Bring a little of Louisiana home with this Copycat Popeye’s red beans and rice recipe. Creamy, smoky red beans are topped with fluffy white rice to make this simple and delicious side dish or main dish that can be made in about 30 minutes.
Making copycat recipes at home is super easy and fun. There are lots of great ones to try like Wingstop fries and KFC Twister wraps.
This easy Popeye’s red beans and rice recipe is one of my favorite copycat recipes to make at home. These full flavor beans are so simple to make and are a wonderful warm, hearty dish. We like serving it with a side of cornbread for a filling meal.
Is there meat in Popeye’s red beans and rice?
The original Popeye’s red beans recipe does not have meat. It does have bacon grease so it’s not considered vegetarian. This copycat recipe uses chopped bacon to make bacon grease but feel free to use any leftover grease you might have sitting around.
If you want to replace the bacon grease for a vegetarian version, use olive oil or vegetable oil.
Ingredients needed
Red beans – I like using canned red beans instead of dry beans because it’s a little faster. Make sure to grab red beans not red kidney beans. Red beans are smaller and a little softer than kidney beans.
2 15-ounce cans of beans are used for this recipe. You will use the whole can, so no need to rinse.
Bacon – Used for the pork fat. For a vegetarian version, substitute bacon grease with 3 tablespoons of olive oil.
Onion powder
Garlic salt
Creole seasoning – Use your favorite creole or Cajun seasoning blend. You can also substitute with 1/2 tablespoon of hot sauce.
Liquid smoke – Liquid smoke will give you that delicious smoky flavor. It can typically be found in the condiment section of the grocery store. This is strong so you will only need 1/4 teaspoon of liquid smoke.
Rice – Use your favorite white rice.
How to make Popeyes Red Beans and Rice
- Rice: Start by cooking the rice. Follow the directions on the rice packaging. You can add a tablespoon of butter while it’s cooking for a little extra flavor.
- Beans: Start by adding chopped bacon into a large, deep skillet or sauce pan. Cook until it starts to brown. ***At this point you can leave the bacon or remove the bacon pieces depending on how you like your beans. Make sure to leave the bacon grease in the pan.
- Stir in both cans of red beans. Use a potato masher to smash some of the beans. You can leave some of the beans whole.
- Stir in water, onion powder, garlic salt, creole seasoning, and liquid smoke into bean mixture.
- Let simmer over medium low heat for about 15 minutes or until beans start to soften. Make sure to stir often.
- Serve beans in a bowl and then place a scoop of cooked rice on top of the beans mixture.
How to store
Let the rice and beans completely cool. I would recommend storing the beans and rice in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator.
Reheat in the microwave or on the stove until heated through. You might need to add a little extra water if the mixture is too thick.
Red beans and rice can also be frozen for up to 3 months in a freezer safe container.
Recipe tips
- The rice takes about the same time to cook as the beans so start the rice before cooking the beans.
- Mashing some of the red beans helps to thicken the mixture and make it creamy. You can mash them right in the pan but try leaving a few of the whole.
- Popeye’s version does not have meat so feel free to remove the chopped bacon. Just make sure to leave the grease in the pan.
- If you want to add a little extra heat, stir in a few splashes of hot sauce or 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
- Some recipes uses ham hocks to add smoky flavor.
- Feel free to use your favorite rice. You can even use brown rice or cauliflower rice. Just cook according to package instructions.
How to serve
This recipe is hearty enough to be served as a main dish but can also be used as a perfect side dish.
Try serving it alongside fried chicken, pork chops, corn bread, French bread, collard greens, salad and more.
More easy copycat recipes
- Papa John’s garlic sauce
- Taco Bell quesadilla sauce
- Taco Bell chicken quesadilla
- Texas Roadhouse chili
- Wendy’s apple pecan salad
- Subway Southwest chipotle sauce
More Recipes You Will Love
Did you try this creamy beans and rice dish? Let me know in the comments below.
Popeyes Red Beans and Rice
Ingredients
- 2 cups uncooked white long grain rice
- 1 tablespoon butter
- 4 strips bacon
- 2 15 oz cans red beans
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 teaspoon creole seasoning
- 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke
Instructions
- In a large saucepan or pot, bring 4 cups of water to a boil. Add rice and butter and lower to a simmer. Cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until rice is cooked.
- Add chopped bacon a large deep skillet or saucepan. Cook over medium heat and stir until bacon starts to crisp. ( If you don't want bacon in the beans, carefully remove the bacon bits but leave the bacon grease. )
- Pour in whole cans of red beans. Using a potato masher, mash some of the beans but leave some of them whole.
- Pour in water, garlic salt, onion powder, creole seasoning, and liquid smoke. Stir to combine.
- Let simmer for 15 minutes or until beans start to soften. Make sure to stir so that the beans don't stick.
- Serve beans in a bowl with a scoop of rice on top.
Video
Notes
- The rice takes about the same time to cook as the beans so start the rice before cooking the beans.
- Mashing some of the red beans helps to thicken the mixture and make it creamy. You can mash them right in the pan but try leaving a few of the whole.
- Popeye’s version does not have meat so feel free to remove the chopped bacon. Just make sure to leave the grease in the pan.
- If you want to add a little extra heat, stir in a few splashes of hot sauce or 1/4 teaspoon of cayenne pepper.
- Some recipes uses ham hocks to add smoky flavor.
- Feel free to use your favorite rice. You can even use brown rice or cauliflower rice. Just cook according to package instructions.
Jhordyn S
Absolutely delicious. I made it as written in the recipe.
Gail
Very good. I put a little liquid smoke(4-5 dashes) and smoked paprika to get the smoky flavor.
Laurie Yorke
Quick and easy to make and is absolutely delicious! This recipe is every bit as good as Popeyes red beans and rice.
Judy L Stafford
When you say red beans, does that mean pinto beans, kidney beans or some other type?
heather
Hi Judy, There are canned beans called “Red Beans” in the store. If you can’t find them use your favorite red beans.
Doris
Pinto beans are better for Mexican dishes, kidney are best for making chili, stick with plain red beans for this recipe
Crystal
Absolutely delicious! I made this for an ill friend who happens to be Creole. It got the yum approval from her!
Jo Ann KAUTZ
Look no further…the most delicious and easiest red beans and rice recipe! (We leave the bacon in; yum!) We make it for every Monday night football game and then some. Thank you 1000X!
Princess Leah
My only complaint…is I should have made a bigger batch. This dish is amazing, comforting and addictive. Soooo good! I will never buy red beans and rice from Popeyes again🥰
CJ
These are wonderful! But I used dried red beans and ham hocks. Cooked the hocks and about an hour in added the beans and the rest of the ingredients. I made a huge batch, saved a generous portions for myself and gifted the rest to friends. Received race reviews. You can’t lose with this recipe. I think that it turned out better than Popeyes 💞
Shannon
This was sooo good!! Perfect recipe! Followed it exactly as listed & wouldn’t change a thing!
Lisa Love
Drain those beans or your finished product is going to be a bit loose! That was my experience… I used Maggie in place of the liquid smoke and worked awesome! This recipe is close but, something is missing. Definitely a good start!
Sparky
It needs Cumin.
Sean K.
If I have leftover rendered bacon fat / grease in the fridge, but no bacon, what measurement of bacon fat should I use? Cheers.
James A Dowd
3 tablespoons worked for me
Barbara King
I could not get my red beans to have a beautiful taste like Popeye’s. This recipe really helped me out tremendously! I needed to put Cajun seasoning in it. I am so pleased!! Thank you all so much for sharing!
Mrs. Barbara King
Shermaile L. Williams
This recipe is absolutely delicious! Followed it to the T and I didn’t have to add or take away anything. My family enjoyed and it will become a staple side dish in our home!
Lydia Woolum
What kind of liquid smoke did you use….hickory? mesquite? Or, what brand?
heather
I used the Colgin Hickory Liquid Smoke but any brand, hickory or mesquite will work.
Cynthia
I like smoked paprika in place of liquid smoke and cayenne it gives a mild heat and the smokey flavor.
Priscilla
This recipe is ON POINT, you hear me??!!!! I LOVE Popeyes red beans and rice, so I was skeptical about it being spot on. Well, let me tell ya like dis, this recipe here means I won’t be spending any more money at Popeyes drive thru for a large red beans and rice to go!
Now if I could only find a “spot on” recipe for that chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A I’m addicted to, I’d be one happy camper with plenty spare change!
Again, hats off to you for posting this copycat red beans and rice recipe. It is truly “dabomb.com!”
MsP:)
Carla Harlan
For Chick-fil-a….dill pickle juice is what they marinate the chicken breasts in….my daughter worked there all through high school…so she learned all the tricks. Seriously good!!!
Alli
These beans are the bomb! I used to live outside New Orleans, and they didn’t make it this good in restaurants (except Popeye’s)
And to add to Ms. Carla, Absolutely! Someone told me that they used “powdered sugar “ somewhere in there! There are some really close recipes if you look for “copycat Chick-fil-A “ on Pinterest, or even just Google it. If you have Sam’s Club near you? There is a really good hack 🙂 It’s called “Member’s Mark Southern Style Chicken” it’s in the frozen section, but it comes in nuggets and breaded chicken breast – it tastes like Chick-fil-A! I like making things from scratch, but sometimes I like to do a little semi- homemade. Try the stuff from Sam’s, it will save you a fortune!
Brian Barrett
me and my dad made it and its sooooooo good
Delores Nevels
Absolutely delicious!!
Evelyn
Blue Runner red beans right out of the can are better than Popeyes!! No seasoning needed. Just heat and eat!
Ronnie Walker
Is it necessary to drain the beans?
heather
No, you don’t need to rinse the beans. You can dump in the whole can.
Sonia
Can you use light red kidney beans?
heather
Yes light kidney beans would work well.
Joan Grimes
Made exactly as written, it was delicious and so very easy. Thank you.
heather
So happy you enjoyed!
Autumn Brooke
I love their red beans and rice. It’s probably my second favorite thing there after the chicken sandwich. I’ll have to give these a try.