Like my fried chicken, my southern red beans and rice ( in my opinion) blows Popeye’s recipe out of the water. I honestly don’t think there is any competition.
Before I actually cook the beans I do a quick soak method. I never soak my beans over night, because AIN’T NO BODY GOT TIME FOR THAT! Usually the directions for the quick soak method are on the package of the beans but if not, follow these directions
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- Sort the beans, and remove any little rotten beans
- Rinse the beans under cool water, and gently scrub, using your finger tips.
- Drain the beans.
- Bring about six cups of water to a boil.
- Add the bean to the water.
- Turn the burner off, and remove the pot from the heat.
- Cover the pot, and let the beans soak for 2 hours
- After two hours, drain the beans.
- Now it’s time to cook the beans!!
When I recorded the video for this recipe, I used smoked ham chunks. If you don’t have that on hand- no need to worry! Here are other meats that will work just as good!
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- Ham Hocks – Take much longer to cook. About 6 hours on high, along with 8 cups of water, in a slow cooker. Reserve the broth, and transfer to a pot.
- Smoked Turkey Legs, Wing, or Necks – Boil for 45 minutes over high heat in 8 cups water. Reserve broth.
- Pork Neck Bones – Boil for 45 minutes over high heat in 8 cups water. Reserve broth.
- Bacon ( Turkey or Pork) – Prepare the same way as the ham in the directions below
- Smoked Turkey Tails – Boil for 45 minutes over high heat in 8 cups water. Reserve broth.
Watch my video tutorial, and don’t forget to leave me a comment below! If you haven’t tried my True Southern Fried Chicken, be sure to do so! XOXO

Southern Red Beans and Rice
Ingredients
- 16 oz bag of dry dark red kidney beans
- 1 medium sized white onion diced
- 1 lb smoked ham ham hock, smoked turkey wing
- 1 tsp vegetable oil
- 2 tsp cajun seasoning
- 1 tsp crushed cayenne pepper
- 1/2 tsp crushed black pepper
- 2 tsp smoked paprika
- 8 -10 cups water
- 4 cups cooked rice.
- * optional
- green onions and paprika for garnishing
Instructions
- Start of by sorting and rinsing the beans, then do a quick soak (directions for the quick soak method are on the package of the beans).
- Add one tsp of vegetable oil in a large pot, then begin to brown the smoked meat over medium high heat. Add in the onions, and cook until they start to sweat.
- Pour in 8 cups water.
- Drain the beans, then add them to the pot. Stir the ingredients, reduce the heat to medium, and cover the pot.
- Cook for 30 minutes. Add in 2 more cups of water. Sprinkle in the cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, ground cayenne, and ground black pepper.
- Stir the beans, and cover. Cook for another 45 minutes over medium heat.
- Place the beans in a bowl. Add some rice on top of the beans in the center of the bowl, and add more beans.
- Garnish with smoked paprika, and green onions
Can you do these without meat?
Yes you can. It won’t be as flavorful, but you can try adding different seasonings, and etc for spice it up.
Hi, how do you think Polish Sausage or Kielbasa would work with this?? I want to try this, but don’t want to be disappointed if the flavoring is off.
I’ve tried polish sausage before, and all of the flavor went into the beans, leaving the meat really bland. I don’t recommend it 🙁
I want to cook the red beans with beef neck bones in a crock pot. How long must I cook them and must I cook on high or low temp.
That is a completely different recipe than the one that I have written here.
Making this tonight ! What do I use the broth from the turkey for? Can I put some in my beans ?
Yes you can. 🙂
Do you have a recipe for a chicken or tuna wrap
Thank you so much Rosie, you’re the best
So glad I found your Instagram page and your blog!! Made these beans today!! Delicious!! Thanks for sharing your gift with the world!!
Hi Myra! I’m glad that you found my blog as well!! XOXO
Hey ms. Rosie how are you I saw this picture and thought wow those look good and the video looked pretty simple and so I really want to make them but how ever I’m searching up and down just to find the printable recipe with the correct amount of ingredients to use and i find that there isn’t one I would appreciate it if you could send me some info on how much ham and seasonig to use.
Hi,
For this recipe, are you saying for the six cups of water add the beans and boil. Reading this it reads as if you’re saying to boil the water then add the beans, please clarify. The beans really look delicious.
Hi Sam. I added the written recipe & directions. Check it out! 🙂
Thanks for this recipe. My fiancee requested red beans and rice with smoked pork neck and kielbasa for Thanksgiving. I don’t really throw down in the kitchen too much so I wasn’t sure how to pull it off. Was so glad to find your blog. I used the broth from the pork necks and I blended about a cup of the final cooked recipe to give it a creamier texture, per his request. It came out great!
Yummy I’m going to make this tomorrow
I love this recipe it was flavorful. As a matter of fact I am going to make it again for dinner with your coconut curry fried chicken.
Can I do this in the Crock-Pot without the soaking process like your pinto bean recipe? I absolutely love my Crock-Pot and try to do anything I can in there. But I don’t want to soak them and they get mushy.
Yes, you can 🙂
You have the best family recipes! Words can’t describe how much I appreciate your recipes. Thanks for all that you do!