Creole Sausage with Rice and Red Beans

This was an easy slow cooker recipe from Southern Living. It was not too spicy so I sprinkled more creole seasoning on mine.

1 (16-ounce) package smoked sausage, sliced
2 (10-ounce) cans diced tomatoes with green chiles
3 1/2 cups fat-free, less sodium chicken broth
2 teaspoons Creole seasoning (I used Tony Chachere's Original)
1 1/2 cups uncooked converted long-grain rice
2 (15-ounce) cans red beans, rinsed and drained

* Cook sausage in a large skillet over medium heat 5 minutes or until browned. Place sausage in crock pot.
Stir in tomatoes, chciken broth, creole seasoning and rice.

*Cover and cook on LOW 3 1/2 hours. Stir in beans. Cover and cook 30 more minutes or until thoroughly heated.

Makes 8 servings

The recipe also says that it works just as well without beans if you'd rather leave them out.