of those classic flavors, like paprika, garlic, cayenne, and thyme. You can make it as mild or as spicy as you like.

Why Your Body Loves Beans and Rice Together

When beans and rice are combined in a meal, they form a complete protein. A complete protein is a source of protein that contains all nine essential amino acids the body needs but cannot produce on its own.  Other plant-based complete protein sources include: quinoa, chia seeds, buckwheat, and hemp seeds. 

The pairing of beans and rice also creates a meal that’s high in protein and fiber. Your body needs both for normal development, healthy digestion, and heart health. I also like to add some plain, non-fat Greek yogurt and avocado for healthy fats.

Vegetarian Sausage with Red Beans and Rice Ingredients

• Sausage – I used vegetarian sausage for this recipe. You should be able to find it at most grocery stores, in the refrigerated section with the tofu and vegan cheeses. You can use any brand or flavor of plant-based sausage you like.
• Beans – I used two cans of dark red kidney beans that I drained and rinsed. If you prefer not to use the sausage, you can add an extra can of beans. If you can’t find red beans, you can substitute black or pinto beans.
• Rice – This recipe calls for pre-cooked white or brown rice, but any kind of whole grain can be used. I usually use white rice when making this recipe.
• Vegetables – In Creole cooking, they refer to celery, green bell peppers, and onions as “The Holy Trinity.” It’s similar to a mirepoix, which is the classic combination of celery, carrots, and onion used as a base in most soup recipes. I also add lots of fresh garlic.
• Spices – This red bean and rice recipe is packed with flavor, thanks to the Creole seasoning, thyme, parsley, sage, smoked paprika, oregano, and cayenne, if you want extra heat.
• Optional – This is in no way traditional, but I like to serve my vegetarian red beans and rice with some plain Greek yogurt, sliced avocado, and a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

How To Make Red Beans and Rice

1. Thinly slice the plant-based sausages into small rounds. Heat a large pan over medium heat and add 2 teaspoons olive oil and the sliced sausage. Cook the sausage until both sides are browned and crispy, 5-7 minutes, allowing the sausage to cook well on both sides. Remove sausage from the pan and set aside.
2. To the same large pan, add in 1 Tablespoon of olive oil, the diced celery, onion and green bell pepper. Adding a pinch of salt helps the vegetables cook down more quickly.  Cook vegetables until they’re softened and browned, 10-12 minutes. I like to put my heat to medium-high to ensure that they brown, because that gives them extra flavor. Next, add minced garlic and chopped fresh parsley, and cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, until the garlic is fragrant.
3. Add in the Creole seasoning and all of the dried spices (smoked paprika, regular paprika, thyme, sage, and oregano). Mix well and cook for 1-2 minutes to help the spices release their flavor. Next, add the red beans and cooked rice. Mix everything until thoroughly combined, and then carefully toss in the cooked sausage. I like to let everything cook together in the pan for an additional 5 minutes or so, allowing the rice to brown slightly on the bottom of the pan. 
4. Remove from the heat and stir in 2 Tablespoons of thinly sliced scallions, if desired.  Season with salt and cayenne pepper, to taste.  Serve vegetarian red beans and rice with a side of plain Greek yogurt, fresh lime juice, sliced avocado, and extra scallions.  

Recipe Frequently Asked Questions

• Make this recipe vegan by using vegan sausages.
• To make this recipe gluten-free, use gluten-free sausages.
• Is this recipe spicy?  You can make it as spicy or as mild as you like. I used Creole seasoning, which is known for being less spicy than Cajun seasoning. If you want more spice, you can use Cajun seasoning and even add extra cayenne pepper.
• Is this red beans and rice recipe authentic? No, it is not authentic. This is my vegetarian recipe, inspired by a Louisiana favorite.
• How long do leftovers last? If stored in an air-tight container in the refrigerator, leftovers should last about 4-5 days.
• Can this recipe be frozen? Yes, allow rice and beans to cool completely, then store them in a freezer-safe, airtight container for up to 3 months. 

Have a question I didn’t answer? Ask me in the comment section below, and I will get back to you ASAP!

Looking For More Easy Vegetarian Dinner Recipes

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Skillet Vegetarian Sausage with Red Beans and Rice

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  Author: She Likes Food
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  Total Time: 40 minutes
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  Yield: 4-6

• Diet: Vegetarian

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Description

My Vegetarian Sausage with Red Beans and Rice is inspired by the classic Cajun recipe, but isn’t meant to be traditional. The vegetarian sausage adds extra protein to this, already hearty, plant based meal. This recipe can be enjoyed for lunch, dinner or even paired with a fried egg for breakfast. Serve with fresh lime juice and sliced avocado for even extra flavor.

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Ingredients

• 2–4 vegetarian sausage links, depending on how much sausage you want to use
• 1 cup small diced celery
• 1 cup small diced green bell pepper, about one extra large pepper or two smaller ones
• 1 small white onion, diced
• 3–4 cloves garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoons creole, or cajun seasoning*
• 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
• 1 teaspoon sweet paprika
• 1/2 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
• 1/4 teaspoon dried ground sage
• 2 (15 oz) cans dark red kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 2 cups cooked white rice, or grain of choice
• Salt and pepper, to taste
• Cayenne pepper, to taste, for extra heat
• Olive oil
• 2 tablespoons thinly sliced green onion, plus more for garnish
• Optional ingredients: plain greek yogurt, fresh lemon wedges and sliced avocado

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Instructions

1. Thinly slice the plant based sausages into small rounds.  Heat a large pan over medium heat and add in 2 teaspoons olive oil and the sliced sausage.  Cook sausage until both sides are browned and crispy, 5-7 minutes, allowing sausage to cook well on both sides.  Remove sausage from the pan and set aside.
2. To the same large pan, add in 1 tablespoon of olive oil, the diced celery, onion and green bell pepper.  Adding in a pinch of salt will help the vegetables cook down more quickly.  Cook vegetables until they’re softened and browned, 10-12 minutes.  I like to put my heat to medium-high to ensure that they brown, because that gives them extra flavor.  Next, add in the minced garlic and chopped fresh parsley and cook for another 2-3 minutes, until garlic is fragrant.
3. Add in the creole seasoning and all of the dried spices (smoked paprika, regular paprika, thyme, sage and oregano).  Mix well and cook for 1-2 minutes, to help the spices release their flavor.  Next, add in red beans cooked rice.  Mix everything together until fully combined and then carefully toss in the cooked sausage.  I like to let everything cook together in the pan for an additional 5 minutes, or so, allowing the rice the brown a little bit on the bottom of the pan.
4. Remove from the heat and stir in 2 tablespoons of thinly sliced scallions, if desired.  Season with salt and cayenne pepper, to taste.  Serve vegetarian red beans and rice with a side of plain Greek yogurt, fresh lime juice, sliced avocado and extra scallion.

Notes

*Cajun seasoning is usually spicier than creole seasoning, but they can be used interchangeably.

• Prep Time: 10 mins
• Cook Time: 30 mins
• Category: Dinner, Vegetarian
• Method: Stovetop
• Cuisine: Cajun Inspired

The post Skillet Vegetarian Sausage with Red Beans and Rice appeared first on She Likes Food.