Cajun Dirty Rice Ground Beef (Printable)
A flavorful Southern blend of ground beef, vegetables, and Cajun-spiced fluffy rice in one pan.
# What You'll 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
# How-to Steps:
01 - Heat the vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high 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 needed.
02 - Add the onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to the skillet. Sauté until the vegetables are softened, about 5 minutes.
03 - Stir in the Cajun seasoning, paprika, thyme, oregano, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper if using. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
04 - Add the uncooked rice and stir well to coat the grains in the spices and fat.
05 - Pour in the chicken broth. Bring to a boil, then reduce the heat to low. Cover and simmer for 18–20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and the liquid is absorbed.
06 - Remove from heat and let the rice rest covered for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork before serving.
07 - Garnish with sliced green onions just before serving.
# Expert Pointers:
01 -
- It transforms simple ground beef into something that tastes like it simmered all day
- The holy trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper creates layers of flavor
- Everything cooks in one pan, making cleanup almost too easy
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid while the rice simmers, or you will lose the steam that cooks it evenly
- The rice might seem slightly underdone when you first turn off the heat, but that resting period finishes the job
- If your Cajun seasoning is heavy on salt, skip the extra salt until the end and taste first
03 -
- Rinse your rice before cooking to remove excess starch for the fluffiest results
- Let the beef develop a dark brown crust on the bottom of the pan before adding vegetables, those browned bits are pure flavor