Cajun Dirty Rice Beef Peppers (Printable View)
Southern-style rice with ground beef, bell peppers, and Cajun spices for a flavorful, hearty meal.
# What You'll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz lean ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
→ Rice & Staples
08 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
09 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
→ Seasonings & Herbs
11 - 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
12 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
13 - 1/2 tsp dried thyme
14 - 1/2 tsp dried oregano
15 - 1/2 tsp ground black pepper
16 - 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
17 - 1 tsp kosher salt
18 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
# How-To Steps:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat.
02 - Add ground beef and cook, breaking up with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Add onion, bell peppers, celery, and garlic. Sauté for 4-5 minutes until softened.
04 - Stir in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, black pepper, cayenne, and salt. Cook for 1 minute until fragrant.
05 - Add rinsed rice and stir to coat with spices and vegetables.
06 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a boil.
07 - Reduce heat to low, cover, and simmer for 18-20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
08 - Remove from heat and let stand, covered, for 5 minutes. Fluff with a fork.
09 - Garnish with fresh parsley and spring onions. Serve hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- One pan transforms simple ground beef and rice into something that tastes like it simmered all day.
- The holy trinity of onion, celery, and bell pepper creates that authentic Louisiana depth.
- This recipe feeds four people comfortably and somehow tastes even better as leftovers.
02 -
- Rinsing the rice until the water runs clear prevents gummy dirty rice, which defeats the whole purpose.
- Letting the dish rest covered is nonnegotiable for perfect texture and flavor distribution.
- Cajun seasoning brands vary wildly in salt content, so taste before adding extra kosher salt.
03 -
- Chop your vegetables uniformly so they cook evenly and no one gets a big chunk of raw onion.
- Homemade Cajun seasoning lets you control the heat level and salt content precisely.