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This easy Cajun Dirty Rice Recipe with Sausage is sure to start a party whether it's Mardi Gras, Fat Tuesday...or a run of the mill weeknight. It's a hearty side or it can be a one-dish meal.
Are you in a party mood? You will be once you see how easy it is to make this festive dish with healthy ingredient swaps. It's presented as side dish. But, double up on the protein or add Baked Blackened Chicken and you have a complete meal.
Just like Cajun Cauliflower Rice with Andouille Sausage, it's fast, flavorful and it meant to be eaten year round!
What is dirty rice?
Classic Cajun dirty rice starts with white rice that gets "dirty" from finely chopped chicken livers and ground pork. Sauteed onions, celery and red pepper give it flavor. The spice comes from Cajun or Creole seasonings.
It's often served as a side dish for Mardi Gras celebrations that occur before Lent begins. It definitely should be eaten year round!
Directions
Although I'm sure that the traditional version of this Mardi Gras staple is very delicious, let me tempt you with an easier, healthier recipe.
Use a food processor to crumble fully cooked sausage! It doesn't get any easier than that. I'm partial to chicken sausage. But, Andouille sausage is perfect for this recipe. Be sure to use a nitrite-free product. We use the same trick to make Stuffed Tomatoes with Rice.
Use brown rice instead of white!
While the rice is cooking, saute onions, celery, peppers and garlic in olive and butter.
Stir the cooked rice and sausage into the sauteed vegetables and season everything with Cajun spices.
Garnish with green onions and, to quote my favorite Louisiana chef, BAM! You're done!
How to Store, Reheat and Freeze
- Store - Place leftover dirty rice in an airtight storage container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- Tip: Store in single serve containers for make ahead lunches during the week.
- Reheat - Warm leftovers in a skillet over medium-high heat until hot. You can also reheat this dish in the microwave until warmed through. Add a little broth or water to moisten it before you heat it up. For a single serving, add about a teaspoon of liquid.
- Freeze - Leftovers may be frozen in an airtight storage container. Store up to 3 months. May be microwaved from frozen or defrosted overnight in the refrigerator and then warmed.
More Mardi Gras Dinner Ideas
Did you make this recipe?
Please leave a rating and tell us how you liked it!
📋 Recipe
Cajun Dirty Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain brown rice jasmine or basmati
- 1 ½ cups vegetable broth low sodium
- 1 Tablespoon olive oil
- 1 Tablespoon butter
- 1 cup onion diced
- 1 cup celery diced
- 1 cup red pepper diced
- 3 garlic cloves minced
- 1 teaspoon Cajun spice mix or try this homemade spice blend
- 12 ounces cooked sausage nitrite free
- 1 bunch green onion sliced, optional garnish
Instructions
- Cook rice according to instructions using broth instead of water. Rice should be light and fluffy and all the broth should be absorbed when finished.
- Finely cut and mash sausage until it is a crumbly consistency. Chop in a food processor if desired. Set aside.
- Heat olive oil and butter in a large pan.
- Add onion, celery, pepper and garlic to pan and saute until soft, about 5 minutes
- Add sausage to pan and mix to combine.
- When rice is finished cooking add it to the pan with the sausage and vegetables and mix to combine.
- Stir in Cajun spice.
- Top with green onions.
Notes
Nutrition
This recipe was originally published 3/2/2014. It was updated to improve the reader experience.
Manu
LOL my girls would have said the same thing... they have such a sweet tooth! 🙂
I love your recipe for Dirty Rice bowls!
Liz
My family would vote for all desserts on Fat Tuesday, too!!! But your dirty rice bowls look like a delicious way to start the meal...and still have room for dessert!
Tammi @ Momma's Meals
I love experimenting with homemade rice pilaf's! I'm adding this one to my list, this could easily be dinner in one dish!
Marjory
Thanks Tammi! I've got a few more variations in the works too.
Nichole C
Mmmm, I love dirty rice!
Marjory
Thanks! It's spicy and a bit addictive!
Family Foodie
We love Rice Bowls and this one looks soooo good!!
Marjory
Thank you. We enjoyed them very much!
Tara
Yum, yum, yum, man does that look good!! For some reason my cereal just isn't cutting it right now!!
Marjory
Lol. It's hard to read these Sunday Supper posts over breakfast!
Brianne @ Cupcakes & Kale Chips
What a great dinner for any night!
Marjory
Yes. Perfect for an easy week night dinner..or lunch.
Courtney @ Neighborfood
Yum! This would be a great weeknight meal. Satisfying and a little spicy, just the way I like it!
Marjory
Thanks Courtney!
Jennifer @ Peanut Butter and Peppers
What a perfect dish! I love how healthy it is and ohhhh, I would so put this on a taco and eat it!!
Marjory
Thanks Jennifer! What a great idea!
Laura
I love dirty rice but I have a confession to make. Me the queen of never cooking something from a box has never made dirty rice from scratch, I use to always buy that box mix. Admittedly it has been at least 8 years since I had it, I think I need to introduce my family to it.
Marjory
This version is definitely easy! Let me know if you try it!
Heather // girlichef
I loooove dirty rice! I would pile a big ol' bowl high and settle in - looks amazing Marjory.
Marjory
Thanks Heather! I always have a big smile when I have a big bowl to enjoy!
Shaina
I've had a few different versions of dirty rice before, it's always delicious!
Hope your girls enjoy...and you indulge in lots of cake and goodies too!
Marjory
Thanks Shaina! That's the plan.
miss messy
sounds delicious. looks like something I need to try! 🙂
Marjory
Thanks! I hope you enjoy it!
MealDiva
I love the "we should have lots of cake!" sounds like my house! Enjoy your goodies!
Marjory
Thanks! Always a party around here!
Betsy @ Desserts Required
I love dirty rice but never knew how to make it. Can't wait to give this delicious looking dish a try!!
Marjory
Thanks Betsy! This version is verrry easy!
Lane @ Supper for a Steal
Love dirty rice. I've never made it homemade from scratch before though.
Marjory
I love a good rice bowl...it's easy too.
Stacy
What a beautiful bowl of deliciousness, Marjory! I love that you used chopped sausage because it has so much flavor.
In Louisiana, the grocery stores make this easy for you because you can actually buy a packet in the meat section called rice dressing mix and all you have to do is cook it and add your rice and spices.
Marjory
Thanks Stacy! It's always so interesting to learn what grocery stores in other areas stock. A rice dressing mix certainly would make things easy!
Katie
Mmmmm! I love a rice bowl...and these sound perfect for dinner OR lunch. Or a snack...lol...
Marjory
Thanks Katie! Come to think of it, it would be a pretty tasty snack!
Nicole @ Daily Dish Recipes
Cajun Dirty Rice is one of my favorite side dishes. I love this recipe!!!
Jane's Adventures in Dinner
Too fun! I served dirty rice a few months ago and small one said that she couldn't eat it because it was dirty.
Gorgeous recipe!
Cathy
I love dishes that improve on the 2nd day -- yea for this one!
Julie @ Texan New Yorker
Oh I love, love, love dirty rice! Seriously one of my favorite Cajun dishes.
Amy Kim (@kimchi_mom)
I never knew what "dirty rice" was until now! It's pretty much like Cajun version of fried rice!! LOVE it!
Hezzi-D
This sounds so easy! We love dirty rice!
Deb@ Cooking on the Front Burner
This dish does look really tasty and perfect for Fat Tuesday! I think I may have all the ingredients on hand to give it a try soon...
Nancy @ gottagetbaked
This looks so delicious and flavourful! I've pinned so that I can make this asap.
Cindys Recipes and Writings
I'm up for this kind of rice dish anytime!
Kim Beaulieu
Okay seriously, forget the bowl, I need a trough to eat enough of this to make me happy. This looks absolutely delicious. Love, love, love.
Sarah
I forgot how good dirty rice was!
The Wimpy Vegetarian
Oh I just love dirty rice. I haven't made it in years! Thanks so much for the reminder of this great dish. Pinning!!
Renee
Using sausage instead of chicken livers is brilliant! I think it why my husband has never cared for dirty rice. I'll have to make this recipe for him and see if it will change his view on it.
Marye
Yummmmmm........ This looks delish. I have to say that I would lean toward cake, too. 😉
Lizzy
I don't think I could eat chicken livers. The sausage is perfect. Adding this to my party menu.
Marjory
I hope you enjoy it!
Ellen
This was excellent! I mistakenly bought Cajun sausage instead of the chicken/apple, but with this recipe, it worked perfect.
Marjory Pilley
I'm so glad you enjoyed it! Cajun sausage is perfect in this recipe!!!