There’s something incredibly comforting about a steaming bowl of Dirty Rice. This Southern classic, brimming with savory flavors and hearty textures, is more than just a meal—it’s a celebration of soulful, down-home cooking.
With a delicious blend of ground meats, aromatic spices, and tender rice, Dirty Rice brings both warmth and satisfaction.
I’ll never forget my first taste of this dish at a family gathering. It wasn’t just the food but the stories and laughter shared around the table.
The mix of ground beef and pork, combined with a spicy Cajun kick, made each bite a delightful balance of nostalgia and flavor.
This recipe is gaining popularity for its perfect blend of simplicity and taste. It’s ideal for a weeknight dinner or a special gathering. Once you try it, you’ll see why Dirty Rice is a dish that keeps you coming back for more.
Why I Love This Recipe?
- Nostalgic Flavors: The blend of spices and meats brings a comforting taste reminiscent of family gatherings.
- Versatile & Easy: Perfect for busy weeknights or special occasions, and easily adaptable to what you have on hand.
- Cultural Connection: It’s a classic Southern dish that connects you to a rich culinary tradition.
- Hearty & Satisfying: The combination of ground meats and rice creates a filling meal that sticks with you.
- Flavor Boosting Tips: Adding a splash of hot sauce or a handful of fresh herbs at the end can elevate the dish.
Louisiana Dirty Rice Recipe
Louisiana Dirty Rice is a savory blend of rice, ground beef, chicken livers, and spices. This dish includes onions, bell peppers, and celery for added flavor. It's ready in about 30 minutes, making it a quick and tasty side or main dish. Enjoy a taste of Southern comfort.
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Calories: 475kcal
Servings: 8
Equipment
- Large Pot
- Skillet
- Cutting Board and Knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
Ingredients
- 1 cup rice
- 1,1/2 cup chicken stock or broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup chicken gizzards
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1 lb chicken livers, pureed
- 1/2 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 1/2 cup celery, diced
- 1 cup onion, diced
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tsp granulated garlic
- 1,1/2 tsp creole seasoning
- 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
- 1,1/2 tsp fresh thyme, minced
- 1 tsp kosher salt
- 4 tbsp roux
- 3 tbsp butter
- 1 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
- hot sauce
- 2 bunches green onions, sliced
Instructions
- Cook rice in chicken broth with bay leaf; set aside.
- Simmer gizzards until tender, chop, and set aside.
- Brown pork and beef, add pureed chicken livers, season, and set aside.
- Saute bell peppers, celery, onion, and garlic.
- Combine all cooked ingredients with rice, spices, roux, butter, Worcestershire, hot sauce, and green onions. Adjust seasoning if needed.
Nutrition
Serving: 8g | Calories: 475kcal | Carbohydrates: 35g | Protein: 27g | Fat: 25g | Saturated Fat: 9g | Cholesterol: 245mg | Sodium: 850mg | Fiber: 2g | Sugar: 2g
Tips that Are Worth Mentioning!
- Rice Cooking: Cook the rice in chicken broth with a bay leaf for added flavor. This creates a more aromatic base for your dirty rice.
- Gizzard Preparation: Simmer the gizzards in stock until tender, then chop them up. This ensures they’re cooked through and adds a unique texture to the dish.
- Meat Browning: When browning the pork and beef, ensure you achieve a nice caramelization for added depth of flavor. Don’t forget to season with salt and pepper to enhance the taste.
- Vegetable Sauteing: When sautéing the bell peppers, celery, onion, and garlic, aim for a slightly caramelized and softened texture. This brings out their natural sweetness and adds complexity to the dish.
- Combining Ingredients: When combining the ground meat mixture, gizzards, rice, and spices, make sure to thoroughly mix everything together for an even distribution of flavors.
- Rinse the Rice: Rinse the rice to get rid of the excess starch that can make it gummy.
- Let it Rest: Before serving, let the rice sit for at least 10 minutes. This helps the flavorful liquids absorb, giving the rice the perfect texture.
- Leftovers Taste Better: If you can, make this dirty rice a day ahead. The flavors blend together even more, making it taste even better!
What Can We Serve with Dirty Rice?
Bonus Bojangles Dirty Rice Recipe
Bojangles Dirty Rice is a hearty mix of sausage, rice, and Cajun spices. This flavorful dish combines ground pork, bell peppers, onions, and celery. It's easy to make, with a cooking time of about 30 minutes. Perfect as a side dish or a meal on its own.
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Calories: 518kcal
Servings: 6
Equipment
- Wide Skillet or Pan with Lid:
- Slotted Spoon
- Cutting Board and Knife
- Measuring cups and spoons
- Cooking Spoon or Spatula
- Pot with Lid
- Fork
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork sausage
- 1 and 1/2 cups finely diced celery
- 1 small red bell pepper finely diced
- 1/3 cup Butter
- 4 cups chicken broth
- 1 Onion Diced
- 1/2 tsp Salt
- 1 and 1/2 tsps Garlic Powder
- 1/2 tsp Rubbed Sage
- 1/2 tsp Dried Thyme
- 1/2 tsp Pepper
- 1/4 tsp Cayenne Pepper
- 1 and 1/2 cups uncooked extra-long-grain rice
- 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Cook and crumble the sausage in a wide skillet or pan until it's nicely browned. Use a slotted spoon to remove the sausage from the pan and set it aside.
- Add celery, bell pepper, onion, and butter to the pan. Cook over medium heat for 10 minutes.
- Add broth, garlic, salt, sage, thyme, pepper, cayenne, and the cooked sausage. Bring it to a boil. Once boiling, add rice and parsley.
- Return to a gentle boil, then cover. Reduce the heat to low or medium-low and cook for 20-25 minutes or until the rice is tender.
- Stir the rice once or twice with a fork to make sure nothing is sticking to the bottom, but don't overwork it. Avoid stirring or opening the lid during the last 5 minutes of cooking.
- Remove from heat and let it rest, covered, for 10 minutes.
Notes
Notes:
- My favorite sausages for this recipe are Jimmy Dean’s or Swaggerty’s breakfast sausage.
- You can use Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage and skip the 1/2 teaspoon of rubbed sage.
- Unfortunately, I don’t have instructions for making this recipe with instant rice or brown rice.
- If needed, substitute 1/4 teaspoon ground sage for the 1/2 teaspoon rubbed sage.
- Substitute 1 tablespoon of dried parsley for the 1/2 cup of chopped fresh parsley if necessary.
Nutrition
Calories: 518kcal | Carbohydrates: 37g | Protein: 21g | Fat: 31g | Saturated Fat: 10g | Cholesterol: 82mg | Sodium: 25mg | Potassium: 405mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 2g | Vitamin A: 1057IU | Vitamin C: 29mg | Calcium: 30mg | Iron: 2mg
