This Cajun dirty rice recipe is a hearty, flavorful rice dish made with ground pork, chicken livers, onion, green pepper, and Cajun seasoning. It is an easy one-pot meal or a delicious side dish for your favorite Southern and Cajun recipes.
Rice dishes are one of the ultimate comfort foods. Add a touch of liver and ground pork, some seasoning, and a few vegetables, and you have a dish that is full of flavor.
And don't worry, if you're not a liver lover, this Louisiana dirty rice does not taste strongly of liver! The chicken livers add a deep, savory flavor without taking over the dish. If we're being honest, this chicken liver mousse doesn't even "really" taste like liver either - it's just amazing.
I love this recipe because it is simple, hearty, and comes together in about 30 minutes. The ground pork adds richness, while the chicken livers give the rice that classic dirty rice flavor.
This is the kind of recipe that makes an easy weeknight dinner feel a little more special. It is also a great side dish for a Cajun-inspired meal.
What Is Cajun Dirty Rice?
Cajun dirty rice is a traditional Louisiana rice dish made with white rice, ground meat, organ meats such as chicken livers, vegetables, and Cajun seasoning.
It gets its name from the brownish color of the finished rice. The meat and liver mixture gives the rice its “dirty” appearance.
This authentic Cajun dirty rice recipe uses ground pork and chicken livers for a rich, savory flavor. It is often served as a side dish, but it can also be enjoyed as a main course.
Dirty rice is sometimes called Cajun rice or rice dressing. It is a classic example of how simple ingredients can come together to create something incredibly delicious.
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What is Cajun Seasoning?
Cajun seasoning (or Creole seasoning) is a blend of different spices, typically including garlic and onion powder, black pepper, cayenne pepper, oregano, among others - it's the perfect seasoning for dirty rice! Personally, I make my own Cajun seasoning, but you can also use Tony Chacheres for Cajun and Creole dishes.
Jump to:
- What Is Cajun Dirty Rice?
- What is Cajun Seasoning?
- Why This Recipe Works
- Ingredients
- Key Ingredients
- How to Get the Best Texture
- Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Variations
- What to Serve With Cajun Dirty Rice
- Expert Tips
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Storage, Reheating, Make Ahead, and Meal Prep
- More Favorite Cajun Cooking Recipes
- Cajun Dirty Rice Recipe
- Recipe
- 💬 Comments
Why This Recipe Works
- It is full of flavor. Ground pork, chicken livers, bacon fat, and Cajun seasoning give the rice a deep, savory flavor.
- It is easy to make. This easy dirty rice recipe uses one skillet and simple ingredients.
- It is a great one-pot meal. Rice, meat, vegetables, and seasoning all cook together.
- It is versatile. Serve it as a side dish, main course, or dirty rice dressing.
- It is ready in about 30 minutes. Perfect for busy weeknights when you want something hearty and comforting.
Ingredients
- ½ cup ground pork
- ½ cup chicken livers
- 1 tablespoon bacon fat
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Key Ingredients
- Ground Pork - Ground pork adds richness and savory flavor to the rice. Letting it brown before breaking it up helps develop a deeper flavor.
- Chicken Livers - Chicken livers are what give traditional dirty rice its signature flavor. They add richness and a savory depth that makes the rice taste much more complex.
- Bacon Fat - Bacon fat adds a delicious smoky flavor to the dish. It also helps brown the pork and gives the rice a rich, savory base.
- Onion and Green Pepper - The onion and green pepper add sweetness, texture, and flavor. They are essential to the classic Cajun flavor profile.
- Cajun Seasoning - Cajun seasoning brings the spices together and gives the rice its signature flavor. You can use your favorite Cajun seasoning blend.
- Beef Broth - Beef broth adds a rich, meaty flavor to the rice. It works especially well with the ground pork and chicken livers.
How to Make Dirty Rice From Scratch
Step1: Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the bacon grease and ground pork. Break the pork up into 4-5 chunks and let it brown on all sides, getting slightly crispy on the outside.
Step2: Break up all the chunks and cook until most of the pink is gone, letting all the pieces brown and breaking it up with a wooden spoon or fork.
Step3: Add the onion and green pepper and continue to cook until they start to soften, about 5-10 minutes.
Step4: Add the chopped livers and cook for 5 minutes, or until livers are cooked and combined into the mixture.
Step5: Then add the rice, water, beef broth, red pepper flakes, and Cajun seasoning and stir.
Step6: Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for 20-25 minutes, until rice is fully cooked. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve garnished with green onions (optional).
How to Get the Best Texture
The best dirty rice has tender rice with small pieces of meat and vegetables throughout.
The most important thing is to let the pork brown before breaking it up. This helps develop flavor and prevents the meat from becoming one large, soft mass.
Once the rice is cooked, let it stand for 10 minutes before fluffing. This gives the rice time to finish absorbing the liquid and helps prevent it from becoming mushy.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Not Browning the Pork - Browning the pork adds flavor. Do not rush this step.
- Breaking Up the Pork Too Early - Let the pork brown in larger chunks before breaking it apart. This helps develop a better texture.
- Overcooking the Rice - Cook the rice until it is tender, then remove it from the heat and let it stand for 10 minutes.
- Skipping the Resting Time - The resting time helps the rice finish cooking and absorb the remaining liquid.
Variations
This Cajun dirty rice recipe is really a pretty simple dish to make. The liver and ground pork give it a wonderful meaty flavor, making it a great accompaniment to so many Cajun dishes. However feel free to make it to your tastes.
- Make It Spicier - Add more red pepper flakes or cayenne pepper if you prefer a spicier Cajun rice recipe.
- Use a Different Ground Meat - Ground sausage, ground beef, ground turkey, or ground chicken can be used instead of ground pork if desired, they all come out great!
- Make It Without Liver - If you do not enjoy liver, you can make a dirty rice without liver by leaving it out. The flavor will be different, but the rice will still be delicious.
- Use Chicken Broth - I like to use beef broth in this instead of chicken broth because it adds a meatier flavor. However, you can substitute chicken broth for the beef if desired. It will still be good!
- Use a Different Fat - You can also substitute duck fat, goose fat, avocado oil or vegetable oil for the bacon fat if you don't have any.
- Other Options - We use onions, green bell pepper, long grain rice, and crushed red pepper as well.
- Make It a Rice Dressing - Serve the rice as a dirty rice dressing alongside roasted chicken, turkey, or Cornish game hens.
What to Serve With Cajun Dirty Rice
This Cajun dirty rice recipe works beautifully as a side dish or a main course.
Serve It With Cajun and Southern Main Dishes
Try serving it with roasted chicken, pork chops, or blackened fish.
For a Cajun-inspired meal, pair it with Blackened Catfish. The rich, seasoned fish works well with the savory rice.
You can also serve it with Instant Pot Pork Chops for a hearty dinner.
Serve It With Seafood
Dirty rice is delicious with shrimp, crawfish, or other seafood dishes.
For a fun Cajun-inspired meal, serve it alongside Blackened Shrimp Salad.
Serve It as a Main Dish
While it's traditionally served as a side, I don't see any reason this can't be a full meal too, especially if you start it off with these amazing crawfish egg rolls, roasted quail or fried alligator bites (we LOVE these!!).
Expert Tips
- Freezing the chicken livers before chopping them will make them easier to chop.
- Use a wooden spoon to break up the ground pork into small pieces after it browns. Otherwise you end up with large chunks of ground pork in the rice.
- Let the pork brown on all sides before breaking it apart.
- Use your favorite Cajun seasoning blend for the best flavor.
- Let the rice stand for 10 minutes after cooking before fluffing.
- If you like a spicy Cajun rice recipe, add extra red pepper flakes. or add ¼ teaspoon (or more) of cayenne pepper to give your rice a kick.
- Use beef broth for a rich, meaty flavor.
- If you are not a liver lover, do not be afraid to try this recipe. The liver adds depth without overpowering the dish.
Frequently Asked Questions
Dirty rice is always made with liver and the holy trinity (onions, bell peppers, celery) while jambalaya typically includes seafood, sausage or chicken. Creole jambalaya also includes tomatoes, which dirty rice does not.
**If you're a fan of jambalaya, try this Jambalaya Risotto or this Jambalaya Stuffing - both are incredible!
Dirty rice is also referred to as Cajun rice or even Cajun fried rice. It gets it's name from the dirty appearance of the final rice dish.
Dirty rice got it's name from the brownish "dirty" color of the rice when it's done cooking. After mixing sauteed meats into white rice, it takes on a dirty color.
Brown rice can be used, but the cooking time and liquid requirements will be different. The recipe card below is written for uncooked white rice.
Storage, Reheating, Make Ahead, and Meal Prep
- Storage - Store leftover dirty rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. I don't recommend freezing this as rice does not hold it's texture when frozen.
- Reheating - Reheat in the microwave until warmed through.
- Make Ahead - This recipe can be made ahead and reheated when you are ready to serve it. The flavors hold up well, making it a useful option for meal prep.
- Meal Prep - Make a batch of dirty rice and divide it into individual portions for easy lunches or dinners throughout the week.
More Favorite Cajun Cooking Recipes
- Seafood Gumbo
- Instant Pot Red Beans and Rice
- Chicken and Sausage Gumbo
- One Pot Cajun Pasta
- Jambalaya Risotto
- Browse all the Cajun Recipes.
Cajun Dirty Rice Recipe
This Cajun dirty rice recipe is one of those comforting dishes that makes a simple meal feel special.
With ground pork, chicken livers, Cajun seasoning, and tender rice, it is full of savory flavor and easy to make in one pot.
Whether you serve it as a side dish, a main course, or a dirty rice dressing, it is a delicious way to bring a little Louisiana flavor to your table.
If you make this recipe, let me know what you served it with in the comments. I would love to hear whether you used chicken livers or tried a different variation!
Recipe
Classic Cajun Style Dirty Rice Recipe
Ingredients
- ½ cup ground pork
- ½ cup chicken livers
- 1 tablespoon bacon fat
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 green pepper diced
- 1 cup uncooked white rice
- 1 tablespoon Cajun seasoning
- ½ cup water
- 1 cup beef broth
- 1 teaspoon red pepper flakes
Instructions
- Heat a skillet over medium heat and add the bacon grease and ground pork. Break the pork up into 4-5 chunks and let it brown on all sides, getting slightly crispy on the outside.
- Break up all the chunks and cook until most of the pink is gone, letting all the pieces brown and breaking it up with a wooden spoon or fork.
- Add the onion and green pepper and continue to cook until they start to soften, about 5-10 minutes.
- Add the chopped livers and cook for 5 minutes, or until livers are cooked and combined into the mixture.
- Then add the rice, water, beef broth, red pepper flakes, and Cajun seasoning and stir.
- Bring to a boil, reduce heat, cover and cook for 20-25 minutes, until rice is fully cooked. Remove from heat and let stand for 10 minutes. Fluff with a fork and serve.
Expert Tips:
- Freezing the chicken livers before chopping them will make them easier to chop.
- Use a wooden spoon to break up the ground pork into small pieces after it browns. Otherwise you end up with large chunks of ground pork in the rice.
- Let the pork brown on all sides before breaking it apart.
- Use your favorite Cajun seasoning blend for the best flavor.
- Let the rice stand for 10 minutes after cooking before fluffing.
- If you like a spicy Cajun rice recipe, add extra red pepper flakes. or add ¼ teaspoon (or more) of cayenne pepper to give your rice a kick.
- Use beef broth for a rich, meaty flavor.
- If you are not a liver lover, do not be afraid to try this recipe. The liver adds depth without overpowering the dish.
Nutrition
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Sharon Camburn says
Sounds so good
Danielle says
Thanks! I hope you get the chance to make it 🙂
Debi says
What can u substitute for the bell pepper? My boyfriend does not like bell peppers.
Tara says
Debi, Bell peppers are part of the classic Cajun “holy trinity” (onion, celery, and bell pepper), but if you’re not a fan—like your boyfriend and my husband—you can easily swap them out. Poblano peppers or a little extra celery work well and still keep the flavors nicely balanced. Another good option is carrots—just finely dice about ½–¾ cup to add a similar touch of sweetness that bell peppers usually provide.
Let me know which substitute you try and how it turns out! 😊
jim owen says
Love it. I used spicy market sausage and chicken broth. Used jasmine rice. I had to add more liquid to finish cooking the rice and used 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper. It turned out great!
Danielle says
I'm so glad you liked it!
Colleen says
You forgot the celery, we always use green bellpepper, onions and celery. We call it the trinity.
Danielle says
Very true! I tend to leave the celery out because we don't like it - but yes, celery is the traditional way to make it!
Anita says
I've always felt a bit icky eating liver, but not in this wonderful dirty rice dish. No one can tell there's liver in it, and the rice is totally delicious.
Danielle says
So glad you liked it!