When I was a child, my Grandmother would often prepare red beans and rice. She made it because we liked it, but also because the ingredients were inexpensive and easy to purchase in bulk. Money was tight and it was a great way to stretch the dollar. It’s a simple dish, and it’s filling. As Grandpa said so often - it sticks to your ribs.

Popeyes version of this classic is not as tasty as what Grandma used to make, but it’s still pretty good. Long grain rice is cooked and seasoned with salt, onion, garlic and paprika. It’s smothered with red kidney beans and a sauce made with pork-fat that’s been cured with (among other things) brown sugar and natural smoke flavors.

In my experience, the rice is always cooked right, firm on the outside and tender on the inside. The beans are plump and hearty, but sometimes there’s not as many ‘whole’ beans as I’d prefer. The sauce is thick and has a good smokey flavor, but unlike many of Popeyes items it’s not spicy at all. Those with a preference for the hotter side of the menu will likely find this rather bland. That’s just the nature of the dish.

For instance, one time I ate several pieces of their spicy chicken beforehand, after which the beans and rice barely made an impact on my taste buds. Again, this is not Popeyes fault, it’s the dish itself. If you really want to get the most enjoyment from this, I suggest not eating anything spicy with it. Allow yourself to appreciate the soft and subtle flavors on their own. A big bowl will make a wholesome satisfying meal.

If I had one request, it would be for some cornbread to go with it. That’s the way I grew up eating. We would dunk it, and sometimes just break it up and mix it all together. But alas, Popeyes does not have cornbread on the menu. Their buttermilk biscuits are very good, and do a decent job as a substitute, but it’s not the same. If you’ve ever had beans and rice with cornbread, you know it’s a match made in heaven.

Popeyes Red Beans and Rice has a pleasant mellow flavor, and does a fairly good job of recreating the taste I loved growing up in the South. If you’re like me, and you ate the same (basic) dish for years, it will make you feel right at home. But if you’ve never been satisfied by such simple food, it’s unlikely to impress or change your mind.

Price: $1.99 and $3.99 / Website: Popeyes.com

Fast Food Critic Score: B

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Nutrition Facts - Popeyes Red Beans and Rice (regular).

Calories - 320
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 19 grams
Carbs - 31 grams
Saturated Fat - 6 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 20 milligrams
Sodium - 710 milligrams
Protein - 10 grams

I continue my tour of KFC side dishes, moving on to the BBQ Baked Beans. Of all the items I’ve covered so far, these are my least favorite because of inconsistency. On a good day, they are delicious, but those days aren’t nearly frequent enough.

The beans themselves are never the problem. They are always plump and tender, good hearty navy beans. The problem is the sauce and seasoning. One day the beans will be swimming in a thin liquid pool of sauce, without much flavor or kick. The next day it’s a thick and rich mixture with hardly any excess liquid. Back and forth.

On those days when the sauce is thick, it has plenty of brown sugar and barbecue flavor, and the beans really do taste “baked”. On the days where the sauce is thin, it feels and tastes like somebody heated up a can of beans on the stove top.

Why the difference? My understanding is that KFC purchases a high quality canned bean, then each store adds a custom sauce and mixture of spices before cooking. When relying on human beings to recreate an exact recipe at hundreds of restaurant locations, I suppose there’s a decent size margin of error. Times like this remind me how difficult it can be to review food produced on such a large wide scale.

The BBQ Baked Beans at KFC are hit and miss. When they’re done right, they taste wonderful. When they’re thin and soupy, the flavor is weak and the overall experience is bland. I’m not sure why this item is less consistent than other KFC sides.

Price: $1.39 — Website: KFC.com

Fast Food Critic Score: C+

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Nutrition Facts - KFC, BBQ Baked Beans.

Calories - 220
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 1 grams
Carbs - 45 grams
Saturated Fat - 0 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 0 milligrams
Sodium - 730 milligrams
Protein - 8 grams

In my opinion, there are not nearly enough vegetable side dishes served at fast food restaurants. I suppose the demand is not there. People want fried and flavor-packed food, and the simple subtle tastes of things like green beans and corn are just too boring. KFC is one place that offers a decent selection of veggie sides. Among the best, at least in my region of the country, are the fancy cut green beans. They taste great, and have a hearty wholesome quality. A healthy choice with only 50 calories.

There’s not too much to say about them, but I wanted to give my readers some type of background on the product if possible. Such as whether they were frozen, canned, or made fresh. I knew they were unlikely to be fresh, but I wanted to be certain. I called two different stores, and found the regular employees could not, or would not tell me. When trying the 3rd location, closest to my home, and the source of the beans in these photos, I requested the “Store Manager”. I was greeted by a friendly enough person, but unfortunately she was not familiar with the product she was serving, even insisting the green beans had no red peppers in them, despite the obvious facts.

No red peppers. — She said.

I eat at your store all the time. They always have red peppers. — I said.

No red peppers. We could never have those in our regular menu items. Too many problems with people’s allergies. — She replied with absolute certainty.

I’m looking at red peppers right now. I’m picking them out and holding them. They are nice sized chunks. — I told her.

There are No Red Peppers in the green beans. There are none when they come from the can, and we don’t add any. We add some spices, but it’s just a small packet of powder. — She says.

I guess these chunks of red pepper are dried, and part of the seasoning packet you add. — I remarked.

There are no red peppers of any kind. — She said.

I’m telling you, there are red peppers. And I’m not trying to hassle you. It’s a GOOD thing. They add flavor. For that matter, there are little chunks of Onion in there too, and the green beans are delicious. — I added.

There are No Onions. — She said.

Ha! At that point, I decided we had talked enough about the green beans.

She was a nice lady, and I’m not here to make her day confusing. As for the green beans, at least she did confirm they come from a can, albeit a very large restaurant sized can. There’s nothing wrong with that. I also confirmed the following from the green bean’s ingredient list on KFC’s website. Dehydrated Vegetables (Onion, Red Bell Pepper). It also lists an alternative ingredient list that does NOT contain the dehydrated vegetables, with a note explaining that it depends on current “regional suppliers”. This indicates there are some locations where the green beans will not contain the red peppers or onions. Maybe the manager of the store I spoke to had just transferred in from somewhere else in the country, and had not looked at the green beans at her new store? I don’t know, but I can tell you ALL the stores in my area, including hers, have been serving the same recipe for a couple years.

The Green Beans from KFC are delicious, assuming you get the version with the onions and red peppers. My research outside of KFC tells me they are Blue Lake Fancy Cut Green Beans in super sized cans like these examples at Sam’s Club. Don’t ask any more questions, just skip the greasy fries next time and try a vegetable. Or as my Mother would have said — Be quiet, sit still, and eat your green beans.

Price: $1.39 — Website: KFC.com

Fast Food Critic Score: A-

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Nutrition Facts - KFC, Green Beans, Individual Side Order.

Calories - 50
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 1.5 grams
Carbs - 7 grams
Saturated Fat - 0 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 5 milligrams
Sodium - 570 milligrams