This dirty rice recipe is full of Cajun flavor, hearty meat, and lots of aromatic veggies to make a super quick and delicious dinner! So, whip up an easy batch of dirty rice and let the good times roll!
My dirty rice is fluffy, hearty, and full of incredible Louisiana flavor!
If you’re anything like me, you’re a sucker for rich, amazingly delicious Louisiana Cajun dishes. This incredible dirty rice is no exception!
Beef and pork are sautéed with aromatic veggies and spices, then rice is added and cooked to perfection. Dirty rice is the perfect way to get your Cajun fix fast!
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This recipe is even more amazing because it’s so easy to whip up! It takes just 35 minutes from start to finish to get this wholesome meal on the table!
Whether you eat it on its own or serve with sides, dirty rice is the perfect weeknight recipe!
🌎 Origin
Dirty rice is a centuries-old dish that originated in Louisiana! It gets its unique name from the golden-brown color of sautéed meat and veggies that “dirty” the white rice.
There are many variations on this dish, including those that use different meats like chicken livers or gizzards, because traditionally people used whatever meat they had access to!
The result is a delicious, flavorful meal that’s remained popular in Louisiana and all over the country for hundreds of years!
❤️ Why You'll Love This Recipe!
Super Flavorful! The rice is seasoned with browned beef and pork, aromatic veggies, and amazing Cajun seasoning! Every bite is loaded with delightful flavor!
Perfectly Cooked Rice! The rice in this meal is always fluffy and moist, never mushy! Follow my step-by-step instructions and it’ll turn out perfectly every time!
Great for Weeknights! This recipe is perfect for busy folks who need a great meal fast! You can even make ahead and freeze for easy dinners.
🥘 Ingredients
Flavorful dirty rice uses simple, easy-to-find ingredients to make an amazing dish! You might even have most of these ingredients in your kitchen already!
- ½ pound Ground Beef – I prefer a leaner ground beef here, like 85/15. You can also use 80/20 ground chuck if you prefer it!
- ½ pound Ground Pork – You’ll love the richness that ground pork adds to the dirty rice. Be sure not to use pork sausage – it might make the rice too salty!
- ½ cup Onion – For this recipe, you’ll want the onion diced! I like to use a large white or yellow onion.
- 1 cup Celery – You can slice or dice the celery here, depending on your preference! Not everyone is a fan of celery, but it’s a must in any Cajun or Creole dish!
- 1 Green Bell Pepper – I like to dice the green bell pepper for this recipe! I don’t recommend any other bell pepper for the green bell pepper, because the flavor is totally unique.
- 1 tablespoon Minced Garlic – One tablespoon of minced garlic is about 6 cloves. You can use pre-minced garlic or mince your own!
- 1 teaspoon Cajun Seasoning – I love how rich and flavorful Cajun seasoning is! Try my easy-to-make homemade spice blend or use store-bought! (See Tips & Recipe Notes)
- ¼ teaspoon Salt & Pepper – This classic seasoning base will make sure our rice is perfectly seasoned! You can add according to taste here.
- 1½ cups Long Grain White Rice – You can’t have dirty rice without the rice! I like to rinse rice before cooking to remove excess starch (See Tips & Recipe Notes).
- 3½ cups Beef Broth – If you have your own beef broth, that’s awesome! If not, you can use store-bought broth or bouillon paste dissolved in hot water.
- Parsley – Beautifully green chopped parsley is the perfect garnish for this dish! If using it, make sure you’re using fresh!
*Be sure to see the recipe card below for ingredients, amounts & instructions!*
🔪 Step-By-Step Instructions
I love how easy this flavor-packed dirty rice recipe is! Prep the veggies ahead of time to make cooking even easier.
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- Prep. Start the dirty rice by prepping your veggies: dice ½ cup of onion, 1 cup of celery, and 1 green bell pepper. This is called the “holy trinity” in Cajun/Creole cooking and is the flavor base of the dish. Then, mince 1 tablespoon of garlic if using fresh. Set aside.
- Brown the meat. Next, brown ½ pound each of ground beef and pork in a large, heavy-bottomed skillet, frying pan, or Dutch oven over medium heat. Then cook for 5 to 6 minutes, breaking apart the meat until crumbled and brown.
- Sauté veggies. Once the meat is browned, add the prepared diced onion, celery, green bell pepper, garlic, and seasoning (1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, ¼ teaspoon each salt & pepper). Stir these into the browned meat and sauté the vegetables until slightly softened, about 4 to 5 minutes.
- Add the rice. To the seasoned meat and veggies, add 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice and stir into the meat mixture. Then, pour in 3 ½ cups of beef broth and stir. Bring the rice mixture to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover the pan and simmer for 20 minutes.
- Finish and serve. After 20 minutes, turn off the heat and leave the dirty rice covered. Let the rice sit covered for an additional 5 minutes. After the rice sits for 5 minutes, fluff with a fork. If desired, you can garnish the rice with fresh chopped parsley before serving.
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My fluffy, flavorful dirty rice is such an amazing dish! I love to serve this easy dinner on its own or with a simple green veggie like my simple microwave-steamed broccoli for some extra nutrition.
No matter how you serve it, Dirty rice is a meal everyone will love! Enjoy!
💭 Angela's Tips & Recipe Notes
- If you like the flavor of the veggies in your rice, but don’t want the pieces, try grating the veggies! Grate the onion, celery, and bell pepper using the large hole side of a box grater. The veggies are super fine and will blend into the rice perfectly.
- Rinse the rice before adding to the meat to make sure it cooks up fluffy! Add the rice to a fine-mesh strainer and run under cool water until the water is mostly clear. Shake out excess water, then it’s ready to add to the meat!
- Use Cajun seasoning on everything? Try making my easy Cajun seasoning recipe! You’ll have plenty for this dish and anything else you want to add Cajun flavor to!
🥡 Storing & Reheating
My flavorful dirty rice makes an amazing leftover lunch! You can store the rice in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 5 or 6 days.
If desired, you can also freeze leftover dirty rice to extend its shelf life! Simply store in an airtight container or heavy-duty freezer bag for up to 3 months!
Reheating Dirty Rice
You can easily reheat dirty rice in the microwave! Scoop portions into bowls and cover with a paper towel. Microwave at 30-second intervals, stirring between, until fully reheated.
To make sure the rice stays moist, try putting an ice cube on top! It sounds weird, but it will give the perfect amount of moisture to your rice! The ice cube won’t fully melt—so you can just toss when done.
🍚More Easy Rice Recipes!
- Turmeric Rice
- Vermicelli Rice
- Instant Pot Cilantro Lime Rice
- Creamy Coconut Rice
- Restaurant Style Mexican Rice
❓ FAQ
Onion, celery, and green bell pepper make up this “holy trinity!” It’s an aromatic veggie base that’s in almost all Cajun or Creole dishes: like gumbo, jambalaya, and this dirty rice! It has its origins in French cuisine, but the flavor combination is uniquely Louisianan!
I highly recommend using long-grain white rice for dirty rice! It is what is traditionally used for this recipe. It’ll remain perfectly fluffy in the dish when cooked with the meats and veggies!
📋 Recipe
Dirty Rice
Ingredients
- ½ lb ground beef (leaner is best, up to 80/20 ground chuck)
- ½ lb ground pork
- ½ cup onion (1 large white or yellow onion, diced)
- 1 cup celery (sliced or diced)
- 1 green bell pepper (diced)
- 1 tablespoon garlic (minced)
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (see recipe or use your favorite brand)
- ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper (to taste)
- 1 ½ cups long grain white rice (uncooked)
- 3 ½ cups beef broth
- parsley (fresh, chopped, optional for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the ground beef and ground pork in a large heavy-bottomed skillet, frying pan, or Dutch oven over medium heat. Cook for 5-6 minutes, breaking apart the meat until crumbled and browned.½ lb ground beef, ½ lb ground pork
- Once the meat is browned, add the diced onion, celery, green bell pepper, garlic, and seasoning (Cajun seasoning, salt, and pepper). Stir into the browned meat and saute the vegetables until slightly softened or about 4-5 minutes.½ cup onion, 1 cup celery, 1 green bell pepper, 1 tablespoon garlic, 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, ¼ teaspoon each, salt & pepper
- Add the uncooked long-grain white rice and stir it into the meat mixture, then pour in the beef broth. Stir and bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.1 ½ cups long grain white rice, 3 ½ cups beef broth
- Turn off the heat and leave the dirty rice covered. Allow the rice to sit, covered, for an additional 5 minutes. When done, fluff with a fork and serve. Garnish with fresh chopped parsley if desired.parsley
Nutrition
Angela is an at home chef that developed a passion for all things cooking and baking at a young age in her Grandma's kitchen. After many years in the food service industry, she now enjoys sharing all of her family favorite recipes and creating tasty dinner and amazing dessert recipes here at Bake It With Love!
Carl says
This was a fantastic side dish, also a super easy to make recipe thank you!
Robert DeCuir says
While I have book marked this recipe, I want to congratulate you with creating a Dirty Rice recipe you don't need chicken gizzard or livers for and instead of saying "2 tablespoons of your favorite Cajun seasoning", you provided a mixable combination. As far as I as concerned, you have shown all the qualities of truly creative individual. Wishing you the best in life, Bobby