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    Home » Southern Classics » Red Beans and Rice {Popeyes Style}

    Published: Feb 1, 2022 · Modified: Jan 28, 2022 by Pam

    Red Beans and Rice {Popeyes Style}

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    pin for red beans and rice (popeyes style).

    Quick and easy to make red beans and rice is the perfect knock off of your favorite side dish from Popeyes. You can add sausage or make it vegetarian.

    bowl of red beans and rice with another bowl behind.

    We love our Cajun and Creole foods over here so much that we have an entire category of recipes dedicated to those neighboring cuisines. We’ve got recipes for everything from gumbo to jambalaya to etouffee and Cajun crab dip.

    One Creole dish that we didn’t have a recipe for yet is a favorite of ours and many others. We thought “why reinvent the wheel? Let’s just see if we can recreate Popeyes Red Beans and Rice...”

    In all seriousness we usually stay away from fast food, but the one exception is Popeye’s and you can probably guess why we love them. They originated in the New Orleans area and spicy chicken and the best biscuits and sides are what they’re known for.

    Is it authentic red beans and rice?

    We developed this recipe to be quick and easy, so the truth is, it’s probably not what you would consider “authentic.”

    The history of the dish itself tells the story. It was originally made from dried red beans (and still is in lots of cases). Those beans soaked and then cooked slowly all day. Traditionally, Monday was “wash day” or the day the laundry was done in most homes.

    bowl of red beans with rice and onions.

    Putting a pot of beans and rice on the stove to cook slowly meant you could dedicate your time to something other than cooking – like laundry. Even so, you’d approach evening with a good meal ready to eat.

    Enter today’s lifestyle: We don’t know anyone who dedicates an entire day to doing laundry and we’re all about quick and easy meals when we can. Using canned red beans makes a still delicious pot of red beans and you can have it on the table in 30 minutes.

    You can add meat or make it vegetarian

    At Popeyes there is no meat in the beans and rice. We offer an option for adding spicy andouille sausage to yours if you want to kick it up a notch and make it extra hearty.

    white bowl with cajun red beans and sauce and rice on top.

    Either way, a little liquid smoke gives some of the great flavor you would get in the original method, which usually had ham hocks.

    We’ve used chicken stock (or broth) too, but that could easily be replaced with vegetable stock for a true vegetarian version.

    Does it have a secret ingredient?

    Some folks think the addition of the liquid smoke is the secret ingredient. Still others think it’s a dab of bacon grease.

    In doing our research we found an old school recipe that called for a bit of apple cider vinegar. We included it in ours and we proudly proclaim it to be the secret ingredient. We hope you’ll make it and give us your take. Regardless, we know you will love it!

    Is this Popeyes Red Beans and Rice copycat a spicy recipe?

    That depends. Like many Cajun and Creole recipes the spiciness can be toned down or up according to your preference. They’re all big on flavor, but not necessarily heat, like our Grilled Blackened Chicken.

    We do make a recipe called Fiery Cajun Shrimp and it lives up to its name. But we find that most Cajun and Creole dishes get a bad rap from so many who think they’re all fiery.

    For this one there is an optional addition of cayenne pepper that would add heat, but you can certainly leave it out. Also, andouille sausage tends to be on the hot side, so if you’re adding it you can expect a kick.

    overhead shot of popeyes beans and rice

    One last frequently asked question: Are red beans the same as kidney beans?

    They are not. Red Beans are their own type of bean. They’re actually not as red as kidney beans and they’re smaller.

    We found canned red beans to be a little difficult to find. Most all of the specialty grocery stores in our area had some – like Whole Foods, Sprouts, Fresh Market and Trader Joe’s.

    This post contains affiliate links, which means if you click on an affiliate link and buy something, we may receive a very small commission.  It does NOT result in additional charges to you or cost you anything extra. Click here for our full privacy and disclosure policy. As an Amazon associate we earn from qualifying purchases.

    We’ve linked here to the exact ones we use if you’d like to order from Amazon. If you just can’t find any you could certainly make this recipe with kidney beans, but definitely go for the light red ones.

    square image of rice, beans and sausage.

    Red Beans and Rice {Popeyes Style}

    Pam
    Quick and easy to make red beans and rice is the perfect knock off of your favorite side dish from Popeyes. You can add sausage or make it vegetarian.
    4.65 from 14 votes
    Print Recipe Pin Recipe
    Cook Time 30 mins
    Cuisine Creole
    Servings 4
    Calories 123 kcal

    Ingredients
      

    • 2 15 ounce cans red beans drained
    • 1 Tablespoon Creole or Cajun Seasoning we prefer Tony Chachere's Original Creole Seasoning
    • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
    • ¼ teaspoon garlic powder
    • ½ teaspoon cumin
    • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
    • ¼ teaspoon liquid smoke
    • 2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
    • 1 Tablespoons vegetable oil
    • ¾ cup chicken stock or broth substitute vegetable broth for vegetarian version
    • 1 cup cooked white rice
    • 1 teaspoon salt optional, to taste

    Instructions
     

    • Mix all ingredients except rice in a medium sized sauce pan and bring to a boil over medium to medium-high heat.
    • Reduce heat and simmer 15-20 minutes, covered. Stir occasionally.
    • Remove approximately 1 cup of beans with a slotted spoon and set aside in small bowl.
    • Mash beans left in pan with a potato masher to thicken broth.
    • Add whole beans back in and stir until thoroughly heated.
    • Serve in small bowl with about ¼ cup rice over bean mixture.
    • Garnish with chopped green onions if desired.

    Notes

    If desired ½ pound andouille sausage can be added. Slice into ¼ inch thick slices and brown in a skillet with 1 Tablespoon vegetable oil for about 10 minutes or until brown on both sides. Add to bean mixture at the end before serving. 
    Any type of white rice can be used. 
     

    Nutrition

    Calories: 123kcalCarbohydrates: 13gProtein: 2gFat: 7gSaturated Fat: 1gPolyunsaturated Fat: 4gMonounsaturated Fat: 2gTrans Fat: 1gSodium: 745mgPotassium: 95mgFiber: 1gSugar: 1gVitamin A: 576IUVitamin C: 4mgCalcium: 13mgIron: 1mg
    Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!

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    Categories: Cajun & Creole Tags: cajun, creole, main dish, side dish

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Roxana says

      February 01, 2022 at 3:11 pm

      5 stars
      This comes at the right time. I had actually been thinking of getting red beans for another recipe. Loved knowing about it and this recipe is great. I might make both now.

      Reply
    2. Priya Srinivasan says

      February 01, 2022 at 3:51 pm

      5 stars
      Wow that is one hearty bowl of rice and beans! Such a simple and easy dish to make and enjoy!

      Reply
    3. Sharon says

      February 01, 2022 at 3:59 pm

      5 stars
      This dish is so yummy! Just like the restaurant version but made at home, I love that.

      Reply
      • Pam says

        February 01, 2022 at 4:13 pm

        Thanks so much Sharon!

        Reply
    4. Jeff says

      February 01, 2022 at 5:01 pm

      5 stars
      This is quite a hearty dish. I add the sausage and it is great.

      Reply
      • Pam says

        February 02, 2022 at 12:26 pm

        Thanks for letting us know Jeff! We like it both ways.

        Reply

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    254 shares