Ingredients
Scale
- 1 pound ground beef (or ground turkey for a lighter option)
- 1 cup long-grain white rice
- 2 cups chicken broth (or vegetable broth for a vegetarian twist)
- 1 small onion, finely chopped
- 1 green bell pepper, diced
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 stalks celery, diced
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
- 1 teaspoon smoked paprika
- 1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper (adjust based on your spice tolerance)
- 1 teaspoon dried thyme
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt (or to taste)
- 2 green onions, finely sliced (for garnish)
- Optional: 1/2 cup chopped fresh parsley
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Once shimmering, add the chopped onions, green bell pepper, and celery. Sauté for about 5 minutes until softened and fragrant. This veggie base is where a lot of the flavor builds, so don’t rush it.
- Add the minced garlic and cook for another minute, stirring constantly so it doesn’t burn. Garlic can go from fragrant to bitter in seconds—trust me, I’ve been there.
- Push the veggies to the side of the skillet and add the ground beef. Break it up with your spoon or spatula and cook until browned and cooked through, about 7-8 minutes. If you want to drain excess fat, now’s the time.
- Sprinkle in the smoked paprika, cayenne, dried thyme, black pepper, and salt. Stir everything together until the spices coat the meat and veggies evenly. This is where the rice starts getting “dirty” from all the flavorful bits.
- Stir in the uncooked rice, making sure it’s well mixed with the seasoned meat and veggies. Pour in the chicken broth, scrape the bottom of the pan to release any stuck bits, then bring everything to a boil.
- Once boiling, reduce the heat to low, cover the skillet, and let it simmer for about 18-20 minutes, or until the rice is tender and has absorbed the broth. Resist the urge to peek too often—it needs that steam to cook properly.
- Remove from heat and let it sit, covered, for 5 minutes. This resting time helps the rice fluff up perfectly.
- Fluff the rice with a fork and stir in the sliced green onions and chopped parsley if using. Taste and adjust seasoning if necessary.
- Serve hot and watch your family dig in. Bonus points if you share a story about your own kitchen memories while you eat.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Dish
- Method: Cooking
- Cuisine: International
Keywords: Dirty Rice Recipe, recipe, cooking, food
