Copycat Popeyes Red Beans and Rice is a delicious way to enjoy creamy red beans seasoned with cajun spices and tender, fluffy white rice. This is one of those great recipes that tastes even better the next day. This has to be one of the most requested recipes from Popeyes. These red beans are an easy recipe to make! These beans make a delicious meal, or I know it will soon become a favorite side dish of the whole family.
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What Makes Popeyes Red Beans and Rice So Good?
While there is no denying Popeye’s serves amazing chicken, the chain’s other Southern classics, such as their version of Red Beans and Rice, are equally good. Red Beans and Rice is a favorite of many diners because it is inexpensive, filling, and has that authentic Louisiana everyone loves.
If you like the Popeyes Red Beans and Rice recipe, try this copycat version because it is even tastier. Don’t miss out on this delicious side dish.
Why You Should Try This Copycat Recipe for Red Beans and Rice
This version surpasses even Popeye’s because it uses a real ham hock. Southern cooks traditionally love ham hocks for the deep, meaty, smoky flavor they impart to their beans, but the Popeyes Red Beans and Rice recipe doesn’t include it.
If you can find one, use it, but if you would rather not, see below for a budget-friendly vegetarian alternative.
Popeyes Red Beans and Rice Ingredients
To make this Popeyes Red Beans and Rice recipe, you’ll need:
- Red beans, canned
- Smoked ham hock
- Water
- Onion powder
- Garlic salt
- Red pepper flakes
- Salt
- Lard
- Ground pepper
- Long grain rice
Ingredient Notes
A larger ham hock means more flavor. Select one weighing half a pound or more. If you don’t want to use a ham hock, 1/4 teaspoon of liquid smoke is a good alternative.
If you leave the ham hock out because you want a vegetarian version of this recipe, replace the lard with three tablespoons of olive oil.
Please use good-quality rice with this. We did not like the results with Minute Rice, but Success Rice boil-in-the-bag did come out well. This recipe lets you make Popeye’s Red Beans and Rice at home.
How to Make Red Beans and Rice Like Popeyes
To prepare this copycat Popeyes Red Beans and Rice:
- Empty two cans of the beans into a medium saucepan. Add the ham hock and water.
- Bring the uncovered beans to a simmer over medium heat. Cook for about an hour until the meat is tender. Keep an eye on the beans to ensure they never come to a full boil or dry out.
- Take the pot off the stove and allow it to sit until the ham hock is cool enough to handle. Remove the meat from the bone and dice it into small pieces.
- Discard the bone and return the meat to the pan. Stir in the remaining seasonings and the lard.
- Use an immersion blender to puree the beans for only a few seconds to help break up the beans. You can use a food processor if you don’t have a stick blender.
- Dump in a can of drained red beans and pulse once or twice to break them up. Return the bean mixture to the pan if you are using a food processor.
- Stir the uncovered beans over low heat for a few minutes to warm them evenly, and serve with fluffy white rice on top.
How To Serve Red Beans and Rice
Spoon the red beans into a bowl—spoon hot white rice in the center of the red beans. Try garnishing with a few slices of green onions or scallions for a pop of color and an extra flavor. Serve with hot sauce on the side.
What Goes With Red Beans and Rice?
You can serve red beans and rice as a main course, as it is a hearty dish, but it is often a side dish with fried chicken. Other sides that go with it include mac n cheese, biscuits, and coleslaw.
How To Store Leftovers
Let extra red beans cool, and then store them in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to three days.
To keep the beans longer, you can freeze them for up to three months in a freezer bag.
If you have a lot of leftovers, try freezing individual portions.
How to Reheat Beans and Rice for the Best Results
For the best flavor and texture, prepare the rice fresh.
While the rice is cooking, you have time to reheat the beans the correct way:
- Dump the thawed beans in an ovenproof casserole dish with a splash of water on the bottom.
- Cover and heat for about 15 to 20 minutes in a 350-degree Fahrenheit oven until hot.
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Enjoy rice? Check out my favorite rice recipes
Be sure to take a look at more of the best side dishes and copycat restaurant recipes.
Popeyes Red Beans and Rice
Ingredients
- 3 cans red beans
- 1 smoked ham hock (1/2 to 3/4 pound) (or substitute with 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke)
- 1 1/4 cups water
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 tablespoons lard
- 1/4 teaspoon freshly ground pepper
- 4 cups cooked long grain rice for serving
Instructions
- Pour 2 cans of beans into a 2-quart saucepan along with the ham hock and water.
- Simmer on medium heat for an hour, until the meat starts to loosen from the bone.
- Remove from the heat and cool until the ham hock is cool enough to handle.
- Remove the meat from the bone, and place the meat, beans, and liquid from the pot in a food processor.
- Add the onion powder, garlic salt, red pepper flakes, salt, and lard.
- Process for only 4 seconds. The beans should be chopped and the liquid thick.
- Drain the remaining can of beans and add it to the processor.
- Process for just a second or two; you want these beans to remain almost whole.
- Pour everything back into the pan and cook slowly on low heat, stirring often, until you’re ready to serve.
- Serve over rice.
Smith
Cooked it for a work potluck everyone enjoyed them
Sandra Aseremo
i love this Copycat Popoeye Recipe. the only difference is, that I add more of the Ham Hocks and used dried beans. The extra Ham hocks makes the broth more flavorful. To me, its close to Popeye but better. One of the reason why some people think its Bland is because of the lack of Ham hock flavor. When I bought an Off Brand, that is what happened. I had to put in more. Now, I just buy the name brand one not the store brand one. That secret is the Ham Hocks !
Thank You !!!!
BBLee
Would you please provide a Copy Kat recipe for “Southern Classic” brand red beans and rice? I think it’s even tastier than Popeye’s.
Stephanie Manley
I will keep your suggestion in mind.
Robert Bassett
This is a great rendition for or taste buds.
miki
How can I thicken it up if turned out too thin
Stephanie Manley
I would cook it for a little longer without a lid on it to let the water evaporate.
Toni
The recipe as printed really comes out quite bland. To a DOUBLE recipe, I added a quarter cup each of onions and celery and a whole clove of garlic pulse together in the food processor plus a quarter teaspoon of cayenne pepper and two to three tablespoons of taco sauce. Now it tastes like Popeyes.
Stephanie Manley
What type of taco sauce did you use?
Joli
I don’t eat pork so how much liquid smoke do you use?
Stephanie Manley
I would use about 1/2 teaspoon. I personally like the liquid hickory smoke flavor the best.
Maaggie
I will veganize this…no lard, for gosh sakes, and a vegan sausage. Sounds like it will be great!
Mike
Please don’t…yuck
Blackcuisines
Making a vegan version of this dish is lowkey disrespectful. You might as well call it something else
TheSocialGadfly
How so? Processed pork products, such as ham hock and bacon, derive their flavor from smoke and salt, both of which are vegan-friendly. As such, vegans who wish to replicate popular dishes while maintaining their compassionate lifestyle may do so by substituting vegan-friendly ingredients and methods of processing. I don’t see how this is “lowkey disrespectful.” If anything is “lowkey disrespectful,” it’s your comment.
Latashia
My brother suggested I might like this website. He was totally right.
I loved these red beans and rice.
Neka
I love Red beans. This recipe is a great starter. I did not use the cans of beans i used a 16 oz dry bag of small red beans and frozen ham left over from Thanksgiving. I put the Ham and beans in the crock pot on low. After 2 hours I put in the seasons in this recipe. I also added extra seasons such as 1tsp of Tony’s Creole seasoning, a tsp of Cumin and a small chopped onion. I let it cook slow for 4 more hours. Checked all of the boxes for me. Thanks.
Dennis Corbit
I distinctly taste cumin in the Popeyes recipe which is what I believe gives it it’s wonderful flavor.
Patrick
Questions: Do I drain the beans before they go into the pot? Do I cover the pot while stewing?
Stephanie
You can drain the beans before, you can put the pot on top of the beans when you simmer them.
Ashley
You gave a vegan sub only for the ham, what is a vegan sub for the lard.
Stephanie
You could use vegetable shortening.
Linda
I made the red beans and rice today and it did not taste anything like Popeyes! I knew it was missing something so I added a little chili powder and it was better.
DOREN
Love the Red Beans and Rice receipe!
Tom Cotter
You omitted the liquid smoke. Without that it’s just another bean recipe.
Rhonda
Not with the smokey flavored ham hock. She/he is correct, it is an upgrade in regards to flavor if you eat pork.
Marchelle Malzhan
Fantastic recipe Mate!
Sasha
I doubled all of the seasonings except for the salt and red pepper flakes. I also cooked the beans with 3 bay leaves and 2 ham hocks, not 1. SO good! I absolutely adore this!!
Terrion Richelle Brown
Is this real
Victoria S
I have never cooked with ham hocks b4 so I did not realize I should not put the skin in so I ended up with a bunch of chewy pieces in my food. I wish the video and recipe matched. Overall, it was fine tasting, but I felt like the recipe was truly missing something.