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dirty rice with shrimp

🍤 Dirty Rice with Shrimp Recipe Card

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Prep Time 15 minutes
Cook Time 30 minutes
Servings: 5 servings
Calories: 480
Ingredients Method Notes

Ingredients
  

  • 1 lb shrimp peeled and deveined (medium or large)
  • 1 ½ cups long-grain white rice uncooked
  • 3 cups chicken broth
  • 2 tbsp olive oil or butter divided
  • ½ lb ground sausage or ground beef optional, for classic dirty rice flavor
  • 1 small onion diced
  • 1 green bell pepper diced
  • 2 celery stalks diced
  • 3 cloves garlic minced
  • 2 tsp Cajun seasoning plus more to taste
  • ½ tsp paprika
  • ¼ tsp cayenne pepper optional, for extra heat
  • Salt and black pepper to taste
  • 2 green onions chopped (for garnish)
  • Fresh parsley chopped (for garnish)

Method
 

Cook Sausage (if using):
  1. In a large skillet or Dutch oven, heat 1 tbsp oil. Brown the sausage until cooked through. Remove and set aside.
Sauté Vegetables:
  1. In the same pan, add onion, bell pepper, celery, and garlic. Cook 5–6 minutes until softened.
Add Rice & Seasoning:
  1. Stir in uncooked rice, Cajun seasoning, paprika, cayenne, salt, and pepper. Cook for 1–2 minutes to toast the rice slightly.
Add Broth & Simmer:
  1. Pour in chicken broth. Stir, cover, and simmer on low heat for 18–20 minutes until rice is tender and liquid is absorbed.
Cook Shrimp:
  1. While rice is cooking, heat remaining oil in a skillet. Season shrimp with Cajun seasoning. Cook 2–3 minutes per side until pink and opaque.
Combine & Serve:
  1. Fluff rice with a fork, stir in cooked sausage (if used), then gently fold in shrimp. Garnish with green onions and parsley. Serve hot.

Notes

For extra richness, add a splash of chicken stock or butter at the end before serving.
Shrimp cooks quickly — don’t overcook or it will become rubbery.
Dirty rice is traditionally made with chicken livers for deeper flavor, but sausage or beef works well if you prefer.
Make it spicier by adding hot sauce or more cayenne.