Dirty Rice with Sausage
This Dirty Rice with Sausage is a hearty one-skillet meal packed with Cajun flavor. Ground pork sausage cooks with onion, green bell pepper, and celery before the rice simmers right in the same skillet. The finished rice is fluffy, savory, and has just the right amount of heat. Serve it on its own for dinner or as a flavorful side dish with your favorite Southern-inspired meal.
Traditional dirty rice is often made with chicken liver or other finely chopped meats, which help give the rice its characteristic darker or “dirty” appearance. This version uses ground pork sausage for a family-friendly option. You can add chopped chicken liver along with the sausage or substitute it for some of the sausage if you prefer a more traditional version.
It can be, but you can easily control the heat. With 2 teaspoons of Cajun seasoning, this version has a nice spicy flavor without being overwhelmingly hot. Cajun seasoning blends vary, so start with less if you’re sensitive to spice and add more to taste.
Yes. You can use a combination of ground beef and sausage, or replace some or all of the sausage with ground beef. Chicken liver can also be added for a more traditional dirty rice flavor.
Yes. Beef broth is the closest match, and chicken broth works too. Swap it in for the water cup for cup and leave the bouillon out. Broth is already salted, so go lighter on any added salt.
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Ingredient Notes
- Ground pork sausage: Adds plenty of savory flavor and makes this dirty rice filling enough to serve as a main dish.
- Yellow onion: Softens as it cooks and adds a mild sweetness.
- Green bell pepper: Adds fresh pepper flavor and is part of the classic onion, pepper, and celery combination used in many Cajun dishes.
- Celery: Adds flavor and a little texture to the rice.
- Salt and pepper: Season to taste, keeping in mind that both the sausage and Cajun seasoning already contain salt.
- Cajun seasoning: Gives the rice its spicy, savory flavor. We like Tony Chachere’s.
- Long-grain rice: Cooks up fluffy and absorbs all of the flavor from the sausage and seasonings.
- Fresh thyme: Simmered with the rice for another layer of savory flavor.
- Beef bouillon: Adds richness to the cooking liquid.
- Water: Provides the liquid needed to cook the rice.
- Parsley: Adds a fresh finish before serving.
Dirty Rice with Sausage
- Cook the ground sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, until the sausage is mostly cooked but still slightly pink.
- Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and celery. Continue cooking until the onion and celery are softened and the sausage is cooked through.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, Cajun seasoning, rice, beef bouillon, water, and thyme sprigs. Stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the thyme sprigs. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir gently.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and additional fresh thyme before serving.
Don’t forget to pack up your leftovers in you favorite lunchbox!
Dirty Rice with Sausage
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Equipment
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground pork sausage
- 1 cup diced yellow onion
- 1 cup diced green bell pepper
- 1 cup diced celery about 2-3 stalks
- Salt and pepper to taste
- 2 teaspoons Cajun seasoning
- 1 ½ cups long-grain rice
- 2-3 sprigs fresh thyme plus more for garnish
- 2 teaspoons beef bouillon
- 3 cups water
- Chopped parsley for garnish
Instructions
- Cook the ground sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, breaking it into small pieces as it cooks. Sauté for 3-4 minutes, until the sausage is mostly cooked but still slightly pink.
- Add the diced onion, green bell pepper, and celery. Continue cooking until the onion and celery are softened and the sausage is cooked through.
- Add salt and pepper to taste, Cajun seasoning, rice, beef bouillon, water, and thyme sprigs. Stir to combine.
- Bring the mixture to a boil. Reduce the heat to a simmer, cover, and cook for 20 minutes.
- Remove the skillet from the heat and let the rice sit, covered, for 3-4 minutes.
- Remove the thyme sprigs. Fluff the rice with a fork and stir gently.
- Garnish with chopped parsley and additional fresh thyme before serving.
Nutrition
Nutritional Disclaimer: Family Fresh Meals is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is only an estimate. We recommend running the ingredients through an online nutritional calculator if you need to verify any information.
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