One Pot Dirty Rice

Featured in: Satisfying Hearty Mains

This one pot dirty rice combines ground beef, pork sausage, and the classic Cajun holy trinity vegetables for an authentic, hearty meal.

Tags: #quick-recipes #chicken #beef #sausage #rice

Clare Greco
Updated on Thu, 03 Jul 2025 09:23:04 GMT
One Pot Dirty Rice
One Pot Dirty Rice | recipesbyclare.com
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One Pot Dirty Rice combines instant rice with ground beef, pork sausage, onion, celery, bell peppers, Cajun seasoning, and chicken broth in a single covered skillet. Butter softens the vegetables, while the two meats provide a rich, savory base for rice that absorbs every measured drop of broth.

The recipe yields 5 cups for 5 servings in 30 minutes, including 10 minutes of preparation and 20 minutes of cooking. The final covered rest finishes absorption before the rice is fluffed.

One Pot Dirty Rice Ingredients

Butter, half an onion, three celery stalks, two bell peppers, ground beef, pork sausage, spices, instant rice, and chicken broth
Butter, half an onion, three celery stalks, two bell peppers, ground beef, pork sausage, spices, instant rice, and chicken broth | Recipes by Clare
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Gather 5 tablespoons butter, ½ diced medium yellow onion, 3 diced celery stalks, 2 diced bell peppers of any color, 1 pound 80/20 ground beef, 1 pound ground pork sausage, 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning, 1 teaspoon onion powder, ½ teaspoon paprika, salt, pepper, 2 cups instant rice, and 2 cups chicken broth.

Instant rice is specifically required for the short 5–7-minute covered simmer.

How to Make One Pot Dirty Rice

Four stages showing vegetables sautéed in butter, beef and sausage browned, instant rice and broth added, and dirty rice cooked and fluffed
Four stages showing vegetables sautéed in butter, beef and sausage browned, instant rice and broth added, and dirty rice cooked and fluffed | Recipes by Clare
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  1. Melt 5 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat. Sauté onion, 3 celery stalks, and 2 bell peppers for 7–8 minutes.
  2. Add beef and pork sausage. Brown for 8–10 minutes, breaking both apart, until no pink remains. Drain grease.
  3. Add Cajun seasoning, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
  4. Stir in 2 cups instant rice and 2 cups chicken broth.
  5. Cover, bring to a gentle simmer, and cook 5–7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until broth is absorbed and rice tender.
  6. Remove from heat, rest covered 2–3 minutes, fluff, and serve.

Melt Five Tablespoons of Butter

Sauté the Three-Vegetable Base

Add Beef and Pork Sausage Together

Drain Excess Grease Carefully

Distribute the Three Measured Spices

Add Equal Parts Rice and Broth

Cover and Simmer Gently

Savory One Pot Dirty Rice with beef, pork sausage, peppers, celery, and Cajun seasoning
Savory One Pot Dirty Rice with beef, pork sausage, peppers, celery, and Cajun seasoning | recipesbyclare.com
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Rest Covered for Two to Three Minutes

Fluff Without Mashing the Meat

Divide Five Cups into Five Servings

Coordinate the Thirty-Minute Workflow

Avoid Greasy or Uneven Rice

Conclusion

Melt 5 tablespoons butter and sauté half an onion, 3 celery stalks, and 2 bell peppers for 7–8 minutes. Add 1 pound each ground beef and pork sausage; brown 8–10 minutes and drain. Stir in Cajun seasoning, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper, then 2 cups instant rice and 2 cups chicken broth. Cover and simmer 5–7 minutes until absorbed. Rest covered 2–3 minutes, fluff, and divide 5 cups among 5 servings.

Frequently Asked Questions

→ Can regular long-grain rice replace instant rice?

Not with these directions. The 2-cup broth ratio and 5–7-minute simmer are designed for instant rice.

→ How long should the beef and sausage cook?

Brown both meats for 8–10 minutes, breaking them apart until no pink remains, then drain excess grease.

→ Why does the rice rest covered after cooking?

The 2–3-minute covered rest allows any remaining liquid to absorb before the grains are fluffed.

→ How much dirty rice does the recipe make?

It yields 5 cups for 5 servings, or approximately one cup each.

4.60 from 234 votes

One Pot Dirty Rice

Preparation Time:
10 Minutes
Cook Time:
20 Minutes
Total Cooking Time:
30 Minutes
Number of Servings:
5
One Pot Dirty Rice
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Authentic Cajun dirty rice with ground beef, pork sausage, and vegetables. One pot comfort food ready in 30 minutes!

Ingredients You'll Need

How to Make It

1.

1. Start with the vegetables: Heat a large skillet over medium-high heat and melt the butter. Add diced onion, celery, and bell peppers. Sauté for 7-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the vegetables start to soften and the onions become translucent.

2.

2. Brown the meat: Add ground beef and pork sausage to the skillet with the vegetables. Cook for 8-10 minutes, breaking up the meat with a spoon, until no pink remains and the meat is fully browned. Drain off any excess grease.

3.

3. Season the mixture: Sprinkle the meat and vegetable mixture with Cajun seasoning, onion powder, paprika, salt, and black pepper. Stir well to distribute the spices evenly throughout.

4.

4. Add rice and broth: Stir in the instant rice and chicken broth, making sure everything is well combined. The rice should be evenly distributed throughout the mixture.

5.

5. Simmer until tender: Cover the skillet with a lid and bring to a gentle simmer. Cook for 5-7 minutes, stirring occasionally, until all the broth has been absorbed and the rice is fully cooked and tender.

6.

6. Rest and serve: Remove from heat and let it sit covered for 2-3 minutes to allow any remaining liquid to be absorbed. Fluff with a fork before serving hot.

Extra Information

  1. The 'holy trinity' of onions, celery, and bell peppers is essential for authentic dirty rice
  2. Use instant rice for the best texture in this one-pot method
  3. Don't skip draining the grease - it prevents the rice from being too oily
  4. Adjust the Cajun seasoning to your heat preference
  5. This tastes even better the next day as leftovers

Essential Tools

  • Large skillet with lid
  • Wooden spoon
  • Sharp knife for chopping

Allergy Warnings

Please check ingredients for potential allergens and consult a health professional if in doubt.
  • Contains dairy from butter
  • May contain soy from processed sausage
  • May contain gluten from sausage fillers

Nutrition Details (Per Portion)

It is important to consider this information as approximate and not to use it as definitive health advice.
  • Calories: 485
  • Total Fat: 24 g
  • Total Carbohydrate: 38 g
  • Protein: 28 g