Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice

🧂 Ingredients

• 1 tablespoon bacon grease or canola oil
• 1 pound Andouille sausage

  sliced
• 2 celery ribs

  chopped
• 1 onion

  chopped
• 1 green bell pepper

  stemmed and chopped
• 4 garlic cloves

  grated or minced
• 8 cups chicken stock
• 1 ½ pounds ham hocks
• 1 pound small red beans

  sorted and rinsed
• 2 ½ tablespoons Cajun or Creole seasoning

  homemade [https://burrataandbubbles.com/homemade-cajun-seasoning/] or store-bought
• ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

  optional, if you like a little heat
• 10 fresh thyme sprigs

  tied in a bundle with kitchen twine
• 2 dried bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons cornstarch
• Splash of cold water
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
• Salt to taste
• Cooked white rice
• Hot sauce

  for serving, optional
• Fresh chopped parsley

  for garnish, optional

Instructions

• 1 Using the Sauté function, heat bacon grease or canola oil. Brown half of the
  Andouille sausage. Flip and brown on the other side, about three minutes each
  side. Remove from Instant Pot. Repeat with the other half and remove from
  Instant Pot.
• 2 Add the celery, onion and green bell pepper to the Instant Pot. Cook until soft,
  about four to five minutes, stirring occasionally. Add garlic and cook from 30
  seconds, stirring constantly.
• 3 Pour in chicken stock. Add browned Andouille sausage, ham hocks, red beans,
  Cajun seasoning, cayenne pepper (if using), thyme sprigs and bay leaves.
• 4 Put on the lid and turn the valve to seal. Cook on manual for 50 minutes.
• 5 When the time is up, allow to naturally release for at least 20 minutes. Remove
  the lid and turn again to the Sauté function. 
• 6 In a small cup, stir together cornstarch and just enough cold water to make a
  slurry. Stir into the Instant Pot. Cook uncovered until it thickens, about 10
  minutes.  
• 7 Remove thyme and bay leaves and stir in apple cider vinegar. Add salt to taste
  if needed. You can also add even more Cajun seasoning or cayenne pepper if you'd
  like more heat. Serve on white rice with hot sauce and fresh parsley if desired.
  Enjoy!

Nutrition Info