Here’s a tasty Dirty Rice with Ground Beef recipe—hearty, flavorful, and easy to make. Traditionally, dirty rice uses ground meat, spices, and veggies to give the rice a “dirty” color and rich taste.
Dirty Rice with Ground Beef
Ingredients (4–6 servings)
- 1 lb ground beef
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 2 cups beef or chicken broth
- 1 medium onion, finely chopped
- 1 bell pepper, finely chopped (optional)
- 2 celery stalks, finely chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
- 1 tsp dried thyme
- 1 tsp Cajun or Creole seasoning
- ½ tsp cayenne pepper (optional for heat)
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 tbsp vegetable oil or butter
- 2 green onions, sliced (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook rice
In a medium pot, bring 2 cups broth to a boil. Add rice, reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer 15–20 minutes until rice is cooked. - Cook ground beef
In a large skillet, heat oil or butter over medium heat. Add ground beef and cook until browned. Drain excess fat if needed. - Sauté vegetables
Add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic to the beef. Cook 5–7 minutes until softened. - Season
Stir in paprika, thyme, Cajun seasoning, cayenne, salt, and black pepper. Cook 1–2 minutes to let spices bloom. - Combine with rice
Add cooked rice to the skillet and mix thoroughly with beef and vegetables. Cook another 2–3 minutes to let flavors meld. - Serve
Garnish with sliced green onions and serve hot as a main or side dish.
Tips
- For extra flavor, sauté the rice in a little oil before adding broth (like a pilaf).
- Swap ground beef for ground pork, turkey, or a mix for variation.
- Add cooked sausage (like andouille) for a more traditional Creole-style dirty rice.
If you want, I can also give a slow-cooker dirty rice version where the beef, veggies, and rice cook together for hands-off convenience—perfect for meal prep.
Do you want me to do that?
