L.A. Dirty Rice
L.A. Dirty Rice is a flavorful, savory dish blending seasoned rice with beef, sausage, bacon, and vegetables, perfect for hearty meals and Southern-inspired comfort food.
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup chopped celery ⓘ
- 1/2 cup chopped fine carrots ⓘ
- 1/2 cup chopped scallions or onion ⓘ
- 1/2 pound thinly sliced beef
- kielbasa sausage
- 1/4 cup chopped fine bell peppers ⓘ
- 4 strips bacon ⓘ
- small can sweet peas ⓘ
- 2 cups uncooked rice ⓘ
- garlic powder ⓘ
- seasoned salt ⓘ
- pepper ⓘ
- onion powder
- paprika ⓘ
- chopped parsley ⓘ
Instructions
- Cook rice according to package directions and set aside.
- Fry bacon strips on medium heat until crispy, then remove from pan.
- Leave bacon drippings in the pan.
- Add sausage slices and stir until heated through.
- Add chopped celery, carrots, scallions or onion, bell peppers, garlic powder, seasoned salt, pepper, onion powder, and paprika. Saute until vegetables are tender and mixture is hot.
- Turn off heat.
- Add cooked rice to the skillet and fold until completely mixed.
- Gently fold in sweet peas.
- Adjust seasonings if desired.
- Top with paprika and chopped parsley for color.
- Crumble bacon strips on top.
- Serve and enjoy!
Tips & Substitutions
For a richer flavor, consider using andouille sausage instead of kielbasa. You can also swap out the beef for ground turkey or chicken if you prefer a lighter dish. Adjust the seasonings based on your taste preference, and feel free to add more vegetables like bell peppers or zucchini. If you have leftover rice, you can use that to save time.
Serving Suggestions
This L.A. Dirty Rice pairs beautifully with a side salad or roasted vegetables for a complete meal. You can also serve it alongside cornbread or garlic bread for added texture. For drinks, consider iced tea or a light beer to complement the flavors.
Storage & Reheating
Store any leftovers in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 3 days. To reheat, simply microwave in short intervals, stirring in between, until heated through. Alternatively, you can reheat in a skillet over medium heat, adding a splash of water to prevent drying out.
Nutrition & Diet Analysis (per serving)
Each serving of L.A. Dirty Rice contains roughly 364 calories, with 17g protein, 55g carbohydrates, and 18g fat. It is an excellent source of vitamin A (224% of the Daily Value), dietary fiber (107% of the Daily Value), and iron (102% of the Daily Value), and a good source of calcium. Note that it is relatively high in sodium, at 633mg per serving (28% of the Daily Value).
Estimated from ingredients & per-serving nutrition — verify against package labels for allergies or strict diets.
* % Daily Values based on a 2,000 calorie diet (FDA 2020).
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I make this recipe vegetarian?
Yes! Substitute the beef and bacon with plant-based alternatives like tempeh or mushrooms for a hearty texture. Use vegetable broth instead of water for cooking the rice, and ensure your sausage is a vegetarian variety. The dish will still be flavorful and satisfying.
How can I make this dish spicier?
To add some heat, you can incorporate diced jalapeños or a dash of cayenne pepper into the vegetable mixture. You might also consider using a spicy sausage or adding hot sauce to taste before serving for an extra kick.
Can I freeze L.A. Dirty Rice?
Absolutely! Allow the dish to cool completely, then transfer it to a freezer-safe container. It can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, thaw overnight in the refrigerator and then warm it up in a skillet or microwave, adding a bit of water if needed.
Nutrition is estimated from USDA FoodData Central ingredient data and may vary with brand, portion and preparation — see our methodology. This information is for general educational purposes only and is not medical or dietary advice (disclaimer).