Dirty Rice with Ground Beef

This one-pan dirty rice blends spiced beef with tender veggies like bell pepper, celery, and onion. Infused with bold Cajun flavors, it starts with browning the beef, cooking the veggies, and toasting the rice lightly for extra richness. Everything simmers together with broth and seasoning, creating a comforting meal. Sprinkle chopped green onions for a fresh twist. Great for dinners when you want bold and cozy flavors quickly!

Ingredients

 3 cups chicken broth

 1 green or red bell pepper, diced

 2 celery stalks, diced

 1 tablespoon olive oil

 1.5 cups long-grain white rice (uncooked)

 1 pound ground beef

 1 teaspoon Cajun seasoning (adjust to taste)

 1 small onion, finely diced

 2 garlic cloves, minced

 1 teaspoon dried thyme

 1 teaspoon smoked paprika

 0.5 teaspoon ground black pepper

 Chopped green onions for topping (optional)

Stuff you will need 

Dutch oven or large skillet

Something to cover the skillet, like a lid

Spatula or large spoon for stirring

Fork for fluffing the rice

Directions

Warm up 1 tablespoon of olive oil in a big skillet or Dutch oven over medium heat. Toss in the ground beef and break it up as it cooks. Let it brown all the way, about 5–7 minutes. If there's too much fat, drain it off.

With the beef still in the pan, add the diced onion, bell pepper, and celery. Stir them around for 3–5 minutes until they're soft. Then add minced garlic and cook another minute, just until it smells good.

Mix 1.5 cups of uncooked rice into the pan with the meat and veggies. Stir it well to coat everything, and let it toast for a minute or two.

Sprinkle on smoked paprika, thyme, Cajun seasoning, and black pepper and stir it all together. Pour in 3 cups of chicken broth, crank the heat up, and bring it to a boil. Stir every so often so nothing sticks.

Turn the heat down low and put a lid on the skillet. Let it simmer for about 18–20 minutes. Don't peek—keeping the lid closed is key. Once it's done, take it off the heat and let it sit for 5 minutes.

Take off the lid and gently fluff up the rice with a fork. Sprinkle chopped green onions over the top if you like, and enjoy it hot.