Popeyes’ very own red beans and rice has become a fan favorite among customers, with its spicy aroma and rich flavor lighting up people’s taste buds as soon as they take that first bite, but while it may be extremely popular, is it considered vegan-friendly?
There’s actually a medley of ingredients that go into making this popular menu option, and considering Popeyes is well known for its crunchy fried nuggets and chicken strips, it’s understandable why many people following specific diet plans would be concerned.
Unfortunately, this menu item isn’t strictly vegan, and today, we’ll take a look at exactly how Popeyes go about making their red beans and rice and why that means it’s not suitable for anyone following a vegan diet.
Don’t worry, though – we do have some tried and tested alternatives to suggest.
Ingredients In Popeyes Red Beans And Rice
Popeyes red beans and rice is made by cooking red beans in pork fat, along with a few spices thrown into the mix to help ramp up the heat just a little bit, which, of course, means that it, unfortunately, isn’t suitable for vegans because of the meat involved in the process.
The annoying part about this is because the beans are soaked in pork fat, there’s no way you can switch out ingredients or modify the dish so that it can be enjoyed without having to worry about the inclusion of any meat.
We do have some other suggestions to get your Popeyes sides fix below, though.
Does Popeyes Offer Any Vegan Side Options
While Popeyes red beans and rice should be avoided by anyone following a vegan diet, the good news is that there are still a few other delicious sides that don’t contain meat or any animal byproducts that vegans and veggies can enjoy.
Here are all of the side options currently available on the Popeyes menu that are 100% vegan-friendly.
Po’Boy
To make the Po’Boy sub vegan-friendly, simply order it with no chicken, seafood, or sauce, and replace them with a mountain of veggies and a dash of Popeye’s very own vegan sauce to help keep the veggies as moist and flavorful as possible.
Corn On The Cob
Some Popeyes restaurants in certain locations across the US actually don’t make their corn on the cob with butter, but just to make sure, it’s always worth asking the staff if you need to remove it.
As long as the butter is gone, Popeyes corn on the cob is completely vegan-friendly and a delightful snack that can be enjoyed either on its own or as a side addition to a larger meal.
Baguette
The Popeyes baguette is one of the only menu options that doesn’t actually need to be modified in any way to make it vegan, and since each serving is also very low in calories, it’s perfect for snacking on either before or after a main meal to keep you satisfied.
Vegan Sauce Options
Alongside the handful of vegan sides available at Popeyes, you also have a selection of a few vegan sauces that can be layered over your food to help enhance its flavor and texture. These are all the vegan-friendly sauces that Popeyes currently offers its customers.
Applesauce
Cocktail
BoldBQ
Final Thoughts
Popeyes’ red beans and rice dish is unfortunately not compatible with a vegan diet because pork fat is used in the cooking process, but this doesn’t mean that you are completely out of options when it comes to vegan sides here.
Choose Po’Boy, corn on the cob, or a baguette as your side at Popeyes instead if you’re following a vegan diet.
Always make sure that you ask the staff at your local Popeyes what ingredients actually go into making each side since each restaurant will differ in its cooking process – it’s always better to be on the safe side.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are red beans and rice from Popeyes vegan?
No, Popeyes red beans and rice are not vegan as they contain pork fat.
Does Popeyes red beans and rice have meat in it?
While it doesn’t contain visible meat, the dish is flavored with pork fat, so it is not vegetarian.
Is Popeyes red beans and rice halal?
No, Popeyes red beans and rice are not halal due to the use of pork fat in the recipe.
