Easy Dirty Rice Recipe (Made with Ground beef & Sweet Italian Sausage)

This Creole dish is made with ground beef, sweet Italian sausage, white rice, and chopped vegetables. Infused with savory Cajun flavors, it’s a perfect simulation of a Louisiana classic.

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Hey, y’all! It’s PBJ back at you with a Louisiana classic: dirty rice. I don’t know why I’ve been craving dirty rice for the last three weeks, but it’s been on my tastebuds for a while, so I said, “Let me cook up some.”

I had some a few times before, but since it’s a pretty popular Creole recipe, I felt it was time to make a recipe of my own and post it on my website for you guys, especially since it’s been requested before.

So here it is, finally! And listen, I know you all are going to love this recipe. Dirty rice cannot get much better than this. It may not be your grandma Mary’s dirty rice, but it’s close, and even she’ll appreciate this Creole classic. So check it out!

What is dirty rice?

Dirty rice, sometimes referred to as “rice dressing” or “cajun rice,” is a Classic Creole dish from Louisiana. They call it “DIRTY” rice because it’s made with WHITE RICE that gets a “DIRTY” light brown color by the time it’s done cooking.

Some common ingredients are Soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, beef broth, and ground beef. So it’s no wonder the white rice ends up a light brown color by the time it’s finished cooking.  

The Origin of “dirty rice”

Back during slavery times, chickens were slaughtered and given to the plantation owners while the chicken remains (gizzards, livers, heart, kidneys) and other less desirable parts were left for the slaves.

They would make a way out of no way to survive, which they were notorious for doing. They would mince these leftover chicken parts, season them up, and combine them with rice to create what is now known as dirty rice. 

Although nowadays most people make this dish using ground beef, chicken, and other meats, Creole people in Louisianna traditionally made it using chicken livers and pork meat, like sweet Italian sausage. 

My childhood memories of dirty rice

I don’t have too many memories of my parents cooking dirty rice as a kid, but I do remember my grandma making some a few times for us. However, I don’t think she fancied it up like I did.

I recall it being sort of like a throw-away dish for her. I call it that because she never intended or planned to make it. She’d never say, “I’m making a side of dirty rice tonight!” Lmbo! 

She would brown some ground beef and turkey she was trying to get rid of, probably because it had been sitting in the freezer for so long, and add it to some rice. Then she’d throw in a few seasonings and ingredients for flavor.

I do remember seeing her add chopped onions to the ground meat as it browned and shaking a bottle of soy sauce as she drizzled some over the rice but she didn’t do anything too fancy like most folks try to. Lol!

It was just something she’d eat for lunch or dinner when she was lazy and didn’t feel like cooking much. I also remember one of my aunts buying some dirty rice a couple of times from the Popeyes near her house.

I’m not sure if they still sell it, but they sold it in a small round bowl as a side. I don’t remember it being all that good, but you can’t expect much from Popeyes. Just like KFC’s mac n cheese, most of these stores’ side dishes are average at best.

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What makes this a good dish?

• Everyone likes it: Dirty rice is a fan favorite in my opinion because it has two ingredients we all love, ground beef and rice – it’s just mixed together. You won’t find too many people turning their faces up at dirty rice because there’s not much to “NOT LIKE”.
• It’s easy to make: You don’t have to be the best cook and definitely not a chef to make this dish. I really believe a 12-13-year-old with little guidance can make it. It’s a one-pot/skillet dish—everything goes in and is made in one skillet.
• It doesn’t take long: Dirty rice is the perfect dish for dinner on lazy days when you don’t feel like laboring over the stove in a hot behind kitchen. All you do is brown your meat, chop up your vegetables, throw in a few seasonings along with the rice, and bam, you’re ready to eat in under 30 minutes.
• You get all your main nutrients: I love this dish because it provides your carbs, protein, and vegetables in one bite. It is truly an all-in-one dish. You don’t need anything else, honestly.  
• Throwaway dish: This is what I call a throwaway dish because, as I said earlier, my grandma would make it when she wanted to get rid of some ground meat and veggies that might have been in the refrigerator too long. Got something you want to get rid of? Mix it in your dirty rice.
• Serving options: Dirty rice can be served as a main dish, side dish, or by itself… which gives you a ton of serving options. I personally like to eat it as a side dish, with some fried chicken as my main dish.

Ingredients and alternatives

• Beef broth: I’ve run out of beef broth plenty of times before, but I always have a container of beef bouillon cubes somewhere in my cabinet to save the day. Beef cubes and water = beef broth. Use two bouillon cubes for every quart of water. If you don’t have beef bouillon cubes, chicken broth will do. 
• Sweet Italian sausage: You can replace this with more ground beef or breakfast sausage meat if you have some. If you have ground turkey or chicken on hand, try that. 
• Soy sauce: Soy sauce has a unique flavor and is essential for this dirty rice dish, but other things like Worcestershire or BOQUET’s browning and seasoning can give you that color and have a similar soy sauce flavor. 
• Rice: I like to use “White 10-minute Success” rice, but you can use your favorite rice; just stick with white rice. If you’re not using instant rice like I am, it will take longer to cook, and more broth will be needed. Simmer on low.

The best seasonings to use

• Cajun seasoning: Cajun seasoning gives dirty rice its authentic flavor. Cajun is the main flavor of a traditional Creole dirty rice recipe so make sure you have some on hand, Creole folk would appreciate it. 
• Tony’s Creole seasoning: This is a complete seasoning made up of spices that create Creole seasoning. Dirty rice is a Creole dish, so a touch of this will give it what it needs.
• Seasoning salt: Don’t use salt unless you absolutely have to. Dirty rice is known for being infused with many flavors, cajun and creole to be exact. Seasoning salt is a good option because it has a great Southern flavor and adds color to the dish if you don’t have paprika on hand.
• Cayenne pepper: This is a good substitute and option if you don’t have creole or cajun seasoning and need to add more heat to the dirty rice.

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How to make dirty rice

1. Chop up the vegetables into small pieces.
2. Cook the meat until brown, then remove the fat.
3. Add in the chopped vegetables, paste, soy, and Worcestershire sauce, then stir and saute for 5 minutes.
4. Add in the rice and broth.
5. Cover with a lid and simmer until done. 

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Tips for best results:

• Use fresh ground beef: Ground meat that’s been sitting in the freezer for weeks just doesn’t do this dish any justice. The meat texture tends to change, and it also seems to lose a bit of its flavor, which may be the result of sitting in ice for too long. So always use fresh ground beef. It will make a huge difference, trust me.
• Use fresh vegetables: Vegetables stored in the freezer will lose some flavor and bite and crunch after they unthaw. Limp vegetables you can barely chop are a no. Go with fresh onions, peppers, and celery.
• Don’t cook the rice separately: While cooking the rice separately and then adding it to the meat sounds like a quick and easy option, letting the rice simmer with the ground beef makes a big difference. This is what gives the rice its classic dirty rice color. Just cooking it and adding it last takes away from the dish.

What to serve it with:

• Fried chicken: Uhmmm, fried chicken… duh! Lol! I mean, it’s the best thing to serve it with. Why else ya think they sell it as a side dish at Popeye’s Chicken? 
• Baked BBQ chicken: I had to include this because I recently made a dinner with dirty rice on the side of BBQ chicken. Even though baked BBQ chicken wasn’t the plan, it was a surprisingly good combo, I must say.
• Smothered meats: Dirty rice goes well with smothered meat, such as baked chicken and gravy or baked pork chops and gravy. You can even add a tablespoon of flour to the dirty rice after adding the broth to create a little gravy. 

Storage and reheating

• How do you store dirty rice? Place it in a container, like a Tupperware bowl, and cover it with a lid, aluminum foil, or plastic wrap and store it in the refrigerator.
• How do you reheat it? You can reheat it in the microwave or in the skillet over low to medium heat with a little broth if needed until hot.

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Other beef and sausage recipes

• The BEST Stuffed Peppers Recipe Ever
• Spaghetti And Meat Sauce 
• The Best Homemade Country Sausage Gravy
• World’s Best Shepherd’s Pie
• Grandma Val’s Meatloaf

I hope you enjoy this classic savory creole recipe as much as I do. If you do, please give us 5 stars, share the recipe with your friends and family, and leave a review. Also, subscribe to receive email notifications every time I post a new recipe. 

And keep it touch to stay up to date on everything phillyjaycooking. You can find me on social media on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube…. for my visual learners. So please don’t be a stranger. Join the family and learn how to perfect your favorite dishes with us. 

Enjoy, later
PBJ~

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Easy Dirty Rice Recipe (Made with Ground beef & Sweet Italian Sausage)

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• Author: PhillyboyJay
• Prep Time: 15 Mins
• Cook Time: 30 Mins
• Total Time: 45 Mins
• Yield: 8
• Category: Sides
• Method: American
• Cuisine: Creole

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Description

 This Creole dish is made with ground beef, sweet Italian sausage, white rice, and chopped vegetables and infused with savory cajun flavors, making it a perfect simulation of this Louisiana classic. 

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Ingredients

• 1–1/2 Cup White 10 Minute Success Rice
• 1/2 Lb Ground Beef
• 1/2 Lb Sweet Italian Sausage
• 3 Cups Beef Broth
• 1/4 Cup Onions, finely chopped
• 2 Tbs Green Bell Peppers, finely chopped
• 2 Tbs Red Bell Peppers, finely chopped
• 2 Tbs Celery, finely chopped
• 2 Tbs Jalapenos, finely chopped
• 2 Tsps Minced Garlic
• 1 Tbs Tomato Paste
• 2 Tsps Worcestershire Sauce
• 1 Tsp Soy Sauce
• 2 Tsp Paprika
• 1 Tsp Seasoning Salt
• 1 Tsp Tony’s Creole Seasoning
• 1/2 Tsp Italian Seasoning
• 1/2 Tsp Cumin
• 1/4 Tsp Black Peppe

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Instructions

1. Chop onions, peppers, celery, and jalapenos into small pieces.
2. Place a skillet over medium heat and add ground beef and sweet Italian sausage.
3. Break up with 2 spatulas while cooking for 10 minutes or until no longer pink.
4. Drain fat if necessary, then add in the chopped vegetables and minced garlic and cook for 5 more minutes.
5. Add in the paste, Worcestershire, and soy sauce then stir well.
6. Then add in the rice and broth.
7. Cover with a lid leaving a crack on the side and cook until rice is tender.

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Notes

• This dish is a little on the spicy side so for those of you who don’t like very spicy food, omit the Creole seasoning and add more seasoning salt if needed.
• If the broth cooks out before the rice is done, add 2 more cups and continue cooking. Do this until the rice is done.