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Popeyes Red Beans and Rice Revealed
5 from 15 votes

Popeyes Red Beans and Rice Revealed

This recipe recreates Popeyes-style red beans and rice using dried beans, bacon, and spices including liquid smoke and hot sauce for smoky, spicy flavor. The beans are simmered gently to develop soft texture and rich taste, accompanied by buttered white rice cooked in chicken broth. The use of bacon fat and seasoning powders enhances depth, while the careful simmering keeps beans intact without boiling over.

Prep Time
20 mins
Cook Time
3 hrs
Total Time
3 hrs 20 mins
Servings: 16 servings
Calories: 261 kcal
Course: Side Dish
Cuisine: American

Ingredients

For the Beans
  • 16 oz red beans dried
  • 4 Bacon cut into 1” pieces, slices
  • 1 chicken stock concentrate heaping tablespoon of
  • 4 Tbs bacon fat see notes
  • 1 Tbs onion powder
  • 1 Tbs garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 Tbs hot sauce a Good quality one like Tolulas or a Sriracha sauce
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 2 Tbs liquid smoke
  • salt to taste
  • black pepper to taste
For the Rice
  • 2 Cups long grain white rice
  • 4 Cups chicken broth
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • ½ teaspoon black pepper
  • 3 Tbs butter

Instructions

    Cup of Yum
  1. For the Beans
  2. Pour the red beans into a large stock pot and cover with cool water, slosh around to wash. Remove any bad beans you find. Do this several times until the beans are free of any dirt, bad beans, half beans, etc.
  3. Put the beans back into the stockpot and cover with 2 inches of cool water. Place on the stove and heat over high heat until boiling, then reduce heat to medium for a simmer. Simmer for 10 minutes to precook.
  4. After precook, pour the beans into a colander and rinse with cool water. Rinse the stockpot as well.
  5. In the stockpot you just used for the beans, cook 4 slices of bacon cut into 1” pieces until crispy. Then, leaving the bacon in place, replace the washed beans into the stockpot and cover with enough water to cover the beans by 2 inches. Set on the stove over medium heat and bring to a low simmer. Reduce the heat to keep the liquid at this low simmer. Do Not allow it to come to a full rolling boil.
  6. Add the other ingredients EXCEPT the liquid smoke. Simmer until the beans are soft and like you like them. Once they are like you like them, cut the heat to low, remove about ⅓ of the beans and lightly smash with a potato masher and then replace it into the saucepan.
  7. Add the liquid smoke and stir well after each tbs added. Allow to heat for 5 minutes to give time for the liquid smoke to absorb into the beans. Taste to see if you need to add salt or pepper. Serve hot over a bed of rice.
  8. For the Rice
  9. Rinse the rice well in cool water and repeat this 2-3 times.
  10. Place the washed rice into a sauce pan, cover with chicken stock by 1 inch.
  11. Add the salt, pepper, and butter and give it a good stir.
  12. Bring the sauce pan up to a simmer over medium heat, reduce to a simmer, place the lid on the pan and allow to simmer for 20 minutes.
  13. Remove the lid, fluff the rice with a fork and use as a bed for the red beans.

Notes

  • Use powdered onion and garlic for reliable flavor during long cooking; fresh may be used as garnish.
  • Substitute chicken stock concentrate with bouillon cubes if unavailable, adjusting salt accordingly.
  • Vegetable oil and stock can replace bacon fat and chicken stock for a vegan version; omit bacon and use liquid smoke for flavor.
  • Dried beans are preferred for better flavor and cost-effectiveness.
  • Mashing some beans is optional; fully soft beans can be achieved by longer cooking.
  • White rice typically pairs best; alternate rice types can be used following their cooking instructions.

Nutrition Information

Calories 261kcal (13%) Carbohydrates 37g (12%) Protein 9g (18%) Fat 8g (12%) Saturated Fat 4g (20%) Cholesterol 13mg (4%) Sodium 584mg (24%) Potassium 481mg (10%) Fiber 5g (20%) Sugar 1g (2%) Vitamin A 78IU (2%) Vitamin C 6mg (7%) Calcium 36mg (4%) Iron 2mg (11%)

Nutrition Facts

Serving: 16 servings

Amount Per Serving

Calories 261

% Daily Value*

Calories 261kcal 13%
Carbohydrates 37g 12%
Protein 9g 18%
Fat 8g 12%
Saturated Fat 4g 20%
Cholesterol 13mg 4%
Sodium 584mg 24%
Potassium 481mg 10%
Fiber 5g 20%
Sugar 1g 2%
Vitamin A 78IU 2%
Vitamin C 6mg 7%
Calcium 36mg 4%
Iron 2mg 11%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.