Beef Dirty Rice
A delicious and hearty Southern dish featuring ground beef, rice, and spices, perfect for weeknight dinners or special occasions.
Ingredients
Main Ingredients
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1.5 cups long-grain white rice (uncooked) Use for best texture
- 3 cups chicken broth You can adjust based on preference
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 green or red bell pepper, diced Any color can be used
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
Spices & Oils
- 1 tablespoon olive oil For cooking the beef
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning Adjust to taste
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper
Garnish
- Chopped green onions for topping (optional) Add for extra flavor
Instructions
Cooking
- Warm up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a big skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add the ground beef and break it up as it cooks. Let it brown fully for about 5–7 minutes. If there's too much fat, drain it off.
- With the beef still in the pan, add the diced onion, bell pepper, and celery. Stir for 3–5 minutes until they are soft.
- Add minced garlic and cook for another minute, just until it smells good.
- Mix 1.5 cups of uncooked rice into the pan with the meat and veggies. Stir well to coat everything and let it toast for a minute or two.
- Sprinkle in smoked paprika, thyme, Cajun seasoning, and black pepper. Stir it all together.
- Pour in 3 cups of chicken broth, crank up the heat, and bring it to a boil while stirring occasionally.
- Turn the heat down low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for about 18–20 minutes.
- Once finished, take it off the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes.
- Remove the lid and gently fluff the rice with a fork. Top with chopped green onions if you like and enjoy it hot!
Notes
Feel free to adjust the spices according to your taste. You can make a vegetarian version by substituting ground beef with black beans or lentils.