Mardi Gras Dirty Rice Beef (Printable)
A hearty Louisiana dish combining seasoned beef, vegetables, and spiced rice for bold festive flavors.
# Ingredient List:
→ Meats
01 - 14 oz ground beef (80/20 blend)
02 - 3.5 oz chicken livers, finely chopped
→ Vegetables
03 - 1 medium onion, finely diced
04 - 1 green bell pepper, finely diced
05 - 2 celery stalks, finely diced
06 - 2 cloves garlic, minced
07 - 2 green onions, sliced
08 - 1 small jalapeño, seeded and minced
→ Rice & Liquids
09 - 1 cup long-grain white rice, rinsed
10 - 2 cups chicken broth
11 - 1 tbsp vegetable oil
→ Spices & Seasonings
12 - 1½ tsp Cajun seasoning
13 - 1 tsp smoked paprika
14 - ½ tsp dried thyme
15 - ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
16 - 1 bay leaf
17 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper
→ Garnish
18 - Fresh parsley, chopped
19 - Sliced green onions
# Directions:
01 - Heat vegetable oil in a large skillet or Dutch oven over medium-high heat until shimmering.
02 - Add ground beef and chicken livers. Cook, breaking up meat with a spoon, until browned and cooked through, 5–7 minutes. Drain excess fat if necessary.
03 - Add onion, green bell pepper, celery, and jalapeño. Sauté for 5 minutes until vegetables are softened and fragrant.
04 - Stir in minced garlic and cook for 1 minute until fragrant, being careful not to burn.
05 - Add rice, Cajun seasoning, smoked paprika, dried thyme, cayenne pepper, bay leaf, salt, and pepper. Stir thoroughly to coat rice and vegetables evenly with spices.
06 - Pour in chicken broth and bring to a rolling boil, stirring once to combine.
07 - Reduce heat to low, cover tightly, and simmer for 18–20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is fully absorbed.
08 - Remove from heat. Discard bay leaf. Fluff rice with a fork and fold in sliced green onions.
09 - Taste and adjust salt, pepper, or Cajun seasoning as needed.
10 - Transfer to a serving dish and garnish with chopped parsley and additional green onions. Serve immediately.
# Expert Tips:
01 -
- The chicken livers create an earthy depth that makes people ask what your secret ingredient is
- Everything cooks in one pan, leaving you more time for the party and less for cleanup
02 -
- Lifting the lid too early releases steam that the rice needs for proper cooking
- The rice continues absorbing liquid after you turn off the heat, so resist the urge to add more liquid immediately
03 -
- Finely chopping the livers helps them practically dissolve into the rice, so skeptics won't even know they're there
- Rinsing your rice until the water runs clear removes excess starch and prevents gummy results