Cajun dirty rice ground beef (Printable)

Spicy Cajun-flavored ground beef and vegetables cooked with aromatic spices and rice.

# What You Need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 small yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 3 green onions, sliced, plus extra for garnish
07 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped, plus extra for garnish

→ Grains

08 - 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice, uncooked

→ Liquids

09 - 3 cups low-sodium chicken or beef broth

→ Spices & Seasonings

10 - 2 tsp Cajun seasoning
11 - 1 tsp dried thyme
12 - ½ tsp smoked paprika
13 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
14 - ½ tsp salt
15 - ¼ tsp black pepper
16 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil

# Directions:

01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Add the ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, about 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 5 minutes, until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
03 - Stir in the rice and cook for 2 minutes, allowing the grains to toast lightly.
04 - Sprinkle in the Cajun seasoning, thyme, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, salt, and black pepper. Mix well to evenly coat the rice and vegetables.
05 - Pour in the chicken or beef broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18–20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
06 - Uncover, fluff the rice with a fork, and stir in the green onions and parsley. Taste and adjust seasoning if needed. Garnish with extra green onions and parsley before serving.

# Expert Suggestions:

01 -
  • Everything cooks in one pan so you spend less time washing dishes and more time eating
  • The combination of spices creates layers of flavor that make people think you spent all day cooking
  • Its budget friendly but tastes like something from a fancy Louisiana restaurant
02 -
  • I once skipped draining the beef fat and the rice turned out greasy and heavy, so do not skip that step
  • Letting the rice toast for those 2 minutes makes such a difference in texture and flavor
  • Resist the urge to lift the lid while it simmers or the rice will not cook evenly
03 -
  • Use a heavy Dutch oven if you have one because it distributes heat more evenly than thin skillets
  • Let the rice rest for 5 minutes after cooking before fluffing for the best texture

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