Here’s a full detailed recipe for Dirty Rice with Ground Beef, a delicious and hearty Southern dish packed with flavor. This version is made with ground beef (instead of the traditional chicken livers) and is perfect for a comforting meal or side dish.
🍽️ Dirty Rice with Ground Beef Recipe
🔹 Prep Time: 10 minutes
🔹 Cook Time: 30–35 minutes
🔹 Total Time: 40–45 minutes
🔹 Servings: 4–6
🧂 Ingredients:
Main:
- 1 lb ground beef (80/20 or leaner)
- 1 cup long grain white rice (uncooked)
- 2 cups beef broth (or water with bouillon)
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil or butter
Vegetables (The Holy Trinity of Cajun Cooking):
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 bell pepper, finely chopped (green is traditional)
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
Seasonings:
- 1 tsp salt, or to taste
- ½ tsp black pepper
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp dried oregano
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tsp Creole or Cajun seasoning (like Tony Chachere’s or Slap Ya Mama – adjust to taste)
Optional:
- 2 green onions, chopped (for garnish)
- Chopped parsley, for garnish
- ½ lb chicken livers, finely chopped (if you want a more authentic version)
🍳 Instructions:
1. Cook the Rice:
- In a pot or rice cooker, cook 1 cup of white rice in 2 cups of beef broth (or water). Set aside when done.
📝 Tip: Slightly undercook the rice by a minute so it doesn’t get mushy when mixed with the meat.
2. Brown the Ground Beef:
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned (about 6–8 minutes), breaking it up with a spoon as it cooks.
- Season lightly with salt and pepper.
- Drain excess grease if necessary (leave a bit for flavor).
3. Sauté Vegetables:
- Push beef to the side of the pan or remove it temporarily.
- Add another 1 tbsp oil or butter to the pan.
- Sauté the onions, bell pepper, and celery (the trinity) until soft and translucent – about 5–7 minutes.
- Add garlic and sauté for 1 more minute.
4. Season Everything:
- Stir the beef and vegetables together.
- Add all the seasonings: paprika, cayenne (if using), thyme, oregano, Creole seasoning, bay leaf.
- Mix well and let cook for another 1–2 minutes to bloom the spices.
5. Add the Rice:
- Add the cooked rice to the skillet.
- Stir everything together until well combined and heated through.
- Adjust seasoning (salt, pepper, spice) as needed.
6. Finish and Garnish:
- Remove bay leaf.
- Garnish with chopped green onions and fresh parsley.
- Serve hot as a main dish or side.
📝 Tips & Variations:
- Authenticity: Traditional dirty rice uses chopped chicken livers or giblets. You can sauté them with the beef if you like that flavor.
- Meat Swap: You can substitute or mix the ground beef with ground pork, sausage, or turkey.
- Spice Level: Adjust cayenne and Cajun seasoning based on your spice tolerance.
- One-Pot Version: You can cook the rice in the same skillet after browning meat and veggies by adding uncooked rice + broth and simmering for ~20 minutes (lid on).
🍷 What to Serve With Dirty Rice:
- Fried chicken or grilled pork chops
- Cornbread or biscuits
- Coleslaw or a simple green salad
- Hot sauce on the side
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