Description
Dirty Rice with Ground Beef is a bold, flavorful one-pot Cajun dish made with seasoned beef, vegetables, and rice simmered in spices and broth. It’s hearty, satisfying, and perfect for busy weeknights or meal prep.
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 small onion, finely diced
- 1 green or red bell pepper, diced
- 2 celery stalks, diced
- 2 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice (uncooked)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)
- ½ teaspoon ground black pepper
- Optional: chopped green onions for garnish
Instructions
- In a large skillet or pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks. Drain excess fat if needed.
- Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Sauté for 3–5 minutes until vegetables are soft and fragrant.
- Stir in uncooked rice and toast for 1–2 minutes.
- Add smoked paprika, thyme, Cajun seasoning, and black pepper. Pour in chicken broth and stir to combine.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18–20 minutes or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat, fluff rice with a fork, and garnish with chopped green onions. Serve warm.
Notes
- Swap ground beef for turkey, sausage, or chopped chicken for variation.
- Use vegetable broth and black beans for a vegetarian version.
- Add cayenne or hot sauce for extra spice.
- Stir in cooked shrimp or andouille sausage for more protein.
- Leftovers taste even better the next day — great for meal prep.
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1.5 cups
- Calories: 390
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 6g
- Unsaturated Fat: 10g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 37g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 21g
- Cholesterol: 60mg
