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A bowl of Popeyes Cajun rice copycat recipe, rich in flavor and texture.

10-Minute Popeyes Cajun Rice Copycat

This quick and easy recipe recreates the savory, spicy flavor of Popeyes Cajun rice in just 10 minutes, perfect for a weeknight meal.
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Prep Time 5 minutes
Cook Time 5 minutes
Total Time 10 minutes
Servings: 4 people
Calories: 350
Ingredients Equipment Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Ground Meat
  • 1 pound ground meat a mix of ground beef and pork, or just ground beef
Rice
  • 3 cups cooked rice leftover white rice or 2-minute microwave rice
Vegetables & Aromatics
  • 1/2 small onion finely diced
  • 1 stalk celery finely diced
  • 1/2 green bell pepper finely diced
  • 2 cloves garlic minced
Liquids & Seasoning
  • 1/2 cup chicken broth or water with a bouillon cube
  • 2-3 teaspoons cajun seasoning e.g., Tony Chachere's
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper optional
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon hot sauce like Tabasco, optional
Garnish & Other
  • 1 tablespoon fresh parsley chopped (for garnish, optional)
  • 1 tablespoon olive oil
  • salt and black pepper to taste

Equipment

  • large skillet
  • Dutch oven

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Heat olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground meat and cook until browned, then drain excess grease.
Cooking
  1. Add diced onion, celery, and green bell pepper to the skillet; cook for 3-5 minutes until softened. Stir in minced garlic and cook for another minute.
  2. Sprinkle in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, onion powder, garlic powder, dried thyme, and cayenne pepper; stir well and cook for 30 seconds.
  3. Pour in chicken broth, Worcestershire sauce, and hot sauce; bring to a gentle simmer, scraping up any browned bits.
  4. Stir in cooked rice until combined. Cover and simmer on low for 2-3 minutes to meld flavors.
Finishing
  1. Remove from heat, taste, and adjust seasoning with salt and pepper. Optionally, stir in fresh chopped parsley before serving.

Notes

For an extra kick, increase the amount of cayenne pepper or hot sauce. This recipe is a great way to use up leftover rice and can be easily adapted to your spice preference.