Easy Dirty Rice Recipe {Rice Dressing}

Don’t sacrifice time or flavor on your next Cajun feast with this Easy Dirty Rice recipe! Delicious one pot meal or Thanksgiving side dish.

Easy Dirty Rice Recipe

When looking for new recipes I look on Pinterest, my favorite blogs, and soliciting suggestions from girlfriends. Credit for this great recipe comes from one of my good friends in Houston and this is a family staple at her holiday gatherings.

Rice Dressing is the original name of the recipe, but it’s since transitioned in our house to my Easy Dirty Rice recipe. The name Rice Dressing just made it seems more like a holiday side dish and while it does make a great one of those, we love this recipe so much we can’t wait ’til the end of the year to enjoy it. Especially when even my picky eaters love it too!

Why is dirty rice called dirty?

Dirty rice is called dirty because the white rice changes colors when you add in meat and spices.

What is dirty rice made of and what meat goes with dirty rice?

Dirty rice is made of white rice, meat (I used sausage but you could also use chicken or beef), celery, onions, and green onions. Many recipes also call for green pepper or other bell peppers as well. And don’t forget the Cajun seasoning!

Is rice dressing the same as dirty rice?

Technically no, rice dressing and dirty rice aren’t the same. But the main difference between the two is based on the protein used. Traditionally rice dressing uses ground beef or ground pork and dirty rice uses sausage and chicken livers. 

Most people outside of Louisiana probably aren’t going to buy minced chicken livers just to make their dish completely authentic. I’ve had dirty rice in New Orleans and I honestly don’t miss the chicken liver.

Ingredients

• Extra virgin olive oil
• Onion
• Celery 
• Green onions
• Chicken broth
• Sage sausage
• Cajun seasoning

How to make dirty rice

Dirty rice is an easy, one-pot meal. Unless of course, you want to speed things along and use microwave rice. 

First, you’ll brown your sausage in a large skillet over medium high heat and then set it aside. Without draining your pan, you’ll cook the veggies in the sausage grease.

Start cooking your rice according to the instructions replacing the water with chicken broth. If you use microwave rice, go for brown rice so it doesn’t get mushy.

Start with the onions and cook them until they’re translucent. Then add the celery and cook until softened. 

Add sausage, rice, and green onions to the skillet and cook for 5 more minutes. Add Cajun seasoning to taste before serving. 

More easy recipes:

• Easy Chicken Parm Sandwich
• Simple Italian Salad
• Easy Cheese & Chicken Enchiladas

More side dish recipes:

• Oyster Dressing
• Easy Sauteed Veggie Side Dish
• Chicken Fries with Texas Queso

Don’t forget to pin this easy recipe for later! 

Dirty Rice Recipe

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4.58 from 7 votes

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Easy Dirty Rice

Course Main Course, Side Dish

Cuisine American

Keyword cajun

Servings 8

Calories 280 kcal

Ingredients

• 1 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
• 1 large white onion diced
• 4 stalks celery chopped
• 1 bunch green onions chopped
• 2 cups white rice
• 2.5 cups chicken broth
• 2 pkg. sage sausage
• Cajun seasoning to taste

Instructions

1. Heat sausage according to package and set aside.

2. Cook rice according to package and replace water with chicken broth.
3. Without draining your skillet, cook the onion in the sausage grease over medium-high heat until translucent.
   
4. Then, add celery to onion mix and continue cooking until softened slightly.
5. Mix rice, sausage, and green onions into the skillet and leave over heat for 5 minutes.
6. Sprinkle with Cajun seasoning to taste and serve!
7. Note: avoid using fast cooking white rice as it gets mushy before it's time to serve. If you want to use fast cooking rice, try brown rice. You get a great texture, quick cook time, and make the dish healthier in the process!

Nutrition Facts

Easy Dirty Rice

Amount Per Serving

Calories 280 Calories from Fat 81

% Daily Value*

Fat 9g14%

Saturated Fat 2g10%

Cholesterol 20mg7%

Sodium 453mg19%

Potassium 207mg6%

Carbohydrates 38g13%

Protein 8g16%

Vitamin A 45IU1%

Vitamin C 6.6mg8%

Calcium 23mg2%

Iron 0.9mg5%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2000 calorie diet.

More easy rice recipes:

• Crockpot Chicken & Rice
• Easy Chicken and Rice Soup
• Steak, Peppers, and Brown Rice

Does your family like Dirty Rice? Do you do anything differently? Share with me how you mix up your family’s favorite rice recipes.