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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Frank
This is my favorite dirty rice recipe. It is easy to make, tasty, and the family loves it. Thanks for sharing, Beth.
Sangeetha
Oh, I absolutely loved this Dirty Rice recipe! 😍 I must say, it’s not only an incredibly flavorful side dish, but it also stands strong as a satisfying main meal. The heartiness and richness of the dish are simply irresistible. It was a huge hit with my family, and we couldn’t get enough of it!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Sangeetha! I am so glad that you and your family enjoyed it!
Zoe
Delicious dirty riec recipe! We loved it and it was even better than my favorite Louisiana style restaurant.
Rhea
That sounds like a delicious dish! I think i have all the ingredients are available in my kitchen, will copy this ❤️
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Rhea! Enjoy!
Melissa
Your Dirty Rice Recipe is a true Cajun delight! The blend of flavors from the ground beef, sausage, and spices is simply fantastic. It’s easy to make and incredibly satisfying as a main dish or side. Thanks for sharing this flavor-packed recipe!
Beth Pierce
The pleasure is all mine, Melissa! So glad that you enjoyed it.
DAVID NICHOLAS
Love it! I’ve tried it with 3 different Cajun seasonings and each result is quite different. Would love to hear what seasonings others are using.
Beth Pierce
So glad that you like it, David!
Cathy
I love this Cajun dirty rice recipe. It is so tasty and easy to make. The kids love it too.
Nancy
Thanks for sharing, Beth. I make this recipe at least once a month and it is so good every time. Glad that I found it.
Knycx Journeying
Love the name “dirty” and my three-year-old asked “Who’s dirty”, and my teenage asked “What’s dirty?” and both laughed when they heard someone orders a “dirty” at a cafe last month. I am sure I will never hear the end of it with dirty rice on the table.
Molly
Great easy recipe, and a nice twist on regular rice. Such a fun dish for the fmaily and it pairs well with a lot of other things.
Luna S
I used to love when my grandmother made something similar. I haven’t had it in forever, I will have to make it sometime this week.
MELANIE EDJOURIAN
I’ve not had Cajun food often but what I’ve tried was lovely. The dirty rice sounds like a great dish to enjoy on a weekday evening.
Rich
I love this dirty rice. It is just as good as the restaurants in New Orleans. Thank you!
Lori
This was super yummy! I didn’t want a ton of meat in it, so we just used the ground pork, and it was so wonderful! This is going into the “rotation” right away!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Lori! I am so glad that you like it! We love it too!
Jennifer L Prince
This is such a fun way to add pep to rice. What a great side dish for any night of the week. It was delish!
Elise Ho
Hubby loves dirty rice. He is all about this
Kat
I really like the sound of this rice and the name you gave it! Rice is something my family eats a lot, so I’m always on the lookout for new and exciting ways to make it taste better. I am definitely going to try your dirty rice recipe!
Beth Pierce
Thanks, Kat! Enjoy!