Popeye’s Red Beans & Rice is one of my favorite take-out side dishes and making at home is SO SIMPLE!!! This Copycat Popeye’s recipe has creamy red beans with a slightly smoky flavor topped with fluffy white rice – the perfect side!
Does Popeye’s Red Beans and Rice have meat in it?
Does Popeye’s Red Beans use Kidney Beans?
How to make Red Beans and Rice Like Popeye’s?
It’s so easy! First – start your rice! You can use any white rice – I used Uncle Ben’s Converted White Rice – it takes a while to cook – but it ends up being the same amount of time you need for the beans!
Next up – the easiest part! Dump two cans of red beans in a sauce pan and start heating them up. As they’re heating – grab your potato masher and start mashing. You don’t want to mash them all! You still need some bean pieces.
Then you’ll add the rest of your ingredients – including the bacon fat – and thicken it up. As you cook it – uncovered – it’ll reduce and thicken up.
Once it’s thick – your rice should be done and you’re ready to serve! the bacon fat and liquid smoke are definitely the keys to success here – so don’t skip either ingredient!
This recipe is one I’m going to be making all the time!!! I couldn’t believe how easy it was and delicious. I had the leftovers for lunch a couple of days! This makes four servings – and it reheats perfectly in the microwave. It’s so good!
What to serve with Red Beans & Rice?
- These Garlic Brown Sugar Pork Chops are a perfect complement to the red beans & rice.
- Check out my tips on making the PERFECT medium rare steak with Texas Roadhouse Steak Seasoning
- Since RBR is a southern dish – you could make Mary Mac’s Chicken Fried Chicken to go with it – so good and there’s gravy!
- Grilled Pork Chops are delicious with red beans & rice!
Other Copycat Side Dish Recipes
- Chipotle Black Beans
- Texas Roadhouse Honey Butter
- PF Chang’s Fried Rice
- Ruby Slipper Buttermilk Biscuits
- More Copycat Recipes
Copycat Popeye’s Red Beans and Rice
Equipment
Ingredients
- 2 16-oz cans red beans
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp hot sauce
- 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
- 3 tbsp bacon fat
- 2 cups cooked white rice drained
Instructions
- Start the rice. I’m using Uncle Bens Converted White Rice. Boil 1.5 cups water, 1/2 cup rice, 1 Tbsp butter. Once boiling, turn heat to low for 20 minutes.
- Pour 2 cans of beans (juice and all) into a large saucepan. Add water, onion powder, garlic powder, hot sauce, salt, liquid smoke and bacon fat.
- Use a potato masher partially mash the beans and ingredients together. Don’t mash them all – you still want some chunks of bean.
- Cook slowly over medium heat until thick and water is evaporated – about 15 minutes. Stir frequently so beans don’t stick.
- When rice is done, remove from heat and let sit for five minutes to fluff up and absorb remaining water.
- Once the beans and rice are done cooking, remove them both from the heat.
- To stay authentic to Popeyes, serve the rice over the bean mixture
Ghulam Mohyudin says
Good to know that works too! I learn so much from you as well! Keep it up great post.
Jim says
Not bad but, I questioned using a whole tsp of salt thinking that was a lot. It was too much for my taste. I’ll try again with 1/2 tsp salt and a little more hot sauce and liquid smoke. Maybe try smoked Tabasco and get more of both with one ingredient.
Tasty!
T says
Hi, We don’t eat bacon to get the bacon fat so do you think vegetable stock would be a good substitute?
FoodHussy says
No – I would use oil as a substitute and maybe add a dash of liquid smoke (a very little – it’s potent)
Wendy says
You can use the jamon seasoning from the Goya section if you don’t eat meat. It’s smoky and bacon tasting!
Jamie says
How much jam on season would you think?
Sandy says
If you are not vegetarian/vegan, use lard if you can get it. It also makes the flakiest pie crust…
Cat says
I’m thinking of tryin that smokes seasame oil I e tried this there ain’t enough liquid smoke in the world to get the same taste as pops and I make red beans all the time but I’m thinking it might be a game changer cause it’s smoky.
Melanie Watkins says
I’ve been a chef for years and I will tell you that for a flavoring you can use veg stock, but to mock the bacon fat, I would suggest a little Crisco, liquid smoke, and a little more salt. That’s about as close to a meat fat as you can get! Good luck 👍
Wendy says
Thank you so much. Lovin your name!!! Cooked these up with a side of carmelized sausage links…so yummy. Thank ya
Chris Mathis says
This is pretty close! Close enough my 8 year old son, who loves Popeyes’ beans, couldn’t tell the difference.
Melissa says
My husband has been a Popeye’s Beans & Rice fanantic for years! I made this WFPBNO so I could eat it, too. (I just omitted the oil & butter, and used aquafaba in place of water.) He loved it & said it was spot on Popeye’s recipe! When I told him how I altered the recipe, he didn’t believe me. LOL! Thank you for sharing! It will become a weekly menu item for us…SO delicious!
FoodHussy says
Well – I had to look up WFPBNO but that’s awesome – glad you liked it!!!
Transplant west says
Use the dry beans and quick boil ten minutes then soak or simmer low a few hours if you want them creamy like Popeye’s. The canned beans stay too hard. (this tip from a friend who kept me from going out to get beans and coming home with chicken too )
Vanessa says
Question….your ingredients call for 2 cups of white rice, but your instructions state boil 1/2 cup of white rice?
FoodHussy says
the recipe needs 2 cups of COOKED rice – i used 1/2 cup uncooked rice to make 2 cups cooked – make sense?
Jay Cry says
Wow tried this recipe and it works, I substituted the Garlic Salt for Garlic Power and omit the salt. That liquor smoke did the trick. Thank You, Thank You, Thank You
FoodHussy says
That’s awesome – i’m glad you liked it!!!!
FoodHussy says
Hey – I just updated my recipe card – I’d love if you could come back and rate this recipe! Thanks!
Peggine Gibson says
Great
C says
Delicious! Tastes very close to Popeyes. I hadn’t had Popeyes food in 25 years then I saw them while on vaca and the B/R was the only thing that was pretty good. Thank you for helping me recreate!
FoodHussy says
thank you!!!! i love it!
Mindy B. says
What kind of hot sauce do you use? I’m a stickler for following recipes to the letter haha!
FoodHussy says
usually frank’s red hot but for hot sauce – whatever you have i’m sure is fine!
Lisa says
I made this 2 weeks ago and it was very good. Making again tonight with hot wings! Yum
FoodHussy says
woohoo! glad you like it!
Roseanna S Ferguson says
Popeyes the is my favorite. That’s all I order is a lg one. And I’m so excited to try it at home I could eat it everyday. But there’s not one around where we live I have to travel over an hour just to get my popeyes so thank u
Nicole says
It had a good flavor but it was very salty. We pared it with some cornbread.
Judy P says
I don’t have liquid smoke because I don’t care for it. Could I sub smoked paprika instead? It has a real smoky flavor. And I would add some Smoked Sausage too.
FoodHussy says
Yes- it just a couple of drops – so you could leave it out altogether – or add a dash of the paprika but i wouldn’t add too much!
Joanne Stephens says
I love Red Beans and rice but make mine in an Instant Pot. But with this recipe, it work great. The flavor is so full body. The rice is made the old fashion way on the stove because I find that it either does not get soft or it turns to mush.
Nicole says
can you share your insta pot recipe please?
charlotte rogers says
super great!!!
Julie says
You can also order Zatarain’s red beans and rice or the red bean seasoning mix. Tastes just like Popeye’s red beans!
FoodHussy says
but with Zatarains – the red beans and rice are together – popeyes serves separate which i like too
charlotte rogers says
hi-making this now. using one can of beans and keeping the other spices as is cut bacon grease in half.
yumm-ooo!!!!!!
Alli says
Thank you so much for sharing this recipe! I’ve used it four or five times since I found it a few months ago and it’s spot on; you really captured the Popeye’s flavor and it’s so simple. I have to stop myself from trying to make it every time I cook red beans now. Many thanks!
Deena says
I love this!
Krystal Bailey says
My family loved it! Thank you so much!!
Mauricio says
This is probably the best version so far. In my case, I changed the bacon fat with Hormel’s Crumbled Bacon (Same proportions). The bacon adds a “meaty” feeling that evolves the plate.
jinhill says
Awesome – these were delish – even better than Popeyes as I added a few Jalapenos. Thanks so much for the recipe and the touch of bacon fat
Jin
Kathy DeVan says
As a care giver to an elderly person who is on a strict diet, I am having a fit translating 428kcal to American calories. Do not even want to attempt carbs minus fiber to get my net carbs for this dish. Sounded like a nice treat for a special occasion for her but not so much. Enjoy it though if you make it !
FoodHussy says
You don’t need to convert them – i put the nutrition info in – it’s american calories – and yeah – rice & beans is going to be carb heavy – it’s all carbs!
Erin Sheldon says
My family and I loved this. Even 6 year old approved. She asked for more!!
Joanie says
Your ingredients list says garlic powder, but the instructions say garlic salt. Should it be powder or salt ? I’m really looking forward to making this recipe so I want to make sure Inuse the correct ingredients. Thanks.
FoodHussy says
it should be garlic powder – i’ll fix that now
Nicole says
anyone ever use this in Insta Pot? How’d it come out? I really want to try the recipe!
FoodHussy says
I really don’t think you need an instant pot for this – I just made it on the stove top – boil the rice – make the beans and you’re done! I don’t own an IP – so I can’t help you there. 🙂
Dawn says
Tried this tonight… was really good. I cooked it longer than it suggested.
FoodHussy says
That’s awesome! Glad you liked it!
Barry says
I Replace the salt with Louisiana brand Cajun Seasoning, much better
T says
Can I use red kidney beans?
FoodHussy says
You can but the taste will be different. Unlike red beans, which are soft and creamy, kidney beans have a firm, meaty texture and harder skin.
Jasmine says
Not only was this recipe super easy but it literally taste just like the Popeye’s version. I did 2 things different. I put smoked sausage in mine. I cooked the smoked sausage in the bacon grease then added it all to the beans and I didn’t have garlic powder so I used chopped garlic. I didn’t add any salt or pepper as it didn’t need any. I will definitely make this again! My family loved it!
Einar says
Just like you, Popeye’s Red Bean & Rice is a must to always order.
And I thought that nothing could come close. Your recipe is very, very close to it and I will keep on making it and playing with it to figure out that one little ingredient that might be missing.
I have an idea that time might be what’s missing. At Popeye’s remember the beans are sitting in a steamtable in a steel insert for sometimes hours at a time and the flavor blend and the sauce thickens. I also added a bit of ground cumin for a bit more earthy flavor.
Kimberly Shipley says
We use red beans in the bag here in Louisiana.
You can let them soak overnight, which will cut down on your flatulence 🤣.
Also, we use a smoked ham hock.
Once the beans have cooked at least 2-3 hours, I take a potato masher & smash some of the beans in order to make a gravy.
This will help thicken up the juice.
As far as the rice, I use Jasmine Rice in a rice cooker.
Best invention EVER!