Description
This copycat recipe recreates the beloved Popeye’s Red Beans and Rice, featuring creamy red beans simmered with smoky bacon fat, onion and garlic powders, and a hint of hot sauce, served over fluffy white rice. Perfect for a comforting Southern-inspired meal that comes together quickly on the stovetop.
Ingredients
Units
Scale
Beans
- 2 (16-oz) cans red beans
- 1/4 cup water
- 1/2 tsp onion powder
- 1/2 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/8 tsp hot sauce
- 1/4 tsp liquid smoke
- 3 tbsp bacon fat
Rice
- 1/2 cup white rice (Uncle Ben’s Converted White Rice recommended)
- 1.5 cups water
- 1 tbsp butter
- 2 cups cooked white rice (drained)
Instructions
- Prepare the Rice: Bring 1.5 cups of water to a boil in a saucepan. Add 1/2 cup of white rice and 1 tablespoon of butter. Once boiling, reduce heat to low and simmer for 20 minutes until water is absorbed.
- Combine Beans and Seasonings: Pour the two cans of red beans, including the juice, into a large saucepan. Add 1/4 cup water, 1/2 teaspoon each of onion and garlic powder, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon hot sauce, 1/4 teaspoon liquid smoke, and 3 tablespoons of bacon fat.
- Mash Beans Partially: Use a potato masher to compress the beans and ingredients slightly. Leave some beans whole to keep texture.
- Simmer Beans: Cook the bean mixture over medium heat, stirring frequently to prevent sticking, until the mixture thickens and excess water evaporates, about 15 minutes.
- Rest the Rice: Once rice is cooked, remove from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes to fluff up and absorb any remaining moisture.
- Serve: Serve the cooked rice over the thickened red bean mixture to replicate the authentic Popeye’s style.
Notes
- Use bacon fat for authentic smoky flavor, but substitute with oil or butter for a vegetarian version.
- Adjust hot sauce quantity based on your spice preference.
- Uncle Ben’s Converted White Rice is recommended for best texture, but any long grain white rice can be used.
- Partial mashing gives the beans a creamy yet chunky texture.
- Stir beans frequently to avoid burning and sticking to the pan.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 cup beans with 1/3 cup rice
- Calories: 250
- Sugar: 2g
- Sodium: 650mg
- Fat: 8g
- Saturated Fat: 3g
- Unsaturated Fat: 4g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 35g
- Fiber: 7g
- Protein: 10g
- Cholesterol: 10mg
