Dirty Rice (Cajun Rice Recipe) (2024)

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Dirty Rice is a famous dish in Creole and Cajun cuisines. White rice gets a “dirty” color from bits of meat and a generous dose of seasonings.

It’s a super delicious recipe that’s packed with flavor. And although it’s usually served as a side dish, we love it as a main.

This one pot meal only takes about half an hour, so in no time you can bring these Louisiana flavors into your kitchen…

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In case you haven’t noticed, we love Cajun and Creole food here at GypsyPlate. From famous dishes like Shrimp Creole to those rarely heard of outside of New Orleans, like Grillades and Grits, we’re always trying new dishes from the region.

Admittedly, some are a bit complex. But this time, we’re bringing you something that hardly takes any hands on time, and uses simple ingredients.

What is Dirty Rice?

A simple and humble rice preparation, it is basic white rice with small bits of meat and plenty of seasoning. It can have beef, pork or chicken, and very often includes finely chopped chicken livers.

Sorry, we’re a little squeamish about organ meat, so will be omitting the livers. But if you want to add some, go for it!

As with all Louisiana style savory dishes, it features onion, bell peppers and celery.

The earliest versions of dirty rice seem to have originated in Southern Louisiana in the 1700’s and would fall under the soul food category.

It was later adopted by the Acadian Cajun immigrants, though it is now common in both Cajun and Creole cuisine, and has become popular all throughout the South. It is often called “Cajun rice,” or “rice dressing”.

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Ingredients

Ground Beef – This can certainly be substituted, as there’s not really a standard meat for dirty rice. Ground pork, finely chopped chicken thighs, andouille sausage and the aforementioned chicken livers can all find their way into dirty rice.
“Holy Trinity” – Onions, celery and bell peppers. These form the foundation of Creole and Cajun cuisine.
Seasonings – Creole or Cajun seasoning, garlic and bay leaves.
Beef Broth
Rice –
We are using basmati, as we love the way it cooks up perfectly every time.

Creole Seasoning vs Cajun Seasoning

Although dirty rice is often called “Cajun rice”, it also finds its way into Creole cuisine. Therefore, either seasoning will make great dirty rice. If using store bought seasoning, keep in mind that Creole has a more complex herb profile, while Cajun is spicier.

We recommend making your own, as it is more customizable and doesn’t have the excess sodium found in many store bought seasonings. It only takes five minutes to whip up a batch of my Homemade Creole Seasoning.

How to Make Dirty Rice

This one is pretty simple…

Start by chopping your veggies and finely chopping the garlic.

Brown up the meat, then add veggies, garlic and seasoning. Cook till veggies start to soften.

Stir in beef broth, rice and bay leaves. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover and cook till the rice is cooked. That’s it, your dirty rice is ready to serve!

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Vegetarian Dirty Rice

You can easily make this Cajun rice dish vegetarian. Simply replace the meat with chopped mushrooms. Sauté them along with the other veggies, then use vegetable stock in place of the beef broth.

What to Serve with Dirty Rice

This can be served as a stand alone meal, as it’s complete with protein, veggies and carbs. You can pair it with a salad or with a vegetable like our Green Beans Almondine or Succotash.

If you want to serve dirty rice as a side, here are some mains it would go great with:

  • Blackened Salmon
  • Garlic Parmesan Wings
  • Southern Braised Chicken
  • Smothered Chicken
  • Garlic Butter Steak Bites
  • Pork Loin Pinwheels

Leftovers

Leftover dirty rice stores extremely well. You can refrigerate it in an airtight container for 4-5 days.

You can also freeze it for up to three months. First, cool it completely. Then, store in freezer bags, making sure to squeeze out as much air as possible to prevent freezer burn. Thaw in the fridge overnight before using.

You can reheat it either in the microwave or on the stovetop. You may wish to add a little extra water while reheating.

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So, are you ready to bring these Louisiana flavors to your own kitchen? Now that we’ve cooked our own, we’ll be making it again and again. When you try it, please leave a comment and star rating, I love to hear from you.

And be sure to subscribe to GypsyPlate, we’re always cooking up tasty new recipes for you! Until next time…

Dirty Rice, on our Gypsy Plate… enjoy!

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Try these other great Cajun and Creole dishes!
Blackened Shrimp and Grits
Jambalaya Soup
Remoulade Sauce
Shrimp Remoulade
Cajun Shrimp Scampi
Yakamein

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Dirty Rice (Cajun Rice Recipe)

Yield: 4 servings

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 30 minutes

Total Time: 35 minutes

Dirty Rice is a famous dish in Creole and Cajun cuisines. White rice gets a “dirty” color from bits of meat and a generous dose of seasonings.

Ingredients

  • 1 lb ground beef (see note 1)
  • 1 small onion, chopped
  • 1 green bell pepper, chopped
  • 2 celery stalks, chopped
  • 4 garlic cloves, finely chopped
  • 1 Tbsp Creole seasoning (see note 2)
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1.5 cup white rice, uncooked (see note 3)
  • 3.5 cups beef broth

Instructions

  1. Brown ground beef in a pot or large skillet over medium high heat, breaking it apart with a wooden spoon or spatula. Cook until there is no more pink, about 5 minutes.
  2. Add in onions, bell pepper, celery, garlic and Creole seasoning. Cook for 5 minutes, stirring until veggies start to soften.
  3. Stir in broth and deglaze the pan. Add rice and bay leaves, and mix well. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low and simmer covered about 20 minutes, or until rice is cooked.

Notes

  1. Ground beef can be substituted with ground pork, chopped chicken, chicken livers, andouille sausage, or a combination. Just use a total of one pound of whatever you are using.
  2. You can use Cajun seasoning, but we prefer to use our customizable homemade Creole Seasoning.
  3. Basmati rice works great here, and is our go to rice. It is mush easier to work with than conventional long grain, and always seems to end up perfectly cooked.
Nutrition Information

Yield 4Serving Size 1
Amount Per ServingCalories 425Total Fat 21gSaturated Fat 8gTrans Fat 1gUnsaturated Fat 10gCholesterol 101mgSodium 1720mgCarbohydrates 22gFiber 1gSugar 2gProtein 36g

Nutrition information calculated by Nutritionix.

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Welcome to GypsyPlate! I'm Alpana, former wordwide tour manager and professional caterer, now full time blogger. I love exploring cuisines from around the world, and my recipes have been featured on sites such as MSN, Parade, Brit + Co, CNET and AOL. You can explore my entire collection of sortable recipes in my Recipe Index or learn more about me here.

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    Dirty Rice (Cajun Rice Recipe) (2024)

    FAQs

    What's the difference between dirty rice and Cajun rice? ›

    Dirty rice is frequently referred to as Cajun Rice in Louisiana and other parts of the South due to the dish's history with the Acadian immigrants of Louisiana. Cajun rice typically incorporates Andouille sausage, bell pepper, celery, and onions along with a blend of traditional Cajun spices.

    What is Popeyes dirty rice made of? ›

    "A combination of breakfast sausage and rice cooked in chicken broth. Popeye's is a Louisiana-based fried chicken restaurant chain. This recipe is from America's Most Wanted Recipes - Copycat Versions of Everyone's Best-Loved Food."

    What's the difference between jambalaya and dirty rice? ›

    Jambalaya vs. dirty rice: There are a few differences in terms of ingredients required for these two dishes, but the main difference comes down to the rice. While jambalaya cooks uncooked rice in the meat and vegetable mixture, dirty rice uses pre-cooked white rice that is sautéed with the veggies and meat.

    What is dirty rice made of? ›

    Dirty rice, which sometimes goes by “rice dressing” or “Cajun rice,” is a rice dish typically made with the “Holy Trinity” of onions, bell peppers, and celery, a hefty amount of ground meat and chicken giblets, and a heavy sprinkling of Creole seasonings, like cayenne, sage, and paprika.

    Why was Cajun rice discontinued? ›

    But Popeyes removed the product from its menu early last year as part of a simplification initiative. That move generated protests among consumers who considered the dish one of the chain's best.

    Is Zatarain's dirty rice good? ›

    This Zatarain's Dirty Rice Mix is very easy to prepare and is very tasty too. It's got a bit of spice to it, which I love! We are vegetarians, so I added a canned meat substitute instead of what is suggested on the box. Besides being a yummy side dish, this stuff is awesome in a burrito with beans too!

    What is Bojangles dirty rice made of? ›

    All we really know about Bojangles dirty rice is that, as per the restaurant's website, it contains rice mixed with ground sausage meat and a "special blend of [undisclosed] seasonings." Very cagey, but maybe it's a chicken chain thing.

    Do cajuns wash rice? ›

    Rinse: The secret to good and flavorful Cajun rice is to rinse it before cooking. Rinsing the rice removes the starch from the surface of the grains, which in turn helps prevent the rice from clumping. Simmering: Bring the water for the rice to a boil and then reduce it to a simmer.

    What is Popeyes coating made of? ›

    WET Batter - place 2 cups of all purpose flour, 1 cup of corn starch, 1/2 cup of mustard powder, 2 tbs of backing powder, 1 tbs of paprika, 1 tbs cayenne, 1 tbs onion powder, 1 tbs salt and 4 cups of chicken stock in a mixing bowl. Mix wet batter in a bowl with a hand mixer with whisk attachment.

    What do you eat dirty rice with? ›

    Dirty Rice is a hearty meal alone, but you could also serve it with a green salad, okra, Swiss chard, tomato cucumber salad, artisan bread or skillet cornbread.

    What is the holy trinity of jambalaya? ›

    The "holy trinity" in Cajun cuisine and Louisiana Creole cuisine is the base for several dishes in the regional cuisines of Louisiana and consists of onions, bell peppers and celery. The preparation of Cajun/Creole dishes such as crawfish étouffée, gumbo, and jambalaya all start from this base.

    Why is my rice mushy in jambalaya? ›

    One of the biggest complaints when making jambalaya is that the rice ends up mushy. And there's two main culprits of this – choosing the wrong type of rice and over-stirring. For this recipe, you want long-grain white rice, like basmati or jasmine. Don't use short-grain rice.

    What is cajun seasoning made of? ›

    What Is In Cajun Spice Mix? Typical Cajun seasonings (including store-bought like Slap Ya Mama and Tony Chachere's) are made with black pepper, white pepper, cayenne pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika. For different flavors, some Cajun spice mixes include salt, mustard powder, chile peppers, or cumin.

    Why is it called forbidden rice? ›

    Forbidden rice is also known as imperial rice, heaven rice and king's rice. In ancient China, this exquisite ingredient was exclusive to the emperors, who ate it for longevity and good health. It was forbidden to all but the most wealthy and powerful people, thus its name.

    What is the only thing removed from brown rice? ›

    That's because the bran, or the outer layers of brown rice, and the germ are removed to make white rice, which decreases the amount of arsenic.

    What is another name for dirty rice? ›

    It's called Dirty Rice because the rice turns a “dirty” brown color while cooking with the diced meats and spices. You'll also hear Dirty Rice called “Cajun Rice” or “Rice Dressing”, but they're all variations of the same rice dish (they may use different types of meat or add more or less veggies, or spices).

    Is brown rice just dirty white rice? ›

    Brown rice is a whole grain that contains the bran and germ. These provide fiber and several vitamins and minerals. White rice is a refined grain that has had these parts removed, making it softer and more quick-cooking.

    Why is black rice called forbidden rice? ›

    Why is black rice called 'forbidden' rice? Black rice (also known as forbidden black rice or emperor's rice) is used in traditional Chinese medicine. It was once reserved only for the wealthy and powerful to ensure their health and long life. No one else was allowed to eat it.

    Is Cajun country rice good? ›

    Universally Loved. For decades, Cajun Country Rice has been the rice of choice for professional and homegrown chefs alike who want to make a memorable meal.

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