Classic Cajun Dirty Rice Recipe

By Diana Rattray

Updated 11/15/18

cajun dirty rice
Cajun dirty rice in a skillet. Zoryana Ivchenko / Getty Images
  • Total: 75 mins
  • Prep: 15 mins
  • Cook: 60 mins
  • Yield: 6 Servings
Nutritional Guidelines (per serving)
559 Calories
27g Fat
34g Carbs
42g Protein
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Nutrition Facts
Servings: 6 Servings
Amount per serving
Calories 559
% Daily Value*
Total Fat 27g 35%
Saturated Fat 11g 53%
Cholesterol 135mg 45%
Sodium 1349mg 59%
Total Carbohydrate 34g 13%
Dietary Fiber 3g 9%
Protein 42g
Calcium 92mg 7%
*The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a food serving contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
(Nutrition information is calculated using an ingredient database and should be considered an estimate.)

This Cajun rice dish typically cooked with chicken livers and/or gizzards and ground meat. The variety of meats gives the rice its signature "dirty" look.

This version is made with ground pork or ground sausage, but feel free to substitute ground chicken, turkey, or ground beef for the pork.

Ingredients

  • 3 1/2 cups chicken broth (or beef broth)
  • 3/4 pound chicken gizzards
  • 2 tablespoons bacon drippings (or oil)
  • 4 tablespoons butter (divided)
  • 1/2 pound ground pork (or pork sausage)
  • 1/2 cup onions (chopped)
  • 1/2 cup celery (chopped)
  • 1/2 cup green bell pepper (chopped, or a combination of red and green)
  • 2 cloves garlic (minced)
  • 2 teaspoons Kosher salt
  • 1 teaspoon black pepper
  • 1 teaspoon paprika
  • 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (or a dash of Tabasco sauce)
  • 1 1/2 cups long-grain rice
  • 1/2 pound chicken livers (minced)

Steps to Make It

  1. Gather the ingredients.

  2. In a large saucepan over high heat, bring the chicken or beef broth to a boil.

  3. Add the chicken gizzards to the broth and reduce heat to low; simmer the gizzards for 30 minutes.

  4. Remove with slotted spoon and grind them or chop them very finely. Reserve the broth.

  5. Add the drippings or oil and 2 tablespoons of the butter to a Dutch oven or flame-proof casserole over medium heat. When the oil and butter mixture is hot, add the ground pork and ground or chopped gizzards.

  6. Cook, stirring frequently, until browned.

  7. Lower the heat, add vegetables and seasonings, and continue cooking until the vegetables are tender - about 5 to 7 minutes.

  8. Heat the oven to 250 F.

  9. Add the rice and reserved broth and then quickly bring to a boil.

  10. Stir, cover, and reduce the heat to low. Simmer for 15 minutes, or until the rice is tender.

  11. Sauté minced chicken livers in remaining 2 tablespoons of butter for 3 minutes.

  12. Toss the minced chicken livers with the rice, taste for seasoning, and adjust with more salt and pepper, as needed.

  13. Cover the pan or casserole and place it in the preheated oven for 10 minutes.

  14. Fluff with a fork.

  15. Serve and enjoy!

Variations

  • Replace the ground pork with ground sausage, ground beef, or ground turkey thighs.
  • Omit the gizzards and increase the ground pork or sausage to 1 pound and the chicken livers to 3/4 to 1 pound. 
  • Add 3 to 4 tablespoons of fresh chopped parsley to the finished dish.