Looking for a one-pot meal that’s bold, hearty, and packed with down-home flavor? This Dirty Rice is pure Southern comfort—savory, spicy, and soul-satisfying. Loaded with seasoned beef, sausage, and veggies, it gets its “dirty” name from all the good stuff that flavors every bite of rice. It’s easy to make, feeds a crowd, and always disappears fast at the dinner table.
Why You’ll Love This Dirty Rice
- All-in-one meal: Protein, veggies, and rice in one pot—no need for extra sides.
- Big flavor: Cajun seasoning, sausage, and aromatics bring bold Southern taste.
- Easy cleanup: Less mess, more time to enjoy.
- Customizable: Use ground beef, sausage, liver, or chopped chicken thighs—whatever you’ve got.
Ingredients You’ll Need
- Ground beef and sausage: For that rich, savory base.
- Liver or chopped chicken thighs: Optional, but adds traditional depth (use chicken thighs for a milder flavor).
- Veggies: Onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic (your classic Cajun “holy trinity”).
- Seasonings: Cajun seasoning, cayenne, dried oregano, thyme, bay leaves, salt, and pepper.
- All-purpose flour: Helps the flavors stick and adds richness.
- Long grain white rice: Cooks up fluffy and holds its own against bold spices.
- Chicken broth: Infuses the rice with even more flavor.
- Fresh parsley and green onions: For a fresh finishing touch.
How to Make Dirty Rice
Cook the Meat and Veggies
In a large pot over medium heat, add ground beef, sausage, and chopped liver or chicken thighs. Season with salt and pepper. Brown the meat, breaking it up with a wooden spoon. Sprinkle in the flour and stir well to coat.
Toss in chopped onions, bell peppers, celery, and garlic. Cook for a few minutes until the veggies soften and everything smells amazing. Stir in Cajun seasoning, cayenne, oregano, thyme, and bay leaves.
Add the Rice
Pour in the uncooked white rice and chicken broth. Stir to combine. Bring the mixture to a boil, then reduce the heat, cover, and simmer for 20 minutes.
Let It Rest
Once the cooking time is up, remove from heat and let it sit (covered) for 5 minutes. Then fluff the rice gently with a fork, cover again, and rest another 5 minutes.
Finish and Serve
Top with freshly chopped parsley and green onions. Serve hot and dig in!
Instant Pot Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot to Sauté and brown the meat.
- Add veggies, garlic, and spices. Stir well.
- Pour in rice and 2 cups of chicken broth.
- Seal the lid and pressure cook on High for 4 minutes.
- Let the pressure release naturally for 10 minutes, then quick release any remaining pressure.
- Fluff with a fork, re-cover, and let it rest 5 minutes before serving.
Make Ahead Tips
- Chop your veggies and measure your spices earlier in the day to save time.
- You can also brown the meat in advance and refrigerate it until you’re ready to cook the rice.
- This makes weeknight dinner prep super simple—just toss everything together and let it simmer.
FAQs About Dirty Rice
Why is it called Dirty Rice?
The “dirty” name comes from the color the rice takes on as it cooks with browned meat, liver, and spices. It’s packed with flavor and definitely looks (and tastes) far from plain.
Do I have to use liver?
Not at all. Traditional dirty rice often includes chicken liver for flavor, but it’s perfectly fine to substitute with chicken thighs or just stick with ground beef and sausage.
What kind of rice works best?
Long grain white rice is classic. It cooks evenly and holds up well in this one-pot dish. Avoid instant or short grain varieties.
Can I make it ahead?
Yes! Dirty rice keeps well in the fridge for up to 4 days. It also freezes beautifully for up to 2 months. Just thaw overnight and reheat in a skillet or microwave.
What to Serve With Dirty Rice
Dirty Rice is hearty enough to be the main event, but if you want to round out your table, try:
- A crisp green salad
- Skillet cornbread
- Tomato cucumber salad
- Fried okra or sautéed Swiss chard
Final Thoughts
This Dirty Rice is one of those comfort food dishes that tastes like it’s been slow-cooked all day, but really comes together in under an hour. It’s cozy, satisfying, and packed with flavor that only gets better the next day. Whether you’re making it for a weeknight dinner or a Southern-inspired spread, it’s sure to be a crowd-pleaser.
Dirty Rice
Looking for a one-pot meal that’s bold, hearty, and packed with down-home flavor?
Ingredients
- ½ lb ground beef (80/20)
- ½ lb ground sausage (such as Jimmy Dean pork sausage)
- ½ cup minced chicken livers or gizzards
- 1 teaspoon salt
- ½ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
- ¼ cup all-purpose flour
- 1 onion, diced
- ½ cup celery, diced
- ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 4 cups low-sodium chicken broth
- ½ cup chopped green onions
- 2 bay leaves
- ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
- ¼ teaspoon dried thyme
- 2 cups long-grain white rice or basmati
- ¼ cup fresh chopped parsley
Instructions
- Add the ground beef, sausage, and chicken livers to a large saucepan over medium heat. Season with salt and pepper. Cook the mixture, breaking it apart with a spoon, until browned.
- Sprinkle in the flour and stir to combine. Add the diced onion, celery, and bell pepper, and cook for 2 minutes. Stir in the garlic, Cajun seasoning, cayenne, oregano, thyme, and bay leaves.
- Pour in the rice and chicken broth. Bring everything to a boil, then cover, reduce the heat to low, and let it simmer for 20 minutes. Remove the pot from heat and allow it to rest, covered, for 5 minutes. Uncover, fluff the rice gently with a fork, re-cover, and let it rest for another 5 minutes.
- Top with chopped green onions and parsley before serving.
Notes
- Chop the vegetables and measure the spices in advance to save time.
- You can also cook the meats a few hours ahead and store them in the fridge until you're ready to finish the dish.
Nutrition Information
Yield
5Serving Size
1Amount Per Serving Calories 504Total Fat 24gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 0gUnsaturated Fat 12gCholesterol 188mgSodium 1366mgCarbohydrates 40gFiber 2gSugar 3gProtein 32g
Easy Shrimp Recipes.com, occasionally offers nutritional information for recipes contained on this site. This information is provided as a courtesy and is an estimate only. This information comes from online calculators. Although allchickenrecipes.com attempts to provide accurate nutritional information, these figures are only estimates.
