Cajun Dirty Rice Ground Beef (Print version)

Savory Southern-style rice with ground beef, aromatic vegetables, and bold Cajun spices.

# What you need:

→ Meats

01 - 1 lb ground beef, 85% lean recommended

→ Vegetables

02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, diced
05 - 3 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 green onions, thinly sliced for garnish

→ Rice & Broth

07 - 1 1/2 cups long-grain white rice, uncooked
08 - 3 cups chicken broth or beef broth

→ Spices & Seasonings

09 - 1 1/2 tsp Cajun seasoning
10 - 1/2 tsp paprika
11 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
12 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
13 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
14 - 1/2 tsp salt or to taste
15 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, optional for heat

→ Oils

16 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil

# Directions:

01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking apart with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to the beef. Sauté until vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in Cajun seasoning, paprika, thyme, oregano, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper if using. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add uncooked rice and stir thoroughly to coat grains with spices and rendered fat.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
06 - Remove from heat and let rice rest covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
07 - Top with sliced green onions just before serving.

# Expert advice:

01 -
  • The whole house smells like a New Orleans kitchen, and people will wander in asking what is for dinner before you have even finished cooking
  • Everything cooks in one pan, so you get maximum flavor with minimum cleanup
02 -
  • The rice needs the full resting time to finish cooking properly without becoming gummy or sticky
  • Lifting the lid during simmering lets steam escape and can throw off the liquid to rice ratio completely
03 -
  • Use a heavy bottomed pan or Dutch oven to prevent hot spots that can scorch the rice at the bottom
  • Let your vegetables get a little color in the beef fat before adding the spices for deeper flavor

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