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Dirty Rice with Ground Beef

A hearty and deeply seasoned one-pan meal, Dirty Rice with Ground Beef is a Cajun classic that’s easy to make and full of flavor.
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Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes
Servings: 4 servings
Course: Dinner, Main Course
Cuisine: Cajun, Southern
Calories: 450
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

Main Ingredients
  • 1 pound ground beef, 80/20 blend recommended
  • 1.5 cups long-grain white rice, uncooked
  • 3 cups beef broth Use homemade or good-quality broth
  • 1 medium yellow onion, finely diced
  • 3 stalks celery, finely diced
  • 1 medium green bell pepper, finely diced
  • 4 cloves garlic, minced
  • 2 tablespoons neutral cooking oil or butter
Seasoning
  • 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
  • 1 teaspoon garlic powder
  • 1 teaspoon onion powder
  • 0.5 teaspoon cayenne pepper Adjust to your heat preference
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
  • 0.5 teaspoon dried oregano
  • 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
For Garnish
  • 3-4 green onions, thinly sliced
  • Fresh flat-leaf parsley, roughly chopped (optional)

Method
 

Preparation
  1. Dice onion, celery, and bell pepper into small, even pieces. Mince garlic finely.
Brown the Ground Beef
  1. Heat skillet over medium-high heat, add oil or butter until hot.
  2. Add ground beef, break it apart, and let it cook without stirring for 2 minutes.
  3. Season with salt, black pepper, smoked paprika, garlic powder, and onion powder.
Cook the Holy Trinity
  1. Add diced onion, celery, and bell pepper, cooking for 5 to 6 minutes.
  2. Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute.
Add the Remaining Seasonings
  1. Stir in cayenne, thyme, oregano, and Worcestershire sauce.
  2. Adjust seasoning with salt and cayenne to your taste.
Add the Rice and Broth
  1. Add rice and toast for 1 to 2 minutes, stirring constantly.
  2. Pour in broth slowly, scrape the bottom for flavor, then bring to a boil.
  3. Reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and cook undisturbed for 18 to 20 minutes.
Rest and Fluff
  1. Let the rice rest for 5 minutes off the heat without lifting the lid.
  2. Fluff the rice with a fork before serving.
Serve
  1. Garnish with green onions and parsley, serve directly from the pan.

Notes

Use 80/20 ground beef for flavor. Toasting the rice adds nuttiness. Do not lift the lid while the rice is cooking.