Description
A flavorful and hearty Louisiana Dirty Rice recipe featuring ground beef, sausage, aromatic vegetables, and a blend of traditional Cajun spices, cooked together with rice in chicken broth for a classic Southern comfort dish.
Ingredients
Scale
Meat and Rice
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 lb ground pork sausage
- 4-5 cups cooked rice (prepared with chicken broth)
Vegetables
- 3/4 cup green bell pepper, diced
- 3/4 cup yellow onion, diced
- 1/4 cup celery, diced
Liquids and Fats
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 tablespoon bacon grease or cooking oil
Seasonings and Herbs
- 3 bay leaves
- 2 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
- 1 tablespoon dried oregano
- 2 teaspoons dried thyme
- 2 teaspoons minced garlic
- 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
- 1 teaspoon chili powder
- 1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper
Thickener
- 1/4 cup flour
Instructions
- Brown the meat: In a large skillet, heat the bacon grease or cooking oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground beef and pork sausage and cook, stirring occasionally, until the meat begins to brown.
- Add vegetables: Once the meat starts to brown, add the diced green bell pepper, yellow onion, and celery to the skillet. Continue cooking until the meat is fully browned and the vegetables have softened slightly.
- Add herbs, spices, and flour: Stir in all the herbs and spices except for the fresh parsley—this includes dried oregano, dried thyme, minced garlic, salt, chili powder, black pepper, paprika, and cayenne pepper. Mix well. Then add the flour and stir thoroughly to coat the meat and vegetables evenly, which helps thicken the dish.
- Add broth and simmer: Pour in the chicken broth along with the bay leaves. Use a spatula to scrape the bottom of the skillet to loosen any browned bits stuck to the pan for added flavor. Allow the mixture to simmer gently for 5 to 8 minutes, letting it thicken and the flavors meld.
- Incorporate rice and parsley: Fold in the cooked rice and chopped fresh parsley. Stir to combine, then let it simmer for an additional 5 minutes to heat through and blend all the flavors. Remove bay leaves and serve hot.
Notes
- Using bacon grease adds authentic smoky flavor, but vegetable oil can be used as a substitute if preferred.
- Cook the rice in chicken broth beforehand to infuse more flavor.
- Adjust cayenne pepper to control the heat level according to personal preference.
- For a gluten-free version, substitute the all-purpose flour with gluten-free flour or cornstarch as a thickener.
- Leftovers store well in the refrigerator for up to 3 days and can be reheated on the stovetop or microwave.
