Description
Dirty rice with ground beef brings Southern comfort right to your dinner table with its hearty blend of spicy meat, aromatic rice, and classic Cajun seasonings. Packed with bold flavors and easy to prepare, this classic Louisiana dish delivers a satisfying meal that your family will devour in minutes.
Ingredients
Scale
Main Ingredients:
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
Vegetable Base:
- 1 onion
- 1 bell pepper
- 2 celery stalks
- 3 cloves garlic
Seasonings and Garnishes:
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper
- Salt
- Black pepper
- 2 green onions
- Fresh parsley
Instructions
- Rinse 1 cup of white rice under cold water until the water becomes transparent, ensuring all excess starch is removed.
- Pour 2 cups of chicken broth into a medium pot and bring to a rolling boil at 212°F. Add the rinsed rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 minutes until grains are tender.
- Heat 2 tablespoons vegetable oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat at 375°F.
- Add 1 pound ground beef to the hot skillet, breaking it into small crumbles. Cook for 6 minutes until meat is completely browned and no pink remains.
- Drain excess fat from the beef, leaving a thin layer for flavor.
- Toss in 1 finely chopped onion, 1 diced bell pepper, 2 chopped celery stalks, and 3 minced garlic cloves. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables soften.
- Sprinkle 1 teaspoon paprika, 1 teaspoon dried thyme, ½ teaspoon cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper over the beef mixture. Stir and cook for 2 minutes.
- Fluff the cooked rice with a fork and gently fold it into the seasoned beef skillet. Ensure every grain gets coated with the spicy mixture.
- Taste and adjust seasonings to your preference.
- Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with 2 thinly sliced green onions and fresh chopped parsley.
Notes
- Choose long-grain white rice for the best texture and authentic Cajun flavor.
- Drain beef fat completely to prevent a greasy final dish and keep the rice light and fluffy.
- For a vegetarian version, swap ground beef with crumbled plant-based meat or black beans and add extra spices.
- Prep all vegetables before starting cooking to ensure smooth and quick preparation of this one-skillet meal.
- Prep Time: 10 minutes
- Cook Time: 26-34 minutes
- Category: Sautéed
- Method: Sautéing
- Cuisine: Cajun
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 4
- Calories: 404 kcal
- Sugar: 2 g
- Sodium: 520 mg
- Fat: 19 g
- Saturated Fat: 7 g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10 g
- Trans Fat: 0.5 g
- Carbohydrates: 29 g
- Fiber: 2 g
- Protein: 28 g
- Cholesterol: 75 mg