Cajun Dirty Rice Beef Peppers (Printer-friendly)
Savory rice with ground beef, bell peppers, and bold Cajun spices in a quick Southern-style dish.
# What You’ll Need:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz lean ground beef
→ Vegetables
02 - 1 medium yellow onion, finely chopped
03 - 1 green bell pepper, diced
04 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, diced
06 - 3 garlic cloves, minced
07 - 2 spring onions, thinly sliced
→ Rice & Staples
08 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
09 - 2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
10 - 2 tbsp vegetable oil
→ Seasonings & Herbs
11 - 1 tbsp Cajun seasoning
12 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
13 - ½ tsp dried thyme
14 - ½ tsp dried oregano
15 - ½ tsp ground black pepper
16 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
17 - 1 tsp kosher salt
18 - 2 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped
# How-To Guide:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
02 - Add ground beef, breaking apart with wooden spoon. Cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 5 minutes. Drain excess fat if needed.
03 - Add onion, bell peppers, celery, and garlic to the skillet. Sauté for 4 to 5 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
04 - Stir in Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, thyme, oregano, black pepper, cayenne, and salt. Cook for 1 minute until spices become aromatic.
05 - Add rinsed rice to the skillet, stirring thoroughly to coat with spices and vegetable mixture.
06 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a rolling boil.
07 - Reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 18 to 20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is fully absorbed.
08 - Remove from heat and let stand covered for 5 minutes. Fluff rice with fork before serving.
09 - Top with fresh parsley and spring onions. Serve immediately while hot.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- One pan and less than an hour between you and the most comforting bowl of rice youve ever made
- The Cajun spice blend hits different when it blooms in hot oil first
02 -
- Resist the urge to lift the lid while it simmers or the steam escapes and your rice will not cook evenly
- Different brands of rice absorb liquid differently, check at 18 minutes and add a splash of broth if it is still crunchy
03 -
- Rinse your rice until the water runs clear, this is nonnegotiable for fluffy texture
- Let the spices bloom in the hot fat before adding any liquid, it makes such a difference in depth of flavor