Description
A classic Louisiana Dirty Rice recipe made with ground pork, beef, vegetables, and flavorful spices. A hearty and delicious one-pot meal!
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground pork
- 1 pound ground beef
- 1 large onion, chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 2–3 stalks celery, chopped
- 4 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1 teaspoon dried oregano
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or more, to taste)
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt (or more, to taste)
- 1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes (optional)
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 cup long-grain rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 cup water
- 2 tablespoons vegetable oil
- 2 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
- 1 tablespoon hot sauce (such as Tabasco, optional)
- Fresh parsley, chopped (for garnish)
- Green onions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Brown the Meats: In a large, heavy-bottomed pot or Dutch oven, heat the vegetable oil over medium-high heat. Add the ground pork and ground beef. Break the meat up with a spoon or spatula as it cooks. Cook until browned and no longer pink, about 7-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add Vegetables: Add the chopped onion, green bell pepper, and celery to the pot. Cook, stirring frequently, until the vegetables are softened, about 5-7 minutes. Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring constantly, until fragrant.
- Season: Add the dried thyme, dried oregano, cayenne pepper, black pepper, salt, and red pepper flakes (if using) to the pot. Stir well to combine. Add the bay leaf.
- Add Rice and Liquid: Stir in the uncooked rice, ensuring it’s evenly distributed. Pour in the chicken broth and water. Stir well to combine. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat.
- Simmer: Reduce the heat to low, cover the pot tightly with a lid, and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until the rice is cooked and the liquid is absorbed. Avoid lifting the lid during simmering.
- Check and Adjust: After 20-25 minutes, check the rice. If the rice is still a bit wet, continue to simmer for a few more minutes, checking periodically, until all the liquid is absorbed. If the rice is cooked but there’s still some liquid in the pot, you can remove the lid and cook for a few minutes to allow the excess liquid to evaporate.
- Rest: Remove from heat and let sit, covered, for 5-10 minutes.
- Finish: Remove the bay leaf. Stir in the Worcestershire sauce and hot sauce (if using). Taste and adjust seasoning as needed.
- Fluff and Serve: Fluff the Dirty Rice with a fork. Serve hot, garnished with fresh parsley and green onions.
Notes
- Spice it up! Add more cayenne pepper or hot sauce for extra spice.
- Add liver! Add about 1/2 pound of chopped chicken livers to the pot along with the ground meat.
- Use different meats! Substitute other ground meats, such as turkey or chicken, for the pork and beef.
- Add vegetables! Add other vegetables to the pot, such as mushrooms, diced tomatoes, or corn.
- Make it vegetarian! Omit the meat and use vegetable broth instead of chicken broth.
- Make it in a rice cooker! Combine all the ingredients in the rice cooker and cook according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Make it ahead of time! Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop until heated through.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 45 minutes