Dirty Rice with Shrimp – Bold, Spicy & One-Pan Easy
Dirty Rice with Shrimp is a bold Southern classic made easy. Juicy shrimp, spicy ground beef, and seasoned rice cook in one skillet for a satisfying and beginner-friendly meal.
Ingredients
- 1½ cups uncooked brown rice
- 1 bay leaf
- ¼ tsp salt
- ⅛ tsp cayenne pepper
- ⅛ tsp paprika
- ⅛ tsp thyme
- 1 lb medium shrimp peeled and deveined
- 1 tbsp olive oil for shrimp
- 1 tbsp olive oil for veggies
- 1 medium onion chopped
- 2 cloves garlic minced
- 2 celery stalks chopped
- 1 green bell pepper chopped
- 1 orange bell pepper chopped
- 1 lb ground beef or pork sausage
- ½ tsp cumin
- ½ tsp paprika
- ½ tsp thyme
- ¼ tsp cayenne pepper
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- 2 scallions chopped (for garnish)
Instructions
- Cook brown rice with bay leaf, ¼ tsp salt, ⅛ tsp each of cayenne, paprika, and thyme. Set aside.
- Heat 1 tbsp oil in a skillet over medium-high heat. Cook shrimp for 5 minutes until pink. Set aside.
- Discard excess shrimp liquid. Add 1 tbsp oil to the skillet. Sauté onion, garlic, celery, and bell peppers for 5 minutes.
- Season veggies with salt, pepper, cumin, remaining cayenne, paprika, and thyme.
- Add ground beef or sausage. Cook for 10–15 minutes until fully browned and cooked through.
- Add the cooked rice and shrimp back to the skillet. Toss to combine well.
- Cover and cook for 2–3 minutes on low to blend flavors.
- Garnish with scallions and serve warm
Notes
Tip: Don’t overcook shrimp—remove them once pink and firm.
Variation: Try sausage instead of beef or add diced tomatoes for a saucier twist on dirty rice with shrimp. Nutrition:
Calories: 470 per serving (estimated)
Protein: 30g
Carbs: 38g
Fat: 22g
Fiber: 3g
Sodium: 680mg
Sugar: 4g
Variation: Try sausage instead of beef or add diced tomatoes for a saucier twist on dirty rice with shrimp. Nutrition:
Calories: 470 per serving (estimated)
Protein: 30g
Carbs: 38g
Fat: 22g
Fiber: 3g
Sodium: 680mg
Sugar: 4g