Beef with Red Beans and Rice

Ingredients

• 1 recipe Cajun-Style Beef Sausage (recipe follows)
• 1 cup diced onion
• 1/2 cup diced green bell pepper
• 1/2 cup diced celery
• 2 medium tomatoes, diced (about 2 cups), divided
• 1 can (15 to 16 ounces) unsalted red or kidney beans, drained and rinsed
• 1 cup uncooked instant rice
• 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
• 1 cup reduced-sodium beef broth

Instructions

1. Prepare Cajun-Style Beef Sausage. Heat large nonstick pan over medium heat until hot. Add sausage mixture, onion, bell pepper and celery; cook 8 to 10 minutes, breaking into 3/4-inch crumbles and stirring occasionally.
   Cook's Tip:

   Cajun-Style Beef Sausage: Combine 1 pound Ground Beef (93% lean or leaner), 1 tablespoon liquid smoke, 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder, 1/2 teaspoon onion powder, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika, 1/2 teaspoon ground red pepper, 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper and 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme in large bowl, mixing lightly but thoroughly.

   Cooking times are for fresh or thoroughly thawed ground beef. Ground beef should be cooked to an internal temperature of 160°F. Color is not a reliable indicator of ground beef doneness.

2. Stir in 1-1/2 cups tomatoes, beans, rice, Cajun seasoning and broth. Cover and cook 5 to 6 minutes until rice is tender. Uncover and cook another 1 to 3 minutes or until desired consistency is reached. Top with remaining 1/2 cup tomatoes. Season with salt and pepper, as desired.

• Test Kitchen Tips Use a potato masher to break up Ground Beef into small crumbles while browning.