Dirty Rice With Ground Beef

This Dirty Rice With Ground Beef is seasoned with a homemade blend of Cajun spices for a bold and zesty flavor. The dish also features the classic Louisiana Holy Trinity ingredients like andouille sausage, onions, celery, and bell peppers.

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No need to pull up on Pappadeaux or Zatarain's! Make your own rice at home. This recipe will take you back to the Nola.

Why it's Called Dirty Rice

Dirty rice is a traditional Southern Louisiana Creole or Cajun dish. It's made with white rice that turns brown "dirty" in color because it's cooked with browned meat. It's always prepared with spices and the Holy trinity ingredients.

What Type of Meat to Use

Most traditional dirty rice is made using chicken livers or giblets. Feel free to use them if you wish! My family loves to use ground beef and andouille sausage. You can use whatever you wish including ground pork, ground chicken, or ground turkey.

Smoked andouille sausage has so much flavor and is used throughout a lot of Cajun and Louisiana-based cuisine.

Is it Spicy?

In general, Cajun rubs are known for being a seasoning with bold flavor. The spice with the most heat in this recipe is cayenne. Add more or less of it to suit your taste. I have often found some Cajun seasoning and dishes to be spicy hot, while others are mild.

Spices and Herbs

Feel free to use a store-bought Cajun seasoning if that's your wish. I like to use my Homemade New Orleans Cajun Rub recipe.

You will need the following for the recipe

• Paprika (I prefer Smoked Paprika for smoky flavor)
• Cayenne Pepper
• Black Pepper
• White Pepper
• Oregano
• Onion Powder
• Garlic Powder
• Salt

If you're someone who cooks a lot you likely have all of the spices you will need in your pantry, but maybe not white pepper. White pepper is commonly used in French and Cajun cuisine and actually comes from the same plant as black pepper, but the difference between them comes down to how they're picked and processed.

Both white and black pepper comes from the berries of the pepper plant. White pepper comes from the berries that are picked at full ripeness. The berries are then soaked in water to ferment and the outer layer is removed leaving only the inner seed. Removing the skin removes some of the flavor making it milder than black pepper.

What Type of Rice to Use

I recommend long-grain rice (jasmine or basmati) because long-grain is produces firm grains that stay fluffy after it's cooked. The rice is slim and long and nearly four to five times longer than it is wide. You can read more about long-grain rice here.

Long-grain rice is much different than something like Minute Rice which is already cooked and processed.

Holy Trinity Ingredients

The Holy Trinity vegetables include onions, bell peppers, and celery. You will always find this combination of vegetables in dishes like gumbo, Shrimp Étouffée, dirty rice, and jambalaya.

How to Make Dirty Rice With Ground Beef

Detailed measurements and full instructions can be found in the recipe card at the bottom of this post.

1. Add ground beef to a skillet or pot on medium-high heat.
2. Break down the beef and add in the sausage pieces and season the meat with the Cajun spices and tarragon.
3. Cook the meat for 4-5 minutes or until the meat has browned.
4. Add in garlic, green peppers, onions and celery. Stir and cook until the onions and garlic are fragrant.
5. Sprinkle in the flour and stir until the meat is fully coated with flour.
6. Pour in broth.
7. Reduce the heat to medium and add the bay leaf. Simmer.
8. Fold in the cooked rice.

The Difference Between Dirty Rice and Jambalaya

Jambalaya is typically made with sausage, chicken, and seafood. Dirty rice is usually made with chicken liver, giblets, and/or ground meat. Jambalaya reminds me somewhat of Spanish paella.

What to Pair with the Rice

When prepped for dinner, we eat this as the main dish! During the holidays is used as a side dish among a huge spread of food. The dish will pair wonderfully with Southern Homemade Cornbread and Air Fryer Garlic Bread.

How to Make the Dish Without Cooking the Rice First

I love to make this dish using leftover rice I have on hand because I always have rice. I make it weekly as a part of my meal prep routine. But, you can make this dish using dry rice! Follow the instructions listed in the recipe card below. After you have added the flour and stirred it follow these instructions:

1. Add in the rice and stir to toast the rice with the flavors of the pan.
2. Pour in the broth.
3. Adjust the heat to boiling and add the bay leaf.
4. Once the pot reaches a boil, reduce the heat on the stove to low. Cover the pan and simmer. Remove the lid and glide the wooden spoon throughout the pan every 6-8 minutes to ensure the rice doesn't stick to the bottom of the pan.
5. Once the broth has been fully absorbed and the rice has softened, remove the lid and remove the bay leaf. This can take 12-20 minutes (or more use your judgment).

How to Store Leftovers

The dish will last for 3-4 days tightly covered and sealed in the fridge.

How to Reheat

Reheat the dish on the stove or in the air fryer or oven on 350 degrees until warm.

Freezer Tips

You can freeze the rice for up to 6 months. I find the best results in under 3 months.

More Cajun Recipes

Instant Pot Gumbo
Slow Cooker Gumbo
Cajun Shrimp and Grits
Cajun Chicken Wings
Shrimp Étouffée Recipe
Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
Cajun Shrimp Pasta
Southern Chicken Spaghetti
Cajun Seafood Gumbo with Shrimp and Crab
Seafood Jambalaya with Shrimp
Southern Red Beans and Rice

Pair this with Steakhouse Creamed Spinach and Smothered Potatoes and Onions and check out our collection of 25 Recipes With Ground Beef.