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Dirty Rice With Sausage And Ground Beef

Tired of boring weeknight dinners? Spice up your meal rotation with this tasty, easy-to-make dirty rice recipe with sausage and ground beef! 

A pot of dirty rice garnished with green onions and parsley.

Easy Dirty Rice Recipe

If you’re looking for an easy yet flavorful dish, look no further than this easy dirty rice recipe with sausage and ground beef. 

This dirty rice meal made with the combination of ground beef, sausage, vegetables, and spices creates a hearty and flavorful dish that will surely be a hit with the whole family. 

This classic Southern dish is perfect for a weeknight dinner or a special occasion. Just mix up all the ingredients in one pot and cook on the stovetop for a delicious meal in no time. 

Dirty rice or “rice dressing recipe

Dirty rice, also known as “rice dressing,” is a hearty one-pot meal with tons of flavor! Totally delicious!!

All the ingredients are cooked together in one pot, so you don’t have to worry about fussing with multiple pans or complicated instructions. Plus, it’s relatively inexpensive and can easily feed a crowd. 

A bowl of dirty rice garnished with green onions and parsley.

What is Dirty Rice?

Dirty rice describes a mixture of rice and different kinds of meat, such as sausage, chicken liver, and ground beef, that are seasoned and then cooked.

It is a classic one-pot Creole dish that originated in Louisiana, and while it can be made with pretty much any kind of meat, it’s most commonly made with ground beef, sausage, and chicken liver.

Dirty rice is a cheaper alternative to Jambalaya, and it’s great as a main dish because it is delicious on its own. 

Dirty rice meal?

The word “Dirty” is used for the rice meal because of its color after all the meat and condiment mixtures. I know the name doesn’t sound pleasing because “dirty” and “food” should never be related. But, in this case, the word doesn’t mean it is unhygienic or unhealthy. 

Delicious Louisiana Creole Dirty Rice recipe

This Creole-style dirty rice recipe with sausage and ground beef is the perfect way to spice up your dinner. Away from the name, it tastes delicious, and it has become a favorite for my family. 

It’s got all the classic flavors of Louisiana cooking, including the holy trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper. Plus, the addition of sausage and ground beef makes it a heartier and more filling dish that everyone will love. 

You should also check my other southern delicacies like shrimp creoleJambalaya, and southern black-eyed peas.

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How is Jambalaya different from dirty rice?

Jambalaya and dirty rice are two famous dishes from Louisiana, but they’re different! Each has its distinct appearance and flavor.

Jambalaya is made with meat, shrimp, the holy trinity, and spices with a thick, often spicy sauce.

Dirty rice is cooked in broth, so it’s not saucy like Jambalaya. It’s also less expensive to make.

Ingredients for making Dirty Rice

These ingredients are easy to find and affordable, and you only need one pot. 

  • Sausage/Chicken livers: You can use either or both. I love to use both!
  • Aromatics: onion, garlic, celery, and green bell pepper
  • Seasoning: a blend of herbs, seasoning, and spice. 
  • Sauces: hot sauce for a spicy kick and Worcester for more flavor.
  • Hot sauce: adds a kick of heat and spiciness to my delicious dirty rice.
  • Rice: I used long-grain rice for this version. Feel free to use medium grain and basmati rice; they work well too. Keep in mind that the cooking time will be different. 
  • Beef broth: Use a flavorful broth. It will help to enhance the flavor of the dish.

Herbs: bay leaf, fresh parsley, and thyme dried

A bowl of dirty rice garnished with green onions and parsley.

How to make Dirty Rice from Scratch

  • Cook the aromatics. Add the onion, celery, green bell pepper, and minced garlic.
  • Brown the meat. Add ground beef and sausage/livers to a large pot over medium heat and sauté until the meat has browned.
  • Add seasoning, herbs, rice, and beef broth, and bring the mixture to a simmer. 
  • Serve and enjoy: Remove bay leaves and stir in green onion. Add chopped parsley and fluff the rice with a fork. 

How to Store Leftovers

For short-term storage, refrigerate the rice in an airtight container for up to 4 days. 

Can dirty rice be frozen?

Yes, dirty rice can be frozen. Place the rice in an airtight container or freezer-safe bag and freeze for up to 3 months. When ready to eat, thaw in the fridge overnight and reheat in the microwave or stovetop.  

How do you know when the Rice is cooked?

To tell if your dirty rice is cooked, check to ensure all the liquid has been absorbed and the rice is tender.

A bowl of dirty rice garnished with green onions and parsley.

Helpful tips

  • I used long-grained rice in this version but feel free to use basmati, medium-grained, or brown rice. However, cooking times will vary.
  • You can make dirty vegetarian rice by substituting the sausage/liver with kidney beans or mushrooms.  
  • Additionally, adding a few tablespoons of butter will give the dish a richer flavor.

How to Serve Dirty Rice 

Dirty rice is a one-pot meal filled with protein and veggies. So, you can serve it as the main dish. 

By the side, you can add sauteed skillet green beans and bacon or an additional protein like Blackened Salmonair fryer salmon fishHarissa Chicken Wingsair fryer chicken tenders, and shrimp.

Other rice recipes you will love

A pot of dirty rice garnished with green onions and parsley.

Dirty Rice

Dirty rice is a one-pot meal loaded with creole flavor and sumptuous texture. It is a blend of protein, rice, delicious spices, and condiments. Great as a main dish because it is delicious on its own.
4 from 2 votes
Print Pin Rate
Course: Lunch/Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Dirty rice, rice
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 45 minutes
Total Time: 55 minutes
Servings: 6 servings
Calories: 576.6kcal

Ingredients

  • 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
  • 1 medium onion chopped
  • ½ cup celery diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 3 cloves garlic chopped
  • 8 ounces andouille sausage beef liver finely minced
  • 1 pound ground beef or ground pork
  • 1 tablespoon paprika
  • 1 teaspoon ground cumin
  • ¼ teaspoon cayenne pepper
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried thyme
  • salt and pepper to taste
  • 2 cups long-grain rice
  • cups beef broth
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 dash Worcestershire sauce
  • ¼ cup green onions sliced
  • ¼ cup Italian parsley chopped

Instructions

  • Heat oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Add onion, celery, and bell pepper and cook until translucent, about 5 minutes.
  • Stir in the minced garlic and cook for another 30 seconds.
  • Add the ground beef and break it apart with a wooden spoon. Brown for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally.
  • If using chicken livers, add them now. Let them cook for another five minutes. For andouille sausage, cook for 2 to 3 minutes.
  • Season with paprika, cumin, cayenne, garlic powder, oregano, thyme, salt, and pepper to taste.
  • Add the rice and stir well to coat with the seasoning. Add the beef broth, bay leaf, and Worcestershire sauce. Adjust salt and pepper if necessary.
  • Cover tightly, and reduce the heat to medium-low without stirring until most of the liquid is absorbed and the rice is tender for about 20 to 30 minutes.
  • Discard bay leaf and stir in the green onions. Garnish with parsley.

Notes

  • Ensure that your onions, celery, bell peppers, and garlic are finely chopped to get a bit of each in every spoon of rice.
  • If you don’t have creole seasoning, you can use Cajun seasoning too.
  • I used long-grained rice in this version but feel free to use basmati, medium-grained, or brown rice.
  • You can make dirty vegetarian rice by substituting the sausage and liver with kidney beans or mushrooms.  

Nutrition

Calories: 576.6kcal | Carbohydrates: 55.1g | Protein: 27.4g | Fat: 26.6g | Saturated Fat: 9.5g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 2.6g | Monounsaturated Fat: 11.3g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 86.2mg | Sodium: 1045.3mg | Potassium: 659.6mg | Fiber: 2.4g | Sugar: 2.2g | Vitamin A: 998.6IU | Vitamin C: 22.3mg | Calcium: 73.3mg | Iron: 3.7mg

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4 from 2 votes (1 rating without comment)
Recipe Rating




Grace

Friday 24th of January 2025

Took 60 mins for my rice to cook. Not 30..

Chef Lola's Kitchen

Sunday 9th of February 2025

I guess it depends on the type of rice you used.

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