Popeyes Red Beans and Rice came in direct response to many people’s requests. You can enjoy Cajun food when you are not in New Orleans.
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. You will be able to make Popeye’s Red Beans and Rice at home with this recipe.
Table of Contents
Popeyes Red Beans and Rice
Whether you call these beans and rice, or rice and beans, this dish is a staple in the South. My family moved to Texas when I was in high school and we enjoyed red beans and rice many times when growing up.
This is an easy recipe to make, and it is very filling. Popeyes is known for their red beans and rice, here is my personal Popeyes copycat version of this classic Southern dish.
The actual red beans and rice served at Popeyes does not contain any meat. If you are vegetarian you can prepare these beans with about 1/4 teaspoon of liquid smoke.
I prefer making these with smoked ham hocks. I think smoked ham hocks give a full rich flavor that you will enjoy. If you do not wish to use them, please omit and use the liquid smoke for your recipe.
Please note this recipe does feature the use of ham hocks for the smoke flavoring. I feel this is superior to liquid smoke that you find in grocery stores. The recipe from Popeyes is meat-free. Popeyes Red Beans and Rice is my copycat version of this recipe, and I think the best home cook results are made with the ham hocks.
This recipe does vary from the restaurant preparation. These beans will make an excellent side dish, or even a main dish. You will love to recreate this New Orleans favorite fast food restaurant recipe at home.
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Ingredients
- 3 cans red beans
- 1 smoked ham hock (1/2 to 3/4 pound) (you can omit, use 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke)
- 1 1/4 cup 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 long grain rice, cooked for serving
Instructions
- Pour 2 of the cans of beans into a 2-quart saucepan and add 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 hock is cool enough so you can remove the meat from the bone.
- Place the meat, beans, and liquid from the pot in a food processor. Add the onion powder, garlic salt, red pepper, 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 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 a premium long-grain rice.
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!
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.