Easy Dirty Rice Recipe
This Easy Dirty Rice Recipe is about to be your new favorite side dish! It’s the most delicious Southern dish made with ground beef, smoky beef sausage, seasonings, and perfectly cooked rice. This dish packs all the Louisiana flavors without the fuss.
You will absolutely love this Yellow Greek Rice and Cilantro Lime Rice too!
Dirty Rice Recipe Ingredients
This is a quick and easy dirty rice because you will be using pre-cooked and cooled rice. You will still have all of the delicious Louisiana Cajun flavors that you know and love too!
Here’s what you need to make this dirty rice:
- Long grain rice: cooked and cooled rice is perfect to soak up all of the smoky savory flavors
- Ground beef: adds a delicious richness and meaty texture.
- Smoked sausage: gives a classic southern smoky flavor to the dirty rice.
- Bell pepper and onion: the perfect touch of freshness and bite to the rice.
- Seasonings: paprika, pepper, Cajun seasoning or Creole seasoning give the tasty aromatic punch that the easy dirty rice needs.
How to Make It
See recipe card for ingredient quantities and full instructions.
Once the veggies are prepped, the real magic happens in the skillet! This is a true one skillet dish! Here’s how to make it:
Gather your seasonings in a bowl.
Brown and crumble the ground beef.
Sear the smoked sausage until it is brown.
Add the chopped onions, bell pepper, and garlic to the skillet and saute.
Add in cooked and cooled rice.
Mix well and cook for 2-3 minutes for everything to merry well.
Pro Tips for the Best Dirty Rice
Swap smoked sausage for andouille sausage for extra Cajun flavor.
Add diced celery for a true Louisiana dirty rice.
Drain any excess grease from the ground beef and sausage so the rice doesn’t have a greasy taste.
Serving ideas
Serve this cajun Dirty Rice recipe alongside collard greens, fried catfish, or cornbread for a full Southern spread.
It’s also delicious wrapped in a tortilla for a fun “Dirty Rice Burrito” twist!
FAQ
Can I use leftover rice for a dirty rice recipe?
Yes! Cooked and cooled rice absorbs all the cajun flavors you add. Just make sure to break up any clumps so that it cooks evenly.
How do I store and reheat dirty rice?
Store the cooked and cooled dirty rice in an airtight container. Reheat it in the microwave for 2-3 minutes.
What kind of sausage works best for dirty rice?
Beef smoked sausage adds a rich, mild flavor, but you can swap it for andouille sausage if you like a little more heat and spice. Turkey or chicken sausage also work great if you want a lighter option.
Ingredients
- 1/2 pound Ground beef cooked and crumbled
- 1/2 pound Beef smoked sausage cut into small pieces and browned
- 1 small Onion diced
- 1/2 Green bell pepper chopped
- 2 cloves Garlic minced
- 1 tablespoon Cajun or Creole seasoning
- ½ teaspoon Black pepper
- ½ teaspoon Paprika
- 1/2 tablespoon Olive oil
- 1 cup Long-grain rice cooked and cooled
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook and crumble the ground beef until there is no more pink. Add in the diced sausage and cook until browned. Drain any excess grease.
- Now stir in the diced onion onion, bell pepper, and garlic; sauté them for about 2-3 minutes, until they're soft and fragrant.
- Sprinkle in the Cajun seasoning, paprika, and black pepper. Mix it in well to ensure everything is coated.
- Next, add in the olive oil and let it heat up for about 1 minute. Add in the cooked and cooled rice. Use your spoon to break up and mix the rice in with the meat and veggies.
- Once the rice is completely mixed in and coated with the seasonings, its ready to serve!
Nutrition
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