Best Dirty Rice Recipe – How To Make Dirty Rice

Dirty rice (or rice dressing as it’s referred to in the bayou) is a delicious Louisiana staple made mainly of rice, ground pork sausage, ground beef, the holy trinity of vegetables (onion, bell pepper, and celery), and sometimes offal such as liver. While many traditional recipes will include livers, I find it a bit harder to source (and they’re not always a crowd-pleaser), so livers are noticeably absent from this recipe. But that won’t make this dish any less enjoyable. The combination of pork sausage and beef provides just enough fat that you won’t even need oil to brown the meats.

To make the best dirty rice, I always prefer using leftover cooked rice since the grains will be easier to separate in the pot. Feel free to use that leftover box of takeout rice here! If you cook rice at home, make sure to use a long-grain variety rather than short-grain types, which will be too gluey for this dish.

Dirty rice is substantial enough to be enjoyed as a main dish, but is also commonly served as a side dish or as a stuffing for duck, chicken, roast beef or turkey. If serving as a main dish, pair with veggie sides such as green beans or peas. If you have the time, dirty rice always tastes better the next day; simply reheat before serving. It can be stored in an airtight container in your fridge for up to 3 days.

Made this? Let us know how it went in the comments below!