Dirty rice is fluffy white rice made “dirty” with savory ground beef, pork sausage, bell peppers, celery, onion, and seasonings. This traditional Louisiana dish is delicious as a side dish or as a main. It only takes 25 minutes!
Louisiana Dirty Rice Recipe
You won’t believe how much flavor is in this dirty rice recipe. Dirty rice starts with meat cooked with Louisiana’s “holy trinity,” including celery, onion, and bell pepper. Like a French mirepoix and an Italian sofrito, the veggies form an aromatic base for the fluffy rice, broth, and seasonings. You’ll find it in more Creole and Cajun recipes, like jambalaya and gumbo.
Like Louisiana red beans and rice, dirty rice is a flavorful, savory, comfort food dish. Serve it with blackened chicken or smothered pork chops and a side of cornbread casserole.
Why You’re Going to Love It
- Starch, protein, and veggies in one
- Only 25 minutes to make
- Bold, Southern-style flavors
- Easily adaptable
Dirty Rice Ingredients
These are the ingredients needed to make dirty rice at home. Scroll to the recipe card for the exact amounts.
- Chicken Broth – To cook the rice. The broth infuses the rice with more flavor than water. If you want to use water, add a heaping teaspoon of salt and even a bay leaf to build the flavor.
- Olive Oil – For sautéeing. Substitute your preferred cooking oil as needed. Bacon grease is a great way to add flavor.
- Ground Beef – Lean ground beef is best. You could also use ground chicken or turkey for a leaner dish.
- Pork Sausage – Also ground. If you can find it, andouille sausage is ideal for that authentic, smoked Louisiana flavor (remove it from the casings if it comes in links). Otherwise, any ground pork sausage will work.
- Celery, Onion, and Bell Pepper – The pepper can be green, red, or any color. Chop all three veggies into small pieces.
- Flour – To thicken the meat mixture.
- Seasonings – Dried oregano, garlic powder, chili powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper. You could also substitute the individual spices with Creole seasoning. For extra spice, chop up a jalapeño pepper to stir in with the seasonings.
- Beef Broth – Adds moisture to the meat and veggies, and ties all the flavors together, which soaks into the rice once it’s added. I also toss in a couple of bay leaves.
What Rice Should I Use?
Traditionally, the best rice for dirty rice is long-grain white rice. I like basmati because it has a lighter texture. Rinsing the rice washes off the starches and keeps it from sticking, but in general, it’s best to avoid sticky rice varieties like short and medium-grain rice.
Jasmine rice is a good alternative to basmati in this recipe. Since it’s softer, I recommend cooking it slightly under (al dente), so your dirty rice doesn’t become mushy.
Recipe FAQs
Dirty rice gets its name from the way ingredients like beef, pork, and seasonings give the white rice a “dirty” color. It’s also called Cajun rice and “rice dressing” in the South.
I’ve never tested brown rice in this recipe, but it should work. Brown rice has a longer cooking time and a different rice-to-liquid ratio than white rice. For this reason, refer to the cooking directions on the package.
Serving Suggestions for Dirty Rice
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Prepare the rice. Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain the rice, then place it in a large saucepot and add the chicken broth. Bring the chicken broth to a boil over medium-high heat. Then reduce the heat to low and cook the rice covered for 12-15 minutes or until all the liquid is evaporated. Remove the rice from the stove and let it stand for 10 minutes, then fluff the rice with a fork.
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Cook the meat. While the rice cooks, heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and pork sausage, and cook until the meat is browned, breaking up the lumps with a wooden spoon.
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Add veggies. Add the chopped green bell pepper, onion, and celery. Cook for 3-4 minutes.
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Add seasonings. Stir in the flour and stir it very well so there are no flour spots. Then, add oregano, thyme, garlic, chili powder, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper to taste. Stir well.
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Simmer. Add the broth and bay leaves, then scrape any browned bits from the bottom of the pan with a wooden spoon. Simmer for 2 minutes.
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Add the rice. Fold the cooked rice into the meat mixture. Simmer for 5 more minutes.
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Serve. Serve the dirty rice garnished with chopped parsley.
- Instead of basmati rice, you can use long-grain white rice.
- For a richer flavor, use bacon grease instead of olive oil.
- For some extra heat, add 1 jalapeno pepper.
- You can choose another meat type, like ground turkey or even chicken sausage.
Serving: 1.5cups | Calories: 422kcal | Carbohydrates: 32g | Protein: 26g | Fat: 20g | Saturated Fat: 7g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 3g | Monounsaturated Fat: 9g | Trans Fat: 0.3g | Cholesterol: 76mg | Sodium: 544mg | Potassium: 659mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 392IU | Vitamin C: 17mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 3mg
Nutritional info is an estimate and provided as courtesy. Values may vary according to the ingredients and tools used. Please use your preferred nutritional calculator for more detailed info.
How to Make Dirty Rice
Get out a large skillet, or you could even make your dirty rice in a wok if you have one. After all, dirty rice is a bit like the Southern version of fried rice!
- Prepare the rice. Before cooking, rinse the dry rice in cold water until the water is clear. Drain the rice and add it to a saucepot with the chicken broth. Bring the rice to a boil, then lower the heat, cover the pot, and let it simmer for 12-15 minutes. Afterward, wait 10 minutes before fluffing the rice with a fork.
- Cook the meat. Next, brown the ground beef and pork in a skillet over medium-high heat. Break up any clumps with a wooden spoon.
- Add the veggies. Now, add the chopped bell pepper, onion, and celery to the skillet with the meat. Sauté for 3-4 minutes so the veggies soften.
- Add the flour, seasonings, and broth. Stir the flour into the meat and veggie mixture, followed by the seasonings. Deglaze the skillet with the broth and add the bay leaves. Let that simmer for 2 minutes.
- Put it all together. Lastly, add your cooked rice to the skillet and fold it into the meat mixture. Cook for another 5 minutes so it heats through, then serve with a sprinkle of chopped parsley.
Storing and Reheating
- Refrigerate. Refrigerate leftover dirty rice within two hours of cooking. Store it in an airtight container to keep in the fridge for up to 3 days.
- Reheat. Warm up the dirty rice in a skillet on the stovetop or in the microwave, stirring frequently, until it’s piping hot throughout.
