Crock Pot Dirty Rice
Crock Pot Dirty Rice is an easy, flavorful dinner made with ground sausage, tender vegetables, rice and savory seasonings. The slow cooker does most of the work, making this a simple recipe for busy weeknights or laid back weekends.
Dirty rice is a classic Southern dish traditionally made with rice, meat, vegetables and plenty of seasoning. This simplified version uses ground sausage for rich flavor and everyday ingredients you probably already have in your kitchen.
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Why You’ll Love This Crock Pot Dirty Rice
- Easy to prepare: Brown the sausage and vegetables, then let the slow cooker cook the rice perfectly.
- Made with simple ingredients: Everything in this recipe is easy to find and budget-friendly.
- Perfect for busy days: It cooks in about two hours with very little hands-on work.
Ingredients for Dirty Rice
- Olive oil: Used to sauté the vegetables and keep them from sticking to the skillet.
- Onion: Adds a slightly sweet, savory flavor to the rice.
- Bell pepper: Brings color, flavor and a little natural sweetness. Green bell pepper gives the dish a more traditional flavor, but any color will work.
- Celery: An optional addition that complements the onion and bell pepper. I was out of celery when I made this batch, and the dirty rice was still delicious.
- Ground sausage: Gives the dish its hearty texture and rich, savory flavor. Use mild or hot sausage depending on your preference.
- Granulated garlic: Adds plenty of garlic flavor and blends easily into the sausage mixture.
- Ground rosemary: Provides a subtle, earthy flavor that pairs well with the sausage and chicken broth.
- Kosher salt: Enhances all of the savory flavors. Adjust the amount depending on how salty your sausage and broth are.
- Black pepper: Adds mild heat and a classic peppery finish.
- Long-grain white rice: Cooks directly in the slow cooker and absorbs all of the flavorful broth and seasonings. Do not use instant rice.
- Chicken broth: Provides the liquid needed to cook the rice while adding more flavor than water.
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How to Make Crock Pot Dirty Rice
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion, bell pepper and celery, if using. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the ground sausage to the skillet. Cook, breaking it apart as it browns, and add the seasonings. Stir occassionally until the sausage is cooked through.
- Add the uncooked rice to the crock pot and pour in the chicken broth.
- Spoon the browned sausage and vegetable mixture over the rice.
- Cover and cook on high for about 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
- Stir the dirty rice thoroughly before serving.
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Recipe Notes
- Use regular long-grain white rice, not instant rice.
- If the rice is still firm when the liquid has been absorbed, stir in a small amount of hot chicken broth and continue cooking.
- Celery is traditionally included with the onion and bell pepper, but the recipe is still flavorful without it.
- For extra heat, use hot breakfast sausage or add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper.
What Kind of Sausage Is Best for Dirty Rice?
Ground breakfast sausage makes this recipe easy and gives the rice plenty of savory flavor. Mild sausage is a good choice for a family-friendly meal, while hot sausage adds a little extra kick.
You can also use ground pork sausage, ground turkey sausage or a combination of sausage and ground beef.
What to Serve With Dirty Rice
Crock Pot Dirty Rice can be served as a complete meal or paired with a simple vegetable. It is delicious with green beans, grilled okra, corn, a green salad or a side of cornbread.
How to Store and Reheat
- Store leftover dirty rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat individual portions in the microwave, adding a splash of chicken broth if the rice seems dry.
- Leftovers can also be reheated in a covered skillet over low heat. Stir occasionally and add a little broth as needed to keep the rice moist.
If you love simple dinners that practically cook themselves, add this Crock Pot Dirty Rice to your meal plan. It is hearty, flavorful and made with basic ingredients, making it an easy recipe you will want to make again and again
Crock Pot Dirty Rice
Ingredients
- 2 tablespoons olive oil
- 1 onion diced
- 1 bell pepper diced
- 1 pound Petit Jean Meats Ground Sausage hot or mild breakfast sausage
- 2 cups long grain white rice
- 2 tablespoons granulated garlic
- 1 tablespoon ground rosemary
- 2 teaspoons kosher salt
- ½ teaspoon black pepper
- 4 cups chicken broth
Instructions
- Heat the olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat.
- Add the diced onion, bell pepper and celery, if using. Cook until the vegetables begin to soften.
- Add the ground sausage to the skillet. Cook, breaking it apart as it browns, and add the seasonings. Stir occassionally until the sausage is cooked through.
- Add the uncooked rice to the crock pot and pour in the chicken broth.
- Spoon the browned sausage and vegetable mixture over the rice.
- Cover and cook on high for about 2 hours or low for 4 hours.
- Stir the dirty rice thoroughly before serving.
Video
Notes
- Use regular long-grain white rice, not instant rice.
- If the rice is still firm when the liquid has been absorbed, stir in a small amount of hot chicken broth and continue cooking.
- Celery is traditionally included with the onion and bell pepper, but the recipe is still flavorful without it. Add 3 stalks, thinly sliced if desired.
- For extra heat, use hot breakfast sausage or add cayenne pepper or crushed red pepper.
How to Store and Reheat
- Store leftover dirty rice in an airtight container in the refrigerator. Reheat individual portions in the microwave, adding a splash of chicken broth if the rice seems dry.
- Leftovers can also be reheated in a covered skillet over low heat. Stir occasionally and add a little broth as needed to keep the rice moist.
Nutrition
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