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Easy Cajun Dirty Rice

Why is it called “dirty” rice? The rice gets brown as it cooks with meat, Cajun spices, and the holy trinity of Cajun cooking: onion, bell pepper, and celery. My version combines ground pork and beef for a flavorful twist on this Louisiana classic!

Cajun Comfort in One Skillet

One-Pan: Everything cooks in a single skillet, which means big flavor and easy cleanup.

Leftover Rice Saver: The tastiest way to use up leftover rice!

Fast & Filling: Comes together quickly but hearty enough to be a full meal.

Budget-Friendly: Simple ingredients that stretch a long way without breaking the bank.

A Reader’s Review

Who knew dinner could be so simple! I only used ground beef because I didn’t have any ground pork.

– Connie

Dirty Rice Ingredients

Protein: For a lighter option, use ground turkey instead of beef and pork.

Add Some Kick! Spice it up by adding some cayenne pepper before simmering. Or top with some hot sauce when serving.

How to Make Cajun Dirty Rice

There is something so comforting about making Dirty rice. I LOVE Cajun seasonings, and this Cajun rice recipe is one of my favorites. It’s fast, simple, super budget-friendly, and a great way to use up leftover rice!

Cook Meat: In a large pot, cook and crumble the ground beef and pork on medium-high heat until no longer pink.

Add Vegetables & Seasonings: Add in the onion, bell pepper, celery, garlic, Cajun seasoning, and salt and black pepper to taste. Cook until they start to soften.

Rice & Broth: Add the white rice and beef broth. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low.

Cover & Simmer: Cover and let it simmer for 20 minutes or until the rice is tender. Fluff, stir, and serve alongside my yummy hush puppies!

Alyssa’s Pro Tip

Keep the lid on while the rice cooks! Steam is the secret to evenly cooked, fluffy grains that fully absorb the Cajun spices..

Print

Dirty Rice

My classic Cajun dirty rice is packed with bold spices, ground pork and beef, and the holy trinity of onion, bell pepper, and celery.
Course Side Dish
Cuisine American
Keyword dirty rice, dirty rice recipe
Prep Time 10 minutes minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes minutes
Total Time 40 minutes minutes
Servings 6 people
Calories 361kcal

Ingredients

½ pound ground beef½ pound ground pork1 small diced onion about ½ cup1 diced green bell pepper about 1 cup2 stalks diced celery about 1 cup3 garlic cloves, minced1 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning1 ½ cups long-grain rice uncooked3 ½ cups beef brothsalt to taste

Instructions

In a large pot, cook and crumble ½ pound ground beef and ½ pound ground pork until no longer pink.
Add 1 small diced onion, 1 diced green bell pepper, 2 stalks diced celery, 3 garlic cloves, minced, 1 tablespoon Cajun Seasoning, and salt to taste. Cook until they start to soften.
Add 1 ½ cups long-grain rice and 3 ½ cups beef broth. Bring to a boil and reduce the heat to low. Cover and let simmer for 20 minutes or until rice is tender. Fluff and serve.

Notes

Storage and Reheat Instructions

Refrigerator: Store rice in an airtight container in the fridge. It will keep for 5–6 days.

Freezer: Cool rice completely, then transfer to a sealed freezer bag or container labeled with the date. Freeze for up to 3 months.

Reheat: Thaw rice in the fridge overnight before reheating. Warm it in the microwave, stirring occasionally, until heated through. You can also reheat on the stove over medium heat until warm.

Nutrition

Calories: 361kcal | Carbohydrates: 41g | Protein: 19g | Fat: 13g | Saturated Fat: 5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 0.2g | Cholesterol: 52mg | Sodium: 582mg | Potassium: 478mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 711IU | Vitamin C: 18mg | Calcium: 47mg | Iron: 2mg

More Cajun Recipes To Try

If you love Cajun flavor in this dirty rice, then try my Cajun baked cod, Cajun shrimp, and Grilled lobster tails! Here are a few more Cajun recipes to try!

Cajun Shrimp and Sausage Vegetable Sheet Pan

20 minutes

Chili’s Copycat Cajun Chicken Pasta

30 minutes

Blackened Cajun Shrimp Tacos with Avocado Salsa

18 minutes

Cajun Garlic Shrimp and Grits

35 minutes

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