When the day has already been long, the last thing I want is a complicated dinner. That’s when I reach for recipes like this dirty rice with sausage. It’s hearty, flavorful, and best of all — it comes together in one pan. Less mess, less stress, and everyone leaves the table happy.
This recipe is my Midwest farm-girl take on a classic Cajun favorite. We’re talking bold seasoning, browned sausage, rice, and veggies all mingling together into comfort food magic. And the best part? It’s ready in about 30 minutes.
If you love the flavors of Cajun inspired cuisine, you'll love my Cajun Chicken Pasta in the slow cooker.
Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Quick & Easy – Done in one pan, perfect for weeknights.
Family Friendly – Mild enough for the kids, but you can kick up the heat if you’d like.
Budget Friendly – Rice and sausage stretch a long way.
Leftover Approved – Tastes just as good the next day (hello, lunchbox win!).
Also see my adaptation of Cajun chicken and sausage jambalaya.
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Ingredients You’ll Need
Here’s what goes into this skillet of goodness (and why):
- Ground sausage – Adds flavor and protein. Use spicy if you like more kick. You can also swap sausage for ground turkey, chicken, or beef.
- Bell pepper, onion, celery – This “holy trinity” is the backbone of Cajun cooking.
- Garlic – Always makes things better.
- Rice – White long-grain works best for fluffy, not gummy, rice.
- Chicken broth – Cooks the rice and infuses flavor.
- Cajun seasoning – Gives that signature dirty rice taste.
- Green onions & parsley – Freshen everything up at the end.
See recipe card for quantities.
Step-by-Step Instructions
If you can cook sausage, veggies, and rice, you already know how to make this recipe. It’s simple!
Step 1: Brown the sausage. In a big skillet, cook until no longer pink. Drain any excess grease.
Step 2: Sauté the veggies. Toss in onion, celery, and bell pepper. Cook until tender, then add garlic for another minute.
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Step 3: Add rice & seasonings. Stir in Cajun seasoning and rice until the grains are coated.
Step 4:Simmer. Pour in broth, cover, and let it do its thing until rice is tender.
Fluff & serve. Stir in green onions and parsley, then grab your forks!
If you love fast, flavorful skillet meals, you’ve got to try my Shrimp with Garlic Sauce. It’s garlicky, buttery, and ready in about 20 minutes — the perfect busy-night dinner.
Variations
- Want it spicier? Add cayenne or hot sauce to taste.
- Use brown rice — just add extra broth and cooking time.
- Sneak in extras: peas, corn, or even diced tomatoes.
Storage & Reheating
Store leftovers in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 4 days. Reheat in the microwave or on the stovetop with a splash of broth to keep it moist. This also freezes well — portion into safe freezer bags and thaw overnight before reheating.
See more freezer friendly meals!
What to Serve With Dirty Rice
I love to round this out with a fresh side salad, skillet-seared green beans, or buttermilk cornbread muffins. And if you’re feeding hungry farm kids? Add some simple roasted carrots on the side and you’re golden.
Traditionally, it gets its “dirty” look from chicken livers mixed in with the rice. My version keeps things family-friendly with sausage, but still delivers big Cajun flavor.
Yes! Brown the sausage using sauté mode, then cook rice and broth on high pressure for 4 minutes with a natural release.
If you make this dirty rice recipe leave a recipe review or comment below. I'd love to hear from you!
Related
Looking for other one pan recipes? Try these:
Recipe
Easy Dirty Rice with Sausage
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Ingredients
- 1 pound ground sausage
- 1 medium onion diced
- 1 bell pepper any color, diced
- 2 stalks celery diced
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
- 2 ½ cups chicken broth
- 1 Tablespoon Cajun seasoning adjust to taste
- 2 green onions sliced
- 2 Tablespoons fresh parsley chopped
Instructions
- In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until browned. Drain off any excess grease.
- Add onion, bell pepper, and celery; cook until softened, about 5 minutes. Stir in garlic and cook 1 more minute.
- Stir in rice and Cajun seasoning until rice is coated.
- Pour in chicken broth, bring to a boil, then reduce heat to low. Cover and simmer 20 minutes, or until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
- Remove from heat. Fluff rice with a fork, then stir in green onions and parsley. Serve warm.
Notes
- Use spicy sausage for more heat, or keep it mild for the kids.
- Swap in brown rice if you’d like — just add extra broth and cook longer.
- Stir in ½ cup frozen peas or corn during the last 5 minutes of cooking for color and nutrition.
Nutrition
This Farm Girl Cooks is not a dietician or nutritionist, and any nutritional information shared is an estimate. Calories and other nutritional values vary depending on which brands were used.
