Cajun Dirty Rice Ground Beef (Print)
Spiced ground beef and vegetables combine with aromatic Cajun flavors in this hearty Southern dish.
# What You Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
03 - 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
04 - 2 celery stalks, finely diced
05 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
06 - 2 spring onions, sliced for garnish
→ Rice and Grains
07 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, uncooked
→ Liquids and Fats
08 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
09 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
→ Spices and Seasonings
10 - 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
11 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
12 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
13 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
14 - 1/2 tsp black pepper
15 - 1/2 tsp salt
16 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
→ Garnishes
17 - 2 tbsp chopped fresh parsley
# How to Make:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add ground beef and cook, breaking it up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 to 7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
02 - Add onion, bell pepper, and celery to the pan. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened. Stir in garlic and cook for 1 additional minute until fragrant.
03 - Sprinkle in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, black pepper, salt, and cayenne pepper. Stir well to evenly coat the meat and vegetables with spices.
04 - Add uncooked rice to the pan and stir to combine. Let the rice toast for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring frequently to prevent burning.
05 - Pour in chicken broth and bring mixture to a boil. Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid has been fully absorbed.
06 - Remove from heat. Fluff rice with a fork. Stir in chopped parsley and garnish with sliced spring onions. Serve warm.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- The rice absorbs every bit of flavor from the beef and aromatics, creating depth in every single spoonful
- It comes together in under an hour but tastes like it simmered all afternoon
- Leftovers reheat beautifully for lunches that taste even better the next day
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid while the rice simmers or you will release steam and disrupt the cooking process
- Letting the rice toast for a full 2 minutes makes a noticeable difference in the final flavor
- The rice will continue to soften slightly as it rests, so remove from heat while it still has a tiny bit of bite
03 -
- Dice your vegetables uniformly so they cook evenly and no one ends up with a crunchy piece of onion
- Let the dish rest covered for 5 minutes off the heat before fluffing for perfectly separate grains