Dirty Rice is a delectable combination of ground pork, ground beef, finely minced chicken livers, rice, onions, celery, green pepper, garlic and Cajun seasoning. It is a complete meal that can be cooked up in about twenty five minutes. It is so full of flavor and absolutely delicious!!
Do you like Cajun cooking and recipes? Hubby and I just love it. Cajun cooking is so full of flavor with down to earth good wholesome ingredients. You are going to love this Dirty Rice. This recipe takes less than thirty minutes to prepare, is a family favorite and one my most beloved Cajun dishes. The dish combines the full flavors of the “Cajun Holy Trinity” with ground beef, ground pork and minced chicken livers. You don’t like chicken livers? Then go ahead and omit them. Cooking is about adapting a recipe to your own personal preferences.
What is Dirty Rice?
Oh boy! Did I mention that hubby and I just love Cajun food! Dirty Rice is one of our favorites and so easy to whip up. It is a full meal in itself and if you are in hurry cook the rice ahead of time and refrigerate it. You will need to heat it up in the pot with the meat and vegetables for one to two minutes longer but it will still be delicious!!
Dirty Rice is a traditional Louisiana dish consisting of white rice, ground pork, ground beef, chicken livers, onions, bell peppers and celery. It is then seasoned with tradition Cajun spices. The name is derived from the white rice looking “dirty” after the other goodies are added.
What is the Cajun Holy Trinity?
Cajun Holy Trinity in Cajun cooking refers to onions, bell peppers and celery. This trio is a base in many delicious Cajun recipes like jambalaya, gumbo and crawfish étouffée. Have you tried my Easy Chicken Gumbo Soup?
How to make Dirty Rice?
First cook the rice by bringing it, some chicken broth and water to a boil. Cover with a tight fitting lid and reduce to a simmer. Cook for about fifteen minutes or until all the liquid is absorbed.
Then grab a heavy stock pot or dutch oven. Over medium heat brown the ground pork and ground beef. When the meat is about halfway through the browning process add the minced chicken liver, onions, bell peppers and celery. Cook until the meat is browned and the vegetables are starting to soften. Stir several times. Reduce the heat to low. Add the garlic and the Cajun seasoning. Cook for about one minute stirring frequently. Finally add the cooked rice to the pot with the meat and vegetables. Stir in one half cup of chicken broth. Serve promptly.
Helpful hints for making this Dirty Rice.
- Don’t lift the lid while cooking the rice. You want the rice to maintain an even temperature throughout the pot.
- In a hurry? Make your rice a day ahead of time and store in the fridge. You will need to add one to two minutes of reheating time when you mix the cold rice into the meat and vegetable mixture in the final phase.
- If you don’t like chicken livers omit them. The recipe is also scrumptious without them.
- If at all possible use fresh vegetables for this recipe.
- Cut your veggies in a small dice and slice. After all this is a rice dish so you don’t want big chunks.
- Add enough Cajun seasoning to suit your individual taste. If your palate is sensitive add one teaspoon. You can always add more in the last step.
- For more color and flavor garnish with thin slices of green onion.
- This dish reheats wonderfully in the microwave on a reduced power.
This Dirty Rice is easy, scrumptious, and dependable. Put the ingredients on your shopping list and make you and yours an amazing meal. Your loved ones will be singing your praises.
Other Cajun recipes you will love!
PrintDirty Rice
Dirty Rice is a delectable combination of ground pork, ground beef, finely minced chicken livers, rice, onions, celery, green pepper, garlic and Cajun seasoning
- Prep Time: 5
- Cook Time: 25
- Total Time: 30 minutes
- Yield: 4 servings 1x
- Category: main meal
- Method: stove top
- Cuisine: Cajun
Ingredients
- 1 cup white rice
- 1 1/2 cups low sodium chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 1/2 lb ground beef
- 1/2 lb ground pork
- 2/3 cup minced chicken livers (optional
- 1 small onion diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 1/2 green pepper diced
- 1/2 red pepper diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning (see notes)
Instructions
- Bring rice, 1 cup chicken broth, and water to a boil. Reduce to simmer, cover and cook for 15-20 minutes or until the liquid is absorbed. Remove from the heat and fluff with a fork.
- In large dutch oven or heavy stock pot over medium heat brown ground beef and ground pork. About halfway through the browning process add minced chicken liver, onion, celery and peppers. Cook until the meat is browned and the onions are soft. Reduce heat to low. Add garlic and Cajun seasoning and cook for 1 additional minute.
- Add the cooked rice to the pot with the meat and vegetables. Stir in 1/2 cup of chicken broth. Serve promptly.
Notes
If your palate is sensitive add one teaspoon Cajun seasoning. You can always add more when you add the cooked rice to the meat and vegetable mixture.
Keywords: Cajun dirty rice, Creole dirty rice, Louisiana style dirty rice
I have never made my own dirty rice. I am excited to try, and your tips are really helpful!
Looks impressive! So tasty and flavorful, so excited to try this recipe!
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I can’t wait to try this recipe!! So many amazing flavors!! I LOVE this!!
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Yum! Such an easy meal with tons of flavor!
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I am always in for some rice! This is a great recipe to change up the recipes I use!
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I loved the crunch of all the onions and peppers! So tasty; made a great side dish for dinner last night!
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This dirty rice looks so good! I have to make it!
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My boys love dirty rice! Going to give this a try later in the week. Yum!
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This is one of my favorites! Such an easy dish to make but has so much flavor.
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This looks super tasty!! I love the idea of adding all those ingredients to rice…it makes for a nice, hearty meal!
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Served this up with some chicken sausage. Turned out amazing!
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Thanks Aimee! I am so glad that you enjoyed it!
This rice was so flavorful and delicious!
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Can’t wait to try this!
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I was just speaking to someone about how great animal liver is for you. This will be the perfect recipe to mix chicken liver into. I can’t wait to try! 🙂
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I am always on the lookout for rice recipes! This one looks delish! Will save it for future.
This is such a wonderfully classic dish that comes together easily nut is full of flavor. Looks so good, can’t wait to make it.
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I had dirty rice a few years back when I was visiting New Orleans and couldn’t get enough of it. I’ll have to try this soon because I miss that flavor!
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Wow – I can’t imagine how many ingredients this dish has! I mean, you’ve got it all in one place – I wonder how flavorul it makes the rice!
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Very flavorful!
I’m a huge fan of Cajun cuisine, and this dirty rice is wonderful! The chicken livers add such a nice rich flavor, especially with the Cajun seasoning. Thanks for sharing!
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My pleasure Amanda!
I’ve never thought about doing anything with chicken livers other than the Jewish style chopped liver with schmaltz pate. Love this as a new way to try using them!
Do you cook the chicken livers before you put them into the pot with the other meat
About halfway through the browning process of the beef and pork add the minced chicken liver. It is in step 2. Happy cooking!!
Can this be frozen
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Yes it most certainly can!! You might want to add 1-2 tablespoons chicken broth or water when you reheat for moisture.
Love this recipe! So easy and flavorful! Definitely one that I will make again and again!
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Oh I love the sound of this. The chicken livers and cajun have me intrigued. I am thinking this would be great with cauliflower rice too. Thanks for sharing!
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Dirty rice is one of my favorites and it’s been so long since I’ve made. Can’t wait to try this recipe!
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My husband and I also love cajun food especially a delicious dirty rice recipe. I can’t wait to make this for him!
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Oooh loving the sound of this rice and the name!! Rice is a staple in my house, so I’m always looking for new and interesting ways to ramp up the flavour. Definitely trying your dirty rice!
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Thanks so much Annie! Enjoy!
This was a great recipe. I didn’t follow it completely but it gave me a foundation. I did not use livers or regular ground pork. I bought Tennessee Pride hot sausage. For some reason when ever I’ve had dirty rice the flavors from that sausage is what I seem to taste and it’s my favorite. Thank you for providing us all with a great recipe. Everything turned out perfect.
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Thanks Ardra! The pleasure was all mine. I love a good cook that can improvise and substitute with the things that they love!
This rice has to be the most flavorful rice I have ever eaten! YUM!
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Such an easy recipe. And so flavorful! Love it!
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My family loved this! I can’t wait to make it again!
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Filling & so tasty!! The flavors go so well together! Great alone or as a side!
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This is so good and so easy to make!! Definitely a must-try!
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This looks like such a quick and easy weeknight meal! Definitely adding it to our menu for the week!
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Love Cajun cooking! This dirty rice looks so flavorful, yet easy to make. I’ll probably leave out the chicken liver, but the combination of pork and beef sounds like it’ll still lend enough fat and flavor. Thanks for the great tips!
Looks so good! Can’t wait to try this one.
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I never thought about using chicken livers in dirty rice! I’m definitely going to give this a try. It sounds soooo delicious!
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Love this dirty rice! I remember my mom making something similar growing up and I always loved it. This was so yummy and tasted just like I remembered!
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