
New Orleans style red beans (and hot sauce) with air-fried potatoes, greens, and coleslaw.
This recipe is Kittee's standard method for New Orleans style red beans--the kind that are super creamy with a nice thick gravy. You can eat them with rice, or with a bunch of other sides, whatever you like!
Before you start, please read through the recipe, instructions and notes on the bottom!

Servings |
- 2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
- 1 stalk celery, diced
- 1 small red pepper, diced (about 3/4 cup)
- 1/2 onion, diced
- 1 jalapeño, seeded and diced
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon salt, plus more to taste
- 3-4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1/2-1 teaspoon unsalted New Orleans style seasoning, optional
- 1 teaspoon granulated onion
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 3 cups water
- 2 cups dried red beans, quick soaked
- 1 teaspoon vegan bouillon, optional
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid smoke
- 1 sprig fresh thyme or oregano, (or use ½ teaspoon dry thyme added with the spices), optional
- 5-6 slices pickled jalapeño, plus brine, to taste
- hot sauce, to taste
Ingredients
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6 cups
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- Press the saute setting on the Instant Pot, and let it get hot while you prep the vegetables.
- Add the olive oil, and quickly add the celery, red pepper, onion, jalapeño, bay leaf, and salt.
- Cook, stirring regularly, until the vegetables soften and begin to brown.
- Add the garlic, New Orleans seasoning, if using, granulated onion, and smoked paprika and continue to cook and stir for another minute. Don't let the garlic brown!
- Add the water, beans, bouillon, if using, liquid smoke and optional fresh herb. Stir to combine. Cover, lock the lid of the pressure cooker, close the vent, and cook on high pressure for 50 minutes (temporarily turn the Instant Pot off to change between the saute setting and high pressure). Carefully, quick-release the beans. They should be very soft with quite a bit of liquid on top.
- Remove the lid and stir. Bring the beans to a steady, full simmer (I use the bean/chili setting--watch for splashes). Stir often, mashing spoonfuls of beans against the inside wall of the cooker, until the water has reduced, the beans are creamy (but still mostly intact), and the liquid has turned into a thick, gravy. This will take about 10-12 minutes of devoted attention. Season to taste with more salt, if desired, and the pickled jalapeños and brine.
- Serve immediately, and drizzle with hot sauce, if desired. The beans will continue to thicken as they cool.
To quick soak beans--cover dry beans with boiling water. Let rest an hour, drain and rinse.
The jalapeño pickle juice in these beans is magic! If you don't have any, or prefer less zippier beans, you can use a mild vinegar instead.
Remember! Acid like hot sauce, vinegar, jalapeño pickle juice, tomatoes, or lemon juice will toughen bean skins and keep your beans from cooking and becoming soft. Always add acidic ingredients after your beans have already cooked and are as soft as you'd like them to be.
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xo Julie & Kittee
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Your pressure cooker method for creamy beans is a staple in my house. I especially love the pickled jalapeño and juice.
That’s my favorite too! :))
Looks great – which red beans do you use?
Thanks! You could really use any sort of red bean for these, except for aduki beans. In New Orleans everyone buys Camillia beans, here in Oregon I usually buy small red “chili beans” from the bulk aisle. You could even use kidney beans, although those are not my favorite.
Curious why aduki beans won’t work?
Well they’re small so cooking time would probably be different. But really, they’re not the right bean for New Orleans style beans. They’d probably be tasty, if you tweak the recipe, but not the same IMHO.
Talk about Good! This Tex-La Gulf Coast boy loves this E-Z recipe. And the pickled jalapeño touch. Gotta use with Camilla Beans—I buy them on Amazon).
…THANK YOU so much for Gluten Free recipes, this Celiac really appreciates them. Laissez les bon temps roulez ?
I’m so glad you loved them! Camellia beans are magic!!
xo
kittee
These look so good! Can I soak the beans over night instead of quick soak?
I always quick soak, because I’m not a good planner! It should work just fine, but I’ve not done it with this specific method.
xo
kittee