Easy weeknight rice – SHK

This Easy Weeknight Dirty Rice is a delicious one-pan family dinner made with seasoned ground meat, fluffy rice, and vegetables. It has all the nutty, comforting flavor of classic dirty rice, but with simple ingredients that are easy to find and kid-friendly for busy weeknights!

Why You’ll Love This Easy Dirty Rice Recipe

Ground beef, turkey, pork or sausage all work well in this recipe, so it’s easy to adapt depending on what you have on hand. Vegetables add color, texture and extra nutrition, while a Cajun-inspired seasoning mix gives the rice a rich flavor without making it overly spicy.

You might like it:

• Ready in about 30 minutes
• Made with one frying pan
• Perfect for busy weeknights
• You can easily customize it with your favorite meat.
• It’s full of vegetables
• It’s family friendly and meal prep friendly.

This simple dirty rice recipe is hearty, flavorful, and perfect for using up leftover rice or vegetables.

Tips for the Best Dirty Rice

Use day-old rice

Cold leftover rice is especially effective because it stays separated and doesn’t turn mushy in the skillet. Fresh rice also works, but let it cool slightly before using.

Dice the carrots into small pieces.

Small carrot pieces cook faster and mix well with rice, making them a more appealing meal for young children.

Start low and then add heat

Cajun seasoning blends vary widely in spice levels. If your family is sensitive to heat, add less seasoning, or for adults, add more seasoning at the end.

Use a large frying pan

A large skillet gives the rice room to cook evenly and helps with a slightly crispy, flavorful bit on the bottom.

Meal Preparation and Storage

Store leftover rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 1 hour. 4 days.

To reheat, add broth or water to the skillet and reheat until heated through. You can also microwave individual portions, stirring each portion every 30 seconds.

This recipe also freezes well. Let cool completely, then transfer to a freezer-safe container and freeze for up to 1 hour. 2 months.

easy transformation

Make it with sausage

For added flavor, use ground breakfast sausage, chicken sausage, or smoked sausage.

Add more vegetables

Try adding chopped bell peppers, celery, zucchini, spinach, or chopped kale.

Make it spicier

Add cayenne pepper, chopped jalapenos, red pepper flakes, or your favorite hot sauce.

Use brown rice

Brown rice is perfect for a heartier whole grain version. Make sure it is already cooked before adding it to the skillet.

Add beans

Stir in black beans, kidney beans, or pinto beans for added fiber and plant-based protein.

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