Dirty Rice With Sausage
Dirty Rice with Sausage is a one-pot wonder that’ll satisfy even the hungriest of crowds.
Ground beef, sausage, and Cajun seasoning come together in one pot for an easy, flavor-packed meal!
What Is Dirty Rice?
Dirty Rice is a traditional Creole and Cajun dish from Louisiana. It gets its “dirty” name from the speckled appearance of the rice, colored by the mixture of spices and browned ingredients like meat and vegetables.
You might also have heard about “Creole Dirty Rice” and wondered if it is the same as Cajun Dirty Rice.
CREOLE DIRTY RICE – typically includes more tomatoes and incorporates a wider variety of meats and seafood.
CAJUN DIRTY RICE – This version tends to be spicier and uses fewer tomatoes, focusing more on meat and traditional Cajun seasonings.
Dirty Rice With Sausage Recipe Highlights
- ONE-POT WONDER – Cook everything in one skillet for an easy clean-up and less mess.
- VERSATILE – Feel free to swap out vegetables or meats to suit your preferences or dietary needs.
- FAMILY-FRIENDLY – It’s a crowd-pleaser that will satisfy adults and kids alike.
Ingredient Notes
Please check the recipe card below for a detailed, printable ingredient list.
OLIVE OIL – Serves as a healthy cooking fat, providing a smooth base for sautéing vegetables and meats.
SAUSAGE – Use your favorite chicken sausage (we used smoked Chicken and Apple), pork, or turkey sausage.
GROUND BEEF – Adds meaty depth to the dish. Opt for lean ground beef to keep the dish lighter.
YELLOW ONION – Adds sweetness and aroma.
RED BELL PEPPER – Gives the dish a pop of color and a touch of sweetness, balancing out the spicy Cajun seasoning.
CELERY – Adds a subtle earthiness and crunch, a perfect contrast to the soft texture of the rice.
GARLIC – A flavor powerhouse. A small amount delivers an aromatic flavor that rounds out the dish.
LONG-GRAIN RICE – The grain of choice for its fluffy texture. It holds up well, absorbing flavors without becoming mushy.
EXPERT TIP – If you prefer brown rice over long-grain rice, you’re in luck because you can use brown rice. But remember that cooking will take longer and may require additional liquid. You may need to adjust the cooking time and the amount of chicken stock accordingly.
CHICKEN STOCK – Adds a layer of richness and flavor, elevating the dish above one made with water.
CAJUN SEASONING – Your shortcut to bold, spicy flavors. A pre-mixed blend saves time but delivers on taste.
How To Make Cajun Dirty Rice With Sausage
Please check the printable recipe card below for more detailed instructions.
- PREP AND BROWN – Rinse rice and heat oil in a skillet. Brown sausages, then ground beef.
- SAUTE VEGGIES – Remove meats and cook onion, pepper, celery, and garlic until soft.
- COMBINE – Return meats to skillet; add rice, stock, and seasoning. Stir well.
- COOK – Bring to a boil, then simmer covered until rice is tender. Serve hot.
Recipe Success Tips
SEAFOOD DIRTY RICE – Add some Gulf shrimp, crawfish, or even diced crab meat to make a seafood version of dirty rice. Seafood lovers will adore this twist.
EXTRA VEGGIES – For added color and flavor, Experiment with additional vegetables like okra, diced tomatoes, or even corn kernels.
CHEESE TOPPING – For a decadent twist, melt some shredded Cheddar or Monterey Jack cheese over your finished dish.
Serving Suggestions
SIDE SALAD – A Creamy Cucumber Salad or a simple chopped Tomato Salad will add a refreshing touch.
COLESLAW – Dirty rice goes well with Classic Coleslaw or my Broccoli Slaw recipes. Both sides will add color, texture, and a cooling contrast to the spicy Cajun dish.
EASY 3-INGREDIENT BREAD – A loaf of easy 3-ingredient Homemade Bread can be whipped up in no time and pairs nicely with the robust flavors of the skillet dish.
Leftovers
STORE – Place any leftover Dirty Rice leftovers in an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. It will stay good for up to 3 days.
FREEZE – If you want to keep it longer, put the leftovers in a freezer-safe container, ensuring it’s sealed tightly. You can freeze it for up to 3 months.
REHEAT – To enjoy again, take the dish out of the fridge or freezer. Reheat it in a skillet on low heat. If it seems dry, add a small amount of water to help refresh the flavors.
More Recipes Easy And Delicious Ground Beef Recipes
Taco Casserole – A simple yet hearty dish that combines all your favorite taco flavors in a convenient casserole.
Hamburger Soup – This comforting soup brings the deliciousness of a hamburger into a warming, easy-to-make meal.
Pizza Casserole – Get the best of both worlds with this dish that melds pizza toppings and pasta into one oven-baked wonder.
Lazy Lasagna – All the classic lasagna flavors you love are simplified into a one-pot meal that saves time and effort.
Easy Shepherd’s Pie – A no-fuss version of Shepherd’s Pie made with ground beef and mashed potatoes for a satisfying meal.
Dirty Rice With Sausage
Ingredients
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 12 ounces chicken sausage sliced
- ½ pound ground beef
- 1 large yellow onion chopped
- 1 large red bell pepper chopped
- 2 stalks celery chopped
- 3 cloves garlic minced
- 1 ½ cups long-grain rice
- 3 cups chicken stock
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- Salt and black pepper to taste
Instructions
- Rinse the rice under cold water until the water runs clear. Drain and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large, heavy skillet over medium-high heat. When the oil is hot, add the chicken sausage. Cook for 5-7 minutes until all sides are turning brown. Transfer the chicken sausage to a plate.
- Add the ground beef to the same skillet. Brown the beef over medium-high heat, breaking it up with a spatula, and cook until no longer pink. Drain any excess fat.
- Add the onion, red bell pepper, celery, and minced garlic to the skillet. Sauté for about 5 minutes or until softened.
- Return the chicken sausage to the skillet and add the rice, broth, and cajun seasoning. Stir to combine all ingredients.
- Bring the mixture to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet with a lid, and simmer for 20-25 minutes or until the rice is tender and has absorbed most of the liquid. Serve and enjoy.
Nutritional Information
Nutritional Disclaimer
Cheerful Cook team members are not trained nutritionists or medical professionals. Calorie information and nutritional values are estimates. If you have nutritional concerns, we recommend using a nutritional calculator.
Maike Corbett is the founder and food blogger of Cheerful Cook, a popular recipe website featuring comfort food recipes from the US and Germany. She has been featured in numerous media outlets, including the AP Wire and MSN.
I lived in Louisiana for 14 years and learned to cook their foods. I have tried dirty rice with ground pork/beef, ground breakfast sausage with extra sage/ground. I like them all. And while living there, the people I knew would even make their own deer breakfast sausage, sometimes mixing it with ground pork. I love a good deer roast, steak, etc. But being back home in TN I don’t know a lot of deer hunters and do sometimes miss the deer meat.
I have tried dirty rice with ground pork/beef, ground breakfast sausage with extra sage/ground. I like them all. And while living there, the people I knew would even make their own deer breakfast sausage, sometimes mixing it with ground pork. I love a good deer roast, steak, etc. But being back home in TN I don’t know a lot of deer hunters and do sometimes miss the deer meat.