This Red Beans & Rice Recipe Is the BEST you've ever had | Full of Soul & Flavor!

Y’all already know—I don’t just cook, I cook with intention. And today, we’re making one of my all-time favorites: Red Beans & Rice with Hot Water Cornbread. This dish is rich, creamy, perfectly seasoned, and straight-up comforting—a true Southern classic. We’re cooking slow-cooked red beans packed with Creole flavor, paired with crispy-on-the-outside, soft-on-the-inside hot water cornbread. Whether you’re making this for Sunday dinner, meal prep, or just because you need a bowl of something good, this recipe will NOT miss! ✨ WHY YOU NEED THIS MEAL: ✔ Nourishing & protein-packed (good for the body AND the soul!) ✔ Easy & budget-friendly (but tastes like you spent hours on it) ✔ Perfect for meal prep (flavors get even better the next day) 📌 FULL RECIPE & INGREDIENTS BELOW ⬇ ✅ For the Red Beans: • 1 lb dried red beans (soaked overnight & drained) • 1 jalapeño, diced • 1 red onion, chopped • 1 cup bell peppers (use all colors—red, yellow, green, orange) • 4 cloves garlic, minced • 2 bay leaves • 4 cups vegetable broth • 2 cups coconut milk • 1-2 tbsp homemade Red Beans & Rice seasoning blend (recipe below) • ½ cup chopped cilantro • ½ cup chopped green onions ✅ For the Red Beans & Rice Seasoning Blend: (Feel free to adjust to taste!) • 1 tbsp smoked paprika • 1 tsp cumin • 1 tsp cayenne pepper • 1 tsp black pepper • 1 tsp garlic powder • 1 tsp mustard seed powder • 1 tsp onion powder • 1 tsp pink Himalayan salt • ½ tsp black garlic powder ✅ For the White Rice: • 2 cups white rice (rinsed until water runs clear) • 4 cups water or vegetable broth ✅ For the Hot Water Cornbread: • 2 cups organic cornmeal • 1 tsp all-purpose seasoning (or the same spices used in the beans) • Hot water (enough to make a thick dough) • Avocado oil (for frying) 🍽️ Cooking Instructions: 🥘 Cooking the Red Beans: 1️⃣ Sauté the veggies: Heat oil in a pan, then sauté the jalapeño, garlic, bell peppers, and red onion until fragrant and slightly caramelized. 2️⃣ Toast the spices: Dry-toast the Red Beans & Rice seasoning blend in a pan for 30 seconds to bring out the full depth of flavor. 3️⃣ Simmer the beans: In a large pot, combine the soaked beans, vegetable broth, and coconut milk. Add the sautéed veggies and seasoning blend. Stir well. 4️⃣ Cook low & slow: Cover and let it simmer on low for 1.5 to 2 hours, stirring occasionally. 5️⃣ Final touches: Stir in chopped cilantro & green onions before serving. 🍚 Cooking the White Rice: 1️⃣ Rinse the rice until the water runs clear to remove excess starch. 2️⃣ Boil water or broth, then add the rice. 3️⃣ Cover & cook on low for about 15-20 minutes until fluffy. 🌽 Making the Hot Water Cornbread: 1️⃣ Season the cornmeal with the same spices used in the beans. 2️⃣ Slowly pour in hot water, stirring until it forms a thick, moldable dough. 3️⃣ Shape into patties and fry in hot avocado oil until golden brown. 4️⃣ Drain on paper towels and serve warm. ✨ Final Touches & Plating: 1️⃣ Scoop the creamy red beans over a bed of fluffy white rice. 2️⃣ Serve with crispy hot water cornbread on the side. 3️⃣ Enjoy & nourish yourself—this dish is full of flavor AND healing! 🔔 LIKE, COMMENT & SUBSCRIBE! Let me know in the comments—how do YOU like your red beans & rice? And don’t forget to hit that bell so you don’t miss what’s coming next! Follow me on Instagram @ Eat_To_H3al Check out my website www.Eattoh3al.com 00:00 Welcome to the Kitchen! 1:01 Cleaning & Prepping the Beans 3:45 Building the Liquid Base 4:15 Beans Meet the Pot 5:00 Smoking & Activating the Spices 6:33 Blending the Spices into the Beans 6:58 Sautéing the Veggies 9:23 Marrying the Veggies & Beans 9:40 Starting the Rice 10:18 A Walk Down Memory Lane 11:40 Hot Water Cornbread 12:01 Why Avocado Oil? 12:58 PRO TIP: Get That Perfect Texture! 13:41 Frying the Cornbread to Perfection 13:51 Let’s Talk About This Plate! 15:57 Gratitude & Grace 16:37 Let’s EAT! #RedBeansAndRice #SoulFood #SouthernCooking #ComfortFood #CreoleRecipe #HomeCooking #HotWaterCornbread #EasyRecipes #CookingWithIntention #FlavorOnPoint #RedBeansAndRice #SoulFood #SouthernCooking #CreoleFood #ComfortFood #EasyRecipes #Foodie #HomeCooking #FlavorOnPoint #CookingWithLove #HealthyComfortFood #GlutenFreeRecipes #DairyFreeRecipes #PlantBasedCooking #HighProteinMeals #MealPrepIdeas #NourishingMeals #HolisticHealth #MindfulEating #HealingFoods #SouthernEats #CreoleCuisine #BlackFoodie #GullahGeechee #AncestralCooking #CookingWithIntention #TraditionalRecipes #FoodIsCulture #HomemadeGoodness #SlowCookedPerfection #FoodieLife #FoodLover #TastyFood #FoodIsLife #FoodForTheSoul #SouthernFoodie #EatGoodFeelGood #FlavorExplosion #FoodGoals #EasyDinnerIdeas #CrockpotRecipes #FromScratchCooking #SimpleIngredients #BudgetFriendlyMeals #MadeWithLove #CookingAtHome #FoodieCommunity #YouTubeEats #CookWithMe #HomemadeMeals #CookingWithSoul #FoodVideo #SouthernStaple #TrendingRecipes #CookingShow #FoodVibes