Cajun Dirty Rice Ground Beef (Printable)
Savory ground beef and aromatic veggies infused with Cajun spices create a flavorful rice dish perfect for any meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, finely diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 spring onions, sliced
→ Rice
07 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
→ Liquids
08 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
→ Spices & Seasonings
10 - 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
11 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
13 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
14 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
→ Garnish
17 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add onion, bell pepper, and celery to the pan. Sauté for 5 minutes until softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 more minute until fragrant.
03 - Sprinkle in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, black pepper, salt, and cayenne. Stir well to coat the meat and vegetables evenly.
04 - Add uncooked rice and stir to combine. Let the rice toast for 1–2 minutes to enhance flavor.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18–20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
06 - Remove from heat. Fluff rice with a fork, stir in chopped parsley, and garnish with sliced spring onions. Serve warm.
# Expert Suggestions:
01 -
- This comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all day long
- The spice blend is completely customizable so you can make it as mild or fiery as your family prefers
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid while the rice is simmering or you'll lose the steam needed for perfectly cooked grains
- Letting the rice toast in the fat might seem like an unnecessary step but it makes a huge difference in the final flavor
03 -
- The Cajun seasoning blend varies by brand so always start with less and add more to taste
- If you can find it, adding a small amount of chicken livers creates that authentic liver flavor traditional dirty rice is known for