Description
Shrimp Dirty Rice is a bold, one-pan Cajun-inspired dish made with juicy shrimp, seasoned ground beef, aromatic vegetables, and fluffy rice. This easy and flavorful recipe brings together Southern comfort and spicy flair in a hearty, satisfying meal perfect for weeknights or entertaining.
Ingredients
Scale
- 1 cup uncooked rice
- 2 cups water
- 1 bay leaf
- 1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon paprika, divided
- 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, divided
- 1 tablespoon oil (for shrimp)
- 1/2 pound shrimp, peeled and deveined
- 1 tablespoon oil (for vegetables)
- 1 small onion, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 1 stalk celery, chopped
- 1/2 green bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 orange bell pepper, chopped
- 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
- 1/4 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/2 pound ground beef (or sausage)
- 2–3 scallions, chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- In a medium saucepan, bring water to a boil. Add rice, bay leaf, 1/4 teaspoon salt, 1/8 teaspoon cayenne, 1/4 teaspoon paprika, and 1/8 teaspoon thyme. Cover, reduce heat, and simmer until rice is fully cooked.
- In a large skillet over medium-high heat, add 1 tablespoon oil. Add shrimp and sauté for about 5 minutes until pink and cooked through. Remove shrimp and set aside.
- Add another tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Sauté chopped onion, garlic, celery, and bell peppers for about 5 minutes until soft and aromatic.
- Season vegetables with remaining salt, pepper, cumin, cayenne, paprika, and thyme. Add ground beef and cook for 10–15 minutes, breaking it apart as it browns.
- Return cooked rice and shrimp to the skillet. Stir everything together until well combined. Cover and cook for another 3–5 minutes to let the flavors meld.
- Garnish with chopped scallions and serve hot.
Notes
- Use day-old rice for better texture and to prevent sogginess.
- Don’t overcook the shrimp — remove them as soon as they turn pink.
- Feel free to adjust spice levels to your taste.
- This dish stores well in the fridge for up to 4 days.
- Reheat with a splash of broth or water to restore moisture.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 30 minutes
- Category: Main Course
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: Cajun, Southern
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 bowl (approx. 1.5 cups)
- Calories: 410
- Sugar: 3g
- Sodium: 540mg
- Fat: 18g
- Saturated Fat: 5g
- Unsaturated Fat: 11g
- Trans Fat: 0g
- Carbohydrates: 38g
- Fiber: 3g
- Protein: 24g
- Cholesterol: 160mg
Keywords: Shrimp Dirty Rice, Cajun shrimp rice, Dirty rice with shrimp, Southern rice dish, one-pot Cajun recipe