Make the traditional Southern dish red beans and rice as a main dish or a side dish. Here are some things that go well with red beans and rice!
It’s Paul Prudhomme style, which in my language means spicy Cajun. This New Orleans red beans and rice recipe is made that way.
They didn’t know they were going to be getting married to a nice Jewish girl soon, so I don’t think they were my in-laws yet.
Now my MIL grew up outside of N’Awlins in Gulfport, Mississippi and she cooked Southern style.
Because I’m a nice girl, I tried not to look too shocked when I saw how much beans and rice were on my plate at our first meeting.
You should know that this is a food blog because that pile didn’t look very tasty, to say the least.
Some things about it made me feel sick, but I’m a sweet girl at heart, so I took a bite of cornbread and then a bite of red beans and found that, despite what they looked like, red beans are actually pretty good!
But now that I know how to make good red beans and rice and what to serve them with, I can’t go back!
People say that love comes first, then marriage. After that, I had to try my mother-in-law’s best red beans and rice recipe.
It is a soothing recipe made with Eckrich smoked sausage and that particular sausage was specified.
I would copy it here for you right now if I could find it in my crazy filing system on the 3×5 index card it’s written on.
But I looked for that perfectly handwritten card for ten minutes and, of course, I can’t find it!
I quickly became interested in Paul and his recipes. Manservant and I found that his version of Cajun red beans and rice was better because it was spicy but still comforting.
Since Mardi Gras is coming up soon, I thought I’d give this to you…with love, since that’s how my MIL always did it.
For the record, for some odd reason I remember when we last ate this at my MIL’s house.
It was January 16, 2016 as we passed through Houston on our way home from Costa Rica.
My mother-in-law, who has Alzheimer’s, made it for the family that came by to say hello.
This Cajun red beans and rice recipe was found on my mother-in-law’s table all year round.
It used the ham bone that was left over from Sunday dinner and cooked all day, so everyone could do their laundry.
Well, I don’t have a ham bone, but I do like to use a ham hock.
It makes the red beans taste better and more hearty, but you don’t have to add the ham hock if you don’t want to. I use a lot of Cajun seasoning.
You can use an instant pot or a slow cooker to make this dish, but I always leave mine on the stove all day in a big pot.
Personally, I have a thing for not liking red kidney beans and those aren’t what my mother-in-law used.
There really are dried red beans and I think they are necessary for this dish.
In Cajun and Creole cuisine the holy trinity is made up of onions, green bell pepper and celery.
Add them to a large pot along with the ham hock, the holy trinity, and your Cajun seasonings.
Apparently red beans and rice was a Creole dish, but the great seasonings make it Cajun.
An oregano leaf, black pepper, cayenne pepper, white pepper, a bay leaf, and a little Tabasco or another Louisiana hot sauce are always what I add.
Now add the drained, soaked beans to the pot and let them simmer for another hour or so,
Let that cook for about a half hour. At any time if the pot starts to dry out, always add more chicken broth or water.
You do not want the beans to scorch or stick to the bottom of the pot.
Tender red beans are what you are shooting for and try not to rush the cooking.
Once the sausage is hot, add the ham hock meat and cook for another 10 minutes.
Red beans and rice is a beloved Louisiana comfort food, bursting with smoky, spicy, and satisfying flavor. The creamy beans and fluffy rice make a hearty and filling meal on their own. But red beans also pair wonderfully with many classic Southern sides and main dishes.
Here are over 20 delicious foods that go great with red beans and rice
1. Cornbread
Cornbread is practically a requirement alongside a steaming bowl of red beans and rice. The mildly sweet crumbly cornbread soaks up the bean juices and provides a perfect textural contrast. Serve wedges of skillet cornbread cracklin’ cornbread, or jalapeno cornbread.
2. Collard Greens
Collard greens are another classic Southern side dish that complements red beans and rice Slow cooked collards with smoked pork have a similar savory, smoky flavor profile The tender greens balance the creaminess of the beans.
3. Coleslaw
Cool, tangy coleslaw is a bright counterpoint to the rich, meaty red beans. The vinegar dressing cuts through the beans’ fattiness. Enjoy a scoop alongside your beans and rice.
4. Smothered Okra
Another way to add some crunch and acidity is with smothered okra. Okra pods are cooked down with onions, tomatoes, and bacon until tender. The sliminess of the okra thickens the pot likker into the perfect sauce for sopping up with bread.
5. Pork Chops
Pan fried, blackened, or grilled pork chops make the perfect protein to accompany red beans and rice. The savory chops pair well with the seasoned beans. Serve bone-in or boneless chops.
6. Fried Catfish
For a real bayou feast, add crispy fried catfish fillets on top of your bean and rice bowl. Let the hot fish soak up the sauce from the beans. Add some Louisiana hot sauce on top.
7. Barbecue Ribs
Fall-off-the-bone barbecued pork spare ribs crusted in a slightly sweet, tangy barbecue sauce are amazing alongside red beans. Pick meat right off the ribs with your fingers to add to the beans.
8. Sausage
Andouille sausage is traditionally used right in red beans and rice. But you can also serve additional sliced sausage, smoked kielbasa, or grilled brats on the side. The bold sausage flavors complement the spices in the beans.
9. Fried Chicken
Crispy, juicy fried chicken is a delicious partner for red beans and rice. Enjoy a chicken thigh and drumstick alongside your bean bowl. The savory, fatty chicken pairs perfectly with the creamy beans.
10. Potato Salad
Potato salad makes another nice cooling foil for the hot red bean mixture. Creamy potato salad with hard boiled eggs, mayo, mustard, onion, celery, and pickle relish tastes amazing next to the seasoned rice and beans.
11. Deviled Eggs
Similarly, spicy deviled eggs with paprika sprinkled on top also offset the thickness of this dish. The richness of the egg yolk filling contrasts the mealy beans and rice.
12. Mac and Cheese
For an indulgent, comfort food feast, serve homemade macaroni and cheese alongside the red beans and rice. The creamy, cheesy pasta pairs decadently with the Creole spiced beans.
13. Green Beans
Buttery green beans sauteed with onion, garlic, and bacon are a traditional homestyle side dish perfect with red beans and rice. The crisp-tender beans add texture and freshness.
14. Corn on the Cob
In the summer, enjoy freshly steamed or grilled corn on the cob with your bean bowl. The sweet juicy corn plays nicely with the smokey, seasoned rice and beans.
15. Baked Sweet Potatoes
Warm, soft baked sweet potatoes drizzled with brown sugar and butter also make a nice accompaniment to red beans and rice. The natural sweetness balances the dish.
16. Glazed Carrots
For more veggies, make some brown sugar glazed carrots. The sweet carrots glazed with brown sugar and butter pair nicely with the hearty beans and rice.
17. Roasted Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Creamy, garlicky mashed potatoes are comfort food heaven alongside red beans and rice. Scoop up bites of mashed potatoes and bean sauce together.
18. Dinner Rolls
Warm, soft yeasty dinner rolls are great for dipping in the bean pot likker and sauce. Enjoy alongside red beans and rice for a classic Southern meal.
19. Sweet Potato Casserole
Bring on the sweetness with a gooey sweet potato casserole topped with toasted pecan streusel. It balances the spice and richness of the beans.
20. Banana Pudding
You can’t end a Southern meal without something sweet! Finish off your red beans and rice feast with creamy banana pudding made with vanilla pudding, bananas and Nilla wafers. The perfect amount of sweetness!
Red beans and rice is highly versatile. While traditionally Cajun, it pairs well with many down home comfort foods and Southern recipes. What are some of your favorite dishes to serve alongside red beans and rice?
What to Serve With Red Beans and Rice:
Obviously steamed white rice is essential. It depends on you and how soupy your red beans are if you want a lot of broth to cover the rice.
I tend to make mine on the thick side, but this is personal preference.
Corn bread is a necessity in our house, as is honey butter.
Garnish with finley chopped onions and some green onions.
Many like collard greens on the side, but I love cole slaw.
In our home red beans and rice is served as a main dish on my dinner table.
This easy recipe though would also be a great side dish to many Southern staples.
Think barbeque, fried chicken, and even fried pork chops.
This great recipe is hearty and filling and leftover red beans are perfect the next day.
One of my favorite meals is red beans and rice, no matter what day of the week you serve it.
Perhaps they make me think of my mother-in-law or trips to New Orleans. One thing is for sure: they make me think of good food.
Most of all this Southern classic reminds me of good times.
And isn’t that what a great dish is really all about!
This post has been updated since 2018. If you click on one of the links in this post, I may or may not get a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Make the Perfect Red Beans and Rice
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