Popeye’s Red Beans & Rice is one of my favorite take-out side dishes and making it at home is SO SIMPLE!!!! Creamy red beans with a slightly smoky flavor topped with fluffy white rice – the perfect side!
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