Description
Easy Shrimp Dirty Rice is a bold Cajun comfort dinner made with tender shrimp, seasoned rice, savory ground meat, and classic Louisiana vegetables for a hearty, flavor packed meal that is perfect for busy weeknights or casual gatherings.
Ingredients
- 1 cup long grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth
- 1 bay leaf
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 0.5 pound raw shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 0.5 pound ground beef or ground turkey
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1 celery stalk, chopped
- 3 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 teaspoon paprika
- 0.5 teaspoon dried thyme
- 0.25 teaspoon cayenne pepper, optional
- 0.5 teaspoon ground cumin
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 green onions, sliced for garnish
Instructions
- Combine rice, chicken broth, bay leaf, and a pinch of salt in a saucepan, bring to a boil, then reduce heat, cover, and simmer until rice is tender.
- Remove from heat, discard bay leaf, fluff rice with a fork, and set aside.
- Heat olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat and cook shrimp in a single layer, seasoning lightly with salt and pepper.
- Cook shrimp until pink and opaque, then remove from skillet and set aside.
- In the same skillet, sauté onion, bell pepper, and celery until softened.
- Add garlic and cook briefly until fragrant.
- Add ground meat and cook until browned, breaking it up as it cooks.
- Stir in paprika, thyme, cumin, cayenne if using, salt, and black pepper.
- Add cooked rice to the skillet and stir to combine evenly.
- Return shrimp to the pan and gently fold into the rice mixture.
- Cook until everything is heated through.
- Garnish with sliced green onions and serve warm.
Notes
Cook shrimp separately to keep them tender and juicy. Adjust cayenne pepper to control heat level and use a large skillet for even mixing.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 25 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun