Here’s a flavorful, hearty recipe for Dirty Rice with Ground Beef—a quick, one-pan dish with Cajun-inspired flavors. 🍚🥩🌶️
Dirty Rice with Ground Beef
Ingredients (Serves 4–6)
- 1 lb (450 g) ground beef
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups beef broth (or water with bouillon)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, finely chopped
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 tsp paprika
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional, for heat)
- 1 tsp dried thyme or Cajun seasoning
- Salt and pepper, to taste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil or butter
- Optional garnish: chopped green onions or parsley
Instructions
1. Cook the Ground Beef
- Heat oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat.
- Add ground beef and cook until browned, breaking it into small crumbles.
- Remove excess fat if needed.
2. Sauté the Vegetables
- Add onion, bell pepper, and celery to the skillet.
- Cook 3–4 minutes until softened.
- Add garlic and cook 1 minute until fragrant.
3. Add Rice and Seasonings
- Stir in rice, paprika, cayenne, thyme, salt, and pepper.
- Toast rice for 1–2 minutes, stirring constantly.
4. Cook the Rice
- Add beef broth and bring to a boil.
- Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 18–20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Fluff with a fork.
5. Serve
- Garnish with chopped green onions or parsley.
- Serve as a main dish or alongside vegetables or a salad.
Tips
- For more authentic Cajun flavor, add 1 tsp smoked paprika, ½ tsp dried oregano, or 1 tsp hot sauce.
- Use long-grain rice for fluffy, separate grains.
- Optional mix-ins: cooked sausage, diced tomatoes, or green peas.
If you want, I can also give a one-pot slow cooker version where you dump everything in and let it cook while you focus on other things—just as flavorful with less hands-on time.
Do you want me to do that?
