This dirty rice recipe is classic southern cuisine with Cajun style white rice made "dirty" from bits of chicken, beef or pork, so easy to make. It's nice and spicy and huge on flavor. Let me show you how to make it.
The Best Cajun Dirty Rice
Cajun Dirty Rice is going to be a new favorite recipe on your go-to side dish menu. It's easy to make and it goes with practically anything. It is basically a big bowl of rice and meat with plenty of seasonings.
There is definitely a secret to making authentic dirty rice, and that is "chicken livers". Chicken livers is a traditional ingredient, but don't let that turn you off. The combination of flavors layered in with the Cajun Holy Trinity, chicken livers, ground pork, and lots of Cajun seasonings will make you a fan.
You really don't notice the taste of chicken livers, and It's more of a cohesive dish in terms of taste, but rest assured, you can make dirty rice without chicken livers if you prefer.
Below I'll show you how to make the recipe, along with ways you can vary it up, but first...
What is Dirty Rice?
"Dirty Rice" is the name for the popular Cajun-Creole rice dish of white rice that gets "dirty" from bits of chicken or pork cooked into it. It is common in Louisiana, though you'll find it all over the southern United States.
The addition of chicken livers is its most defining distinction. There is a variation called "Rice Dressing" that is made with ground beef or pork, where "Dirty Rice" includes chicken livers and pork.
Both variations are delicious. It also sometimes referred to as "Cajun Rice". To me, it's one of the best recipes with rice out there.
Let's talk about how to make dirty rice.
Dirty Rice Ingredients Needed
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped (or use jalapenos for a spicier version, or serranos for even spicier, or other green pepper)
- 1 medium onion, chopped
- 1 rib celery, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, chopped
- 10 ounces ground pork (or ground beef)
- ½ cup chicken livers, finely chopped (or more as desired)
- 1.5 cups white rice, uncooked (12 ounces)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning blend
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh chopped herbs for garnish
Once you've gathered up your ingredients, it's time to get cooking.
How to Make Dirty Rice - the Recipe Method
First, heat the olive oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven to medium heat.
Add the peppers, onion and celery. Cook them down about 5 minutes to soften.
Add the ground pork and break apart with a wooden spoon. Cook about 5 minutes to brown, stirring here and there.
Add the chicken livers and stir them in. Cook them down for 5 minutes.
Add the rice, chicken broth, Cajun seasonings, bay leaf and dried thyme. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste.
Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through. All that flavorful liquid will be absorbed.
Remove the bay leaf.
Garnish with fresh chopped herbs and serve.
Recipe Notes
- Chicken Livers. Even though chicken livers and pork are traditional, you can easily vary it up with different meats. Try it with ground beef, ground chicken or ground sausage.
- Feel free to omit the chicken livers entirely, though I hope you'll keep them.
- Options for Cooking the Rice. I cooked the meats in the pan with the Cajun Holy Trinity of veggies (onion, bell peppers and celery), then cooked the rice with it. However, you can cook the rice separately from the meats and veggies and mix them together before serving. The choice is yours. I feel you'll achieve more flavor cooking them together.
Recipe Variations for Dirty Rice
I've enjoyed a variation of dirty rice with andouille sausage and loved it. Boudin would be a nice touch as well. I've also seen variations with shrimp. I'd certainly love a seafood dirty rice.
Best Spices for Dirty Rice
For the Cajun seasonings, use your favorite store bought blend if you'd like. Zatarain's Creole Seasoning {affiliate link} is popular. Or, try my Homemade Cajun Seasoning Blend. It's my favorite!
What to Serve with Dirty Rice?
Serve it up as a side dish for your next meal or gathering. Honestly, I think it works nicely as the main course. Try it with other southern classics, like some of these favorites:
That's it, my friends. I hope you enjoy my dirty rice recipe! This is my favorite way to make dirty rice.
Try Some of My Popular Cajun Side Dish Recipes
- Jambalaya
- Cajun Red Beans and Rice with Andouille
- Cajun Corn Maque Coux
- Hoppin’ John
- Black Eyed Peas Recipe
- Boudin Balls
- Chicken Fricassee
- Oyster Stew
Also, try my Spanish paella recipe. So good!
If you try this recipe, please let us know! Such a great recipe. Leave a comment, rate it and tag a photo #ChiliPepperMadness on Instagram so we can take a look. I always love to see all of your spicy inspirations. Thanks! -- Mike H.
Cajun Dirty Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 green bell pepper chopped (or use jalapenos for a spicier version, or serranos for even spicier)
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 1 rib celery chopped
- 3 cloves garlic chopped
- 10 ounces ground pork or ground beef
- ½ cup chicken livers finely chopped (or more as desired) - OPTIONAL
- 1.5 cups white rice uncooked (12 ounces)
- 3 cups chicken broth
- 2 tablespoon Cajun seasoning blend
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Fresh chopped herbs for garnish
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet or pan (or a pot) to medium heat.
- Add the peppers, onion and celery. Cook them down about 5 minutes to soften.
- Add the ground pork and break apart with a wooden spoon. Cook about 5 minutes to brown, stirring here and there.
- Add the chicken livers (if using) and stir them in. Cook them down for 5 minutes.
- Add the rice, chicken broth, Cajun seasonings, bay leaf and dried thyme. Sprinkle in salt and pepper to taste.
- Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-30 minutes, or until the rice is cooked through. Remove the bay leaf.
- Garnish with fresh chopped herbs and serve.
Nutrition Information
Rachael says
my mom is gone for the day and she asked me to make dinner so I'm going to make this. I love dirty rice! we don't have bell peppers so I'm going to use jalapeños and we've got spicy pork sausage to thaw. we don't have any celery though which I'm worried about... would a little bit of celery salt work or is that sacrilege lol. I'll let you know how it turns out but I never knew there were chicken livers in this dish. if we have any in the fridge I will add them!! thank you for your recipie!
Mike H. says
You are very welcome, Rachael. Enjoy the dinner!
Richard Parks says
Mike;
I live in Mississippi and love dirty rice we have it 3 or 4 times a month. I worked many years in Louisiana as an Executive Chef in a couple Universities, one thing I learned many years ago by an old cook who made the best dirty rice in the world. She had one secert ingredient that made her rice so much better, she added "poultry seasoning" it sounds crazy but it makes it great. For the recipe you have posted you would need a rounded teaspoon cut the thyme by half. Try it you'll like it !
Michael Hultquist - Chili Pepper Madness says
Thanks for the tips, Richard.
Tremayne Myles says
how much poultry seasoning?