This quick and easy Dirty Rice Recipe, also known as Cajun rice, combines ground beef, ground sausage, onion, celery, green pepper, garlic, Cajun seasoning, and rice into an abundantly flavorful side dish. It is always a huge hit that is hearty enough to serve as a main dish if desired.
This recipe is so full of flavor that it is sure to impress. I love to serve this Louisiana-style dish with homemade hush puppies, fried okra, Cajun gumbo, and Creole jambalaya. Treat your family or friends to a bowl, sit back, and listen to the praises.
Are you looking for an authentic and easy dirty rice recipe? Look no further! This recipe includes all the traditional ingredients and is sure to become a family favorite. It is one of our favorite rice dishes with tons of Cajun flavors. It takes less than thirty minutes to prepare and is one of my most beloved Cajun dishes.
The dish combines the “Cajun Holy Trinity” flavors with plenty of protein, like ground beef, ground pork, and minced chicken livers. You don’t like chicken livers? Then go ahead and omit them. Cooking is about adapting a recipe to your personal preferences.
What is Dirty Rice?
It is a classic Cajun side dish with long grain rice, flavorful and savory spices, onions, celery, and green peppers, commonly known as the holy trinity of Cajun cooking. The name “dirty” comes from the overall color that the rice takes on after cooking with ground beef, pork sausage, Cajun seasoning,
Ingredient Notes and Substitutions
- Chicken broth: low sodium is best
- Long grain white rice: like basmati or jasmine
- Ground beef: with a bit of fat in it. Fat gives the dish flavor.
- Ground pork sausage: I use a mild-flavored one like Jimmy Dean’s All-Natural.
- Vegetables: the holy trinity, which consists of onion, celery, and green bell pepper, plus garlic and green onions.
- Chicken livers: are optional, but they are an authentic ingredient.
- Seasonings: Cajun or Creole seasoning and fresh parsley
How to make Dirty Rice
Start by bringing a pot of chicken broth to a boil over medium-high heat. Then, add the rice and bay leaf. Stir to combine, letting it return to a boil. Then, turn it to simmer, cover, and cook until the rice is tender. Next, remove it from the heat and let it sit covered for a few minutes. Then, fluff with a fork and remove the bay leaf.
While the rice is cooking, brown the ground beef and pork sausage in a large skillet or pan over medium heat. When it is about halfway through the browning process, add the onions, celery, peppers, and chicken livers (if using), cooking until the veggies are tender and the meat is no longer pink. Then reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, cooking for a minute while stirring constantly.
Now stir in the Cajun seasoning, chicken broth, and rice. Then add the chopped parsley and green onions, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Preparation Tips
- I cook the rice in chicken broth to give it more flavor. If you are in a pinch, try minute rice cooked in chicken broth. It is quick and easy, and it cooks up well every time.
- The rice can be cooked up to a day in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Chop your onions, celery, and peppers (also known as the Holy Trinity) fine so you get a little bit in every bite.
- You can use either Cajun or Creole seasoning. For a more robust flavor, make your seasoning.
Storage and Reheat
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over low heat.
To freeze, fully cool, then store in a sturdy container and freeze for up to 2 months. Thaw in the fridge overnight. Reheat in the microwave at reduced power or on the stovetop over low heat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Chicken livers are optional, although they are traditionally used in dirty rice. Just chop them finely to blend well with the ground beef and pork sausage.
More Cajun Recipes
Dirty Rice
Ingredients
- 4 ½ cups low-sodium chicken broth
- 2 cups uncooked long-grain white rice like basmati
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 pound ground pork sausage
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 rib celery chopped
- 1 green bell pepper seeded and chopped
- ½ cup finely minced chicken livers optional
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley
- 2 green onions finely sliced
- Salt and pepper to taste
Instructions
- Bring 4 cups of chicken broth to a boil in a large pot over medium-high heat. Add the rice and bay leaf. Stir to combine, letting it return to a boil. Turn it to simmer, cover and cook until the rice is tender, about 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and let it sit covered for a few minutes. Fluff with a fork and remove the bay leaf.
- Brown the ground beef and pork sausage in a large skillet over medium heat. When it is about halfway through the browning process, add the onions, celery, green pepper, and chicken livers (if using), cooking until the vegetables are tender.
- Reduce the heat to low and add the garlic, cooking for 1 minute while stirring constantly. Stir in the Cajun seasoning, 1 /2 cup chicken broth, and rice. Add the chopped parsley and green onions, and season with salt and pepper to taste.
Video
Notes
- I cook the rice in chicken broth to give it more flavor. If you are in a pinch, try minute rice cooked in chicken broth. It is quick and easy, and it cooks up well every time.
- The rice can be cooked up to a day in advance. Store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.
- Chop your onions, celery, and peppers (also known as the Holy Trinity) fine so you get a little bit in every bite.
- You can use either Cajun or Creole seasoning. For a more robust flavor, make your seasoning.
Nutrition
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Julie
As someone who is a picky eater but loves New Orleans, I have to say this Dirty Rice Recipe is an absolute delight. The combination of ground beef, ground sausage, onion, celery, green pepper, garlic, and Cajun seasoning, along with the rice, creates an explosion of flavors that is sure to please even the pickiest eaters. I appreciate that it is easy to make and can be served as a main meal if desired. I also love how versatile it is, as it can be served with other dishes like homemade hush puppies, corn on the cob, and coleslaw. Overall, this recipe is sure to impress anyone, even those who are usually hesitant to try new things.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you liked the rice, Julie. Thanks for the smashing review!
Colleen
We love serving this for dinner as a simple side with oven Baked Chicken Thighs. It is a great combination!
Beth Pierce
I could not agree more!
Alita Pacio
The authentic cajun flavor shines through in this flavorful dish! I love this dirty rice recipe.
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Alita!
Claudia
Wow, Of course, it can easily be a one-pan meal on its own. Dirty Rice cooks in one pot and tastes great with a variety of dishes too.
briannemanzb
I was just looking for a go-to side dish that is packed with flavor, then I found your site. Thank you so much. This easy recipe will be loved at home.
Brian
I wasn’t sure what dirty rice was. Heard of Cajun rice, but wouldn’t have known how to MAKE IT. THANK YOU so much!
Kimberley
This looks so delicious, I have to try it. I am so tired of regular white rice. I am sure this will surprise everyone in my household. Thanks for sharing!
Gervin Khan
Great recipe with tons of flavor. Thanks for sharing!
MELANIE E
This is an excellent dirty recipe. It is better than my favorite Cajun restaurant.
Nicole Bertrand
This was DELISH!! I love dirty rice! That and some crab cakes — I could eat this everyday!
Cinny
That looks like it could be quite flavorful! I’m always looking for new recipes.
Stephanie
Whenever I am dining out and there is dirty rice on the menu I always order it. Now I can make it myself – this recipe is better than most restaurants I’ve been to.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you enjoy it!
Aleta Bryant
Making it with salmon croquettes and sauteed cabbage. This seems similar to my grandmother’s recipe without the sage. What do you think about a little sage in the recipe?
Beth Pierce
I think you could add a few pinches of sage but be careful as sage can be overpowering and take over a dish. It can also turn things green in color if too heavy.
Dorry Lyn
Yes, it looks dirty but I guess the taste is delicious! Will try to cook this recipe.
Clarice
Wow! This Cajun rice was delicious. We really do not like liver so, I omitted it. Thank you for sharing the recipe. We enjoyed it with some shrimp boil and corn muffins.
Ntensibe Edgar
Gggiirrrlllll, you have successfully gotten me hungry! One look at the list of ingredients and I fell in love with the dirty rice! Thank you for the recipe.
Elise Ho
My husband is a huge rice fan, and he loves this dirty rice. So much flavor! Thanks for sharing!