Easy & Delicious Cajun Rice Dressing – Ready In Under 1 Hour!

Cajun Rice Dressing, also known as “Dirty Rice”. Yes! The “Dirty” words look quite weird, right? But, do you know, the creepier it sounds, the more delicious it tastes?

Well, I can explain. This recipe is actually a holiday staple from South Louisiana that is capable of not only accentuating your taste buds but also making an impact on your dinner table, which your family or friends are likely to ask where you learned the recipe.

The meaty flavour of ground beef, chicken livers & gizzards, the aside flavor of other veggies, and the OMG seasonings are so good to make a sizzling platter on your table. Want to make it right now? Whoops! Are you in the kitchen with all the ingredients prepared? Then, without any pause, make the dinner ready now. 

In this recipe blog, I’m going to share an instant, meaty, tangy flavor recipe within 30 minutes with many tips and tricks. Stay tuned until the end:

What is Rice Dressing?

Rice dressing is a versatile, flavorful southern dish that is commonly made with meat (like beef, pork, or chicken), vegetables (like onions, celery, and bell pepper), and many seasonings.

Rice dressing is also served as a savory side dish. This is even used as a stuffing for turkey or chicken recipes, especially during the holidays. The rice dressing is rich, savory, tangy, and a 100% mouthwatering dish.

So let’s find out what the right ingredients are used in the Cajun rice dressing recipe?

Essential Ingredients

• 2 cups of jasmine rice
• 2 cups of broth
• Butter
• 1 rib of celery
• Bell pepper
• Onion
• 3-4 cloves garlic
• 1/2 tbsp Cajun seasoning
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1 tsp onion powder
• 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper
• Salt & pepper to taste
• 1 tsp beef bouillon
• 1/4- 1/2 lb chicken liver
• 1/4 lb pork sausage
• 1/2 ground beef
• .75 lb chicken gizzard

Required Equipment

• Instant Pot or pressure cooker
• A big skillet
• A spatula
• A lid
• Parchment paper

10 Easy Steps for Making Rice Dressing

Step 1:

First, rinse all raw chicken gizzards under running water and wash all the outside parts. If not washed in one time, you need to clean them more than once or twice.

Step 2:

Now, in an Instant Pot, add all the gizzards pieces and chicken bones to add extra richness to make the stock. Add a small amount of thyme and rosemary pieces, Creole, white pepper, lots of chicken seasonings, garlic powder, onion powder, minced onion, and add a small spoonful of Better Than Bouillon makes it easy to add just the right amount of flavor to your dish. At last, add 3 cups of water and pressure cook this for around 25 minutes, and then natural pressure release for about 10 minutes to make the best broth from the chicken bones. In this process, it will work for two sides, to make a delicious broth while tenderizing the chicken gizzards.

Step 3:

While our broth is being prepared, let’s cut all the vegetables now. All you need to cut through the diced way, including bell pepper, celery, onion, green onion, and garlic. The garlic should be cut into minced form.

Step 4:

Now, after 35 minutes, it’s time to drain the broth from the mixture. And you will get a rich, delicious broth. Remember Step 2 to make broth for your upcoming recipes. You need to separate bones from the tenderized meat & gizzard and cut them like a ground-style cut.

Step 5:

Next, in a hot big skillet, add some butter pieces and then add some chicken livers and cook for around 5-7 minutes. The chicken liver brings the meal full of nutrients, like a vitamin powerhouse. Throw a little Cajun seasoning on the livers. Just like chopped gizzards, it’s time to chop the livers in the same way. Not by the knife, you can do so with the spatula, easily. After 2 minutes of stirring, add the gizzard pieces to the chopped livers in the same pan. Mix well.

Step 6:

Now add one by one seasonings, like white pepper, cayenne powder, garlic powder, minced onion, and a little more Cajun seasonings. The flame should be low. Stir well. Add a little broth when it becomes dry. Remove it to a separate bowl and set it aside.

Step 7:

Now, it’s time to tender the vegetables. It might be a little time-consuming task. In the same skillet, add more butter to this. On the melted butter, put some Italian pork sausage. This is completely optional; you can skip the sausage if you don’t like it at all. Now add the ground beef and stir well, mixing them all until any crumbs are separated.

Step 8:

When the meat is cooked half in it’s way, add all the diced vegetables together. Cook for around 8-10 minutes, until the vegetables are really delicate and mixed with the meats. Add a small amount of broth and cover it up to soften them up. 

Step 9:

After softening the mixture, add the beef bouillon to it, and finally add all the rice. The rice I used here is Urban Platter Thai Jasmine Rice, which is good quality, gives a natural richness. The rice was soaked in water so that it would cook faster. Stir well until any excess liquid dries up.

Step 10:

Add 2 and 1/2 cups of broth and cover first with a piece of parchment paper and then with a lid. At a low heat, it takes around 15 minutes to cook well. After 15 minutes, remove the cover and add more broth if needed. Add salt and black pepper to taste. Down as you like.

The final Rice dressing recipe is ready to be served. You can add some finely chopped parsley to add an extra clean and peppery taste with a touch of earthiness.

How to Serve?

As a rice dressing recipe made with lots of ingredients like, it holds meat (beef, pork, chicken gizzards, and livers), vegetables (bell pepper, celery, onion, green onion, and garlic), and lots of seasonings. So this recipe does not need to serve any other classic side dishes.

Still need a side dish with rice dressing?

Well, here are some pairing ideas for you:

• Fried chicken
• Smoked turkey
• Grilled sausage
• Roasted vegetables
• Sweet potato
• Cornbread
• Seafood Gumbo
• Shrimp Creole

Hopefully, these side dishes are enough to make your rice dressing far better than before.

If There are Leftovers – What to Do?

Since this dish is prepared extraordinarily, all the food may be finished at once. But, besides that, if there are any leftovers, you need to—

Store the leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 3-4 days, defrost in the refrigerator overnight, and reheat before eating.

Substitute Ingredients

All the mentioned ingredients are well, but if you want to use other ingredients or have some issues with the following ingredients, let us know the substitution:

• You can substitute jasmine rice with other long-grain white rice, like Carolina or Basmati rice. Brown rice can also be good for a more liquid texture.
• Split chicken broth with beef broth, which is also known as traditional.
• Chicken liver, chicken gizzard, pork sausage, and ground beef are combinations of meats that give Cajun Rice Dressing its distinctive flavor. If you want a leaner version, you can use ground chicken or turkey. 
• Different types of sausage, such as andouille, also add a meaty flavor.
• If you don’t have pre-made Cajun seasoning, you can create your own by mixing paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and a pinch of cayenne pepper and thyme.

Variations

• Vegetarian—

For a vegetarian version, omit all the meat and replace it with a combination of mushrooms, lentils, or a meat substitute. Use vegetable broth instead of beef broth. You can also add chopped carrots and bell peppers for more texture and flavor.

• Spicy—

To make the dish spicier, increase the amount of cayenne pepper. You can also add a chopped jalapeño or a dash of hot sauce like Tabasco.

Nutritional Value

Take a look at the nutritional value of the Rice dressing recipe to know how nutritious it is for you:

Calories	300-450 kcal
Carbohydrates	6g
Protein	25g
Fat	12g
Saturated Fat	6g
Trans Fat	1g
Cholesterol	85mg
Sodium	363mg
Potassium	587mg
Fiber	1g
Sugar	2g
Vitamin A	559IU
Calcium	43mg
Iron	3mg

[NOTE: Nutrients can vary depending on the amount of ingredients]

Are there any Health Benefits?

Yes, this Rice dressing provides iron from the beef and liver, protein for muscle health, and carbohydrates for energy. If there are lots of vegetables, then it goes without saying that you are getting a lot of nutrients from this recipe.

Final Words!

So, here you go! Making this recipe is not the only reason. I made it because of many, like it’s a great make-ahead recipe, and its leftovers are also great to eat in your next meal. Unlike other recipes, it’s not faded both in flavor and texture. 
So, if you crave a delicious, meaty, tangy flavor dish, don’t hesitate to make a rice dressing recipe. Let’s make it now, and don’t forget to share your thoughts. Liked more recipes such as this? Stay tuned with us.